Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

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mojocelery
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Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

Post by mojocelery » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:16 am

Potentially a stupid question…!

But can a neck pickup be rewound as a bridge pickup?

I have two Jaguar neck pickups for an imminent project, one is dead, so can it be rewound to use at the bridge?

I’m assuming yes? Unless there’s a difference in magnets and other bits other than windings?

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Arc
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Re: Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

Post by Arc » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:40 am

Not an expert, but the magnet polarity could be an issue. Nothing serious, but not having the reverse polarity you won’t be able to obtain hum cancellation in the middle position.

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Re: Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

Post by Embenny » Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:01 pm

If you're rewinding it, you can just flip the magnets 180 degrees and wind it like a regular bridge pickup. You can flip polarity using a strong neodymium magnet, as well, without disassembling the bobbins.

The reason you can't flip magnets on an intact Fender pickup the way you can on a Gibson is that the coil is wound directly around them, so you'd break the coil. When rewinding, since you're removing the coil, you're free to do so.
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Re: Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

Post by mojocelery » Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:44 pm

Thanks mbene! That makes sense :)

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Re: Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

Post by timtam » Mon Jun 21, 2021 5:57 pm

If you look at the DCR/inductance specs on most (all?) Fender-made jag pickup neck/bridge pairs, they are the same. Although when measured you may find up to 10% variation either way, which is Fender's nominal manufacturing tolerance. So the only thing that varies deliberately on many is magnetic polarity, to give you a RWRP/hum-cancelling pair in the middle position (some jags, like the Marr, don't have that).

If you have opposite magnetic polarities, it is straightforward to rewind and get RWRP again. Matching DCR/inductance is up to the winder's skill, knowledge, and attention to detail - even then the sonic result is not entirely predictable. If they are not opposite magnetic polarity, you could still rewind and either go with them as non RWRP, or flip the polarity on one (only) to make them opposite, as mbene085 describes.

First thing to do to determine what polarity you have is to bring the two tops towards each other. Opposites attract (ie can be wired as a RWRP pair). If you are sending one of an opposite polarity pair to be rewound, send both and instruct that you want them to be a RWRP pair. If not opposite, send both and say you want them to be in phase (and whether you want the polarity flipped to make the pair RWRP). That will determine how the hot and ground sides of the coil are designated (and which side shares the claw ground - unless you anticipate series or out-of-phase switching in the future, in which case a separate claw ground wire is needed on at least one pickup).

An alternative and possibly cheaper approach would be a new Pure Vintage 65 (RWRP) pair.
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.

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Re: Neck pickup rewound for bridge?

Post by Sweetfinger » Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:21 pm

On vintage instruments, often there is no difference between a neck and bridge pickup. They put the same thing in both positions. Many modern "balanced" sets have a hotter bridge pickup, but also, many modern neck pickups are hotter than a vintage example. Put it in and see if you like it. Don't worry about whether it says "neck" on the back or something.

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