Phase Switches???

[baronvonsalsa]

What does it mean when a guitar has a phase switch to take the guitar out of phase? Basically, what is the difference between a guitar pickup being in phase or out of phase? What is the difference in sound?

[Filter500]

Has a strange wah-like sound to it.

[dot-dot-dot]

If you mix two out-of-phase pickups then all the frequencies they have in common will cancel out. The end result of that is that out-of-phase sounds tend to be much lower output and have much less bass and mids - often with a slightly "honky" or nasal sound (as Filter500 says, a little like a toe-down wah).

 

Good for dropping back in the mix, or getting a vaguely acoustic-like jangly sound for strummed chords. With lots of gain you can get a very cutting lead sound too.

[numbthumb]

...and it might work for a thin '70s-cop-show-theme funk sound...

 

I don't actually use it very much.

In my case, it works better on the P90-equipped Casino since it gives a thin 'Fender-esque' sound that you won't otherwise get.

 

Series/parallel wiring of single coils is probably a better investment in time, for something that you will actually use (to get a fuller sound in this case).

 

I think Deaf Eddie has some samples posted, and a pretty thorough discussion. http://deaf-eddie.net/

[jack83]

I agree that you can't use it so often, but you can get that unique J. Page or Peter Green sound, isn't it?

[brikus]

Originally posted by numbthumb ...and it might work for a thin '70s-cop-show-theme funk sound... I don't actually use it very much. In my case, it works better on the P90-equipped Casino since it gives a thin 'Fender-esque' sound that you won't otherwise get. Series/parallel wiring of single coils is probably a better investment in time, for something that you will actually use (to get a fuller sound in this case). I think Deaf Eddie has some samples posted, and a pretty thorough discussion. http://deaf-eddie.net/

 

yep it's great for funk if you roll back the treble a tiny bit.

 

the best option is to have BOTH phase and series/parallel options available. Series out of phase sounds are really nice.

[numbthumb]

Roger that.

Without the series wiring, out of phase pups sound weak and just a little like {censored}e.

 

I almost came to tears putting everything back in the (hollow body) Casino though. I wonder what's stopping me putting phase switching + series/parallel switching + coil taps in my semi-hollow AM73? Gotta do lot of planning, careful prep of a multi-conductor wiring harness and gotta get three sheets to the wind first.