Possible to flip a J PU upside down?

(b)Assman · #1 01-21-2009, 11:29 AM

Here's the deal. I bought 2 jazz PU off a 62 RI MIJ bass and the bridge pickup is all sorts of confusing to me. It has the poles on the E+G string higher than the other 2? ***? My only way to explain this is that the person had it upside down and the leads coming out the wrong end. So I'm trying to correct this now. Is it possible to flip it upside down and send the leads out the top? Would I have to change my wiring in any way?

Help GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

edit

Unless there was some reason why the pole pieces were cut shorter to compensate for something??? Usually its the A+D poles that are raised...

(b)Assman · #2 01-21-2009, 01:50 PM

someone throw me a bone here please.

ashtray · #3 01-21-2009, 02:00 PM

At first I thought you meant "rotate the pickup 180 degrees along the face of the body" - making the E pole be the G pole, and reverse. That of course wouldn't help you if both the E and G are too tall. Now I read it as you're trying to put the pickup in upside down with the baseplate facing outwards??? I don't think that would work - though I can honestly say I've never tried it.

The reason the pole pieces might be taller on the outer strings is that the middle 2 strings might get more magnetic field with the magnet running clear under them, where-as the end strings might get less if the magnet stops "short" - so they might have adjusted this with longer outer poles.

I'd mount it and see how the volume is string to string. If the outer strings are louder, then it's probably possibly to file down the pole pieces (I'd assume).

moles · #4 01-21-2009, 02:02 PM

Are you sure they (the pole pieces) didn't just get knocked out of position? The first Tokai P bass I bought had pole pieces that were all kinds of wacky - it took a couple of weeks before I realized that I could just push them all in so they were flush with the top of the pickup cover.

(b)Assman · #5 01-21-2009, 02:02 PM

Thanks a lot

that's a helpful answer. time to install these bad boys

dmusic148 · #6 01-21-2009, 02:04 PM

Sounds to me like it was simply placed upside down in the housing. Flip it. No problem.

Stealth · #7 01-21-2009, 02:17 PM

(b)Assman · #8 01-21-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Sounds to me like it was simply placed upside down in the housing. Flip it. No problem.

Ya, that's what I'm thinking also. The other pickup isn't staggered whatsoever. Who's more likely to be right here? You or ashtray?

If I flip it I'll have to reroute the leads and that's it right?

(b)Assman · #9 01-21-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moles

Are you sure they (the pole pieces) didn't just get knocked out of position? The first Tokai P bass I bought had pole pieces that were all kinds of wacky - it took a couple of weeks before I realized that I could just push them all in so they were flush with the top of the pickup cover.

Ya, they are not going to move unless I rip them from their copper. They are in there good. Plus they are cut different lengths from what I can tell.

edit

Thanks for that bone stealth.

dmusic148 · #10 01-21-2009, 02:29 PM

OK, if the leads are soldered such that you'd have to de-solder them to flip it, don't. He's probably right in that case-see if you can move the poles.
The best way to tell is by checking the magnet pole orientation.
Take one in each hand and put the faces(tops of the poles) together. They should attract each other when they are correctly oriented.

(b)Assman · #11 01-21-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

OK, if the leads are soldered such that you'd have to de-solder them to flip it, don't. He's probably right in that case-see if you can move the poles.
The best way to tell is by checking the magnet pole orientation.
Take one in each hand and put the faces(tops of the poles) together. They should attract each other when they are correctly oriented.

They don't need to be resoldered to flip. They attract as is right now but I should just be able to flip and then problem solved? Could they be right the way they are right now? Anyone ever heard of something like this? Or is it more probable they installed them into the casing wrong?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetheliving

Trust that they know what they're doing and just try it.

I would trust it if I had these on a new bass. I bought the pickups separate (used) so who knows where they've been or whats been done to them.

dmusic148 · #12 01-21-2009, 03:31 PM

If they stick as I've shown, and the 'long' poles are in the middle, sticking to the other pickup, you can't flip it. If you do it will be out of phase. If you switch wires to bring it IN phase, you'll get hum even with both pups full.
In other words, since opposites attract (North and South) the pickups stick to each other when they are oriented correctly.
So, when installed, one pickup will have North up(bridge) and the other will have South up(neck).

(b)Assman · #13 01-21-2009, 03:35 PM

Ah, I figured it was simple but the magnets are opposite so flipping won't do me any good eh? I guess I'll put em in. I could always file em down I guess.

dmusic148 · #14 01-21-2009, 03:36 PM

Can you post a pic?

(b)Assman · #15 01-21-2009, 03:39 PM

ya, what are you wanting to see exactly? Just the whole pickup in the case? to get it out of the case I'd have to find a way to get to pry the pickup from the glue that has it inside the housing.

edit

I can break the cover off and replace it. I should be able to flip it around and just do it like that right?

edit

there is no magnet on the bottom it's got 2 sides for the poles.

Jim Carr · #16 01-21-2009, 05:04 PM

need pics.

(b)Assman · #17 01-21-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

need pics.

ok, looks like I'm breaking this cover off then lol.

ashtray · #18 01-21-2009, 06:24 PM

Don't break anything - just take a pic of what YOU see as being the problem.

Personally, I would install them and try them out before determining if there's an issue with them.

(b)Assman · #19 01-24-2009, 01:24 PM

Sorry it took so long to get this photo. Couldn't find my camera.

The E+G string poles are approximately twice as high as the A+D.

The 3 solutions proposed are.

1. Install as is because they are that way for a reason.
2. Flip the pickup inside the case and wire the leads out the other end. (If that's possible)
3. File down the E+G poles.

Pickups are off a MIJ Fender 62 RI.

Thanks.

dmusic148 · #20 01-24-2009, 02:13 PM

Aha, I see. Well, that's not nearly as much as I was picturing in my mind. I say don't worry about it. Not enough to make a meaningful difference IMO. Just install it and try it.