Ever since the first Strat owner discovered that, by lodging his 3-way blade switch just right, he could access two additional pickup combinations: bridge and middle plus middle and neck. Because of the unusual nature of the sounds that were heard, it was widely assumed that these “in-between” positions caused the pickups to be somehow out-of-phase with each other. Well, back then in the late 1950s, it would’ve been understandable for a guitarist to mistake what he or she was hearing as an out-of-phase effect. Oddly though, this term has pretty much stuck with Strat players through the decades, and when someone uses the term, everyone generally knows what specific sound is being described. Even fairly knowledgeable reviewers have used the term when describing certain sounds Jimi Hendrix used on his albums.
So what would happen if you actually wired a Strat pickup (such as the middle pickup) out-of-phase with the others? It’s easy enough to do, and if you have an inexpensive Strat sitting around or a Strat “knock-off” in a closet somewhere, you might want to give it a try – just to hear what a real out-of-phase pickup combination actually sounds like. Just reverse the black and white wires that are attached to the middle pickup (that is, solder the black wire where the white one was and the white one where the black one was). Once that’s done, replace the pickguard and strings, plug in, and give this a try. The first thing you’ll notice is that when you combine, say, the middle and bridge pickups, you now have a whole different set of harmonics than you had before – there are typically a lot less fundamental, so overall the combination sounds thinner and (for lack of a better word) “skankier.”
Is it musically useful? Well, that depends on the type of music you play. For funky rhythm parts, you might find the novelty of the sound quite refreshing (a little EQ can help thicken the sound). The bridge/middle and middle/neck combinations will definitely sound quite different, yet when you set your switch to hear the sound of just one pickup, you won’t hear a difference. It’s well worth a try for those seeking something new and possibly interesting in the context of a style of music. If you don’t find it useful, it’s easy enough to undo! And we can guarantee you’ll never again call your “normal” pickup combinations “out-of-phase” again!
NOTE: Modify your guitar at your own risk! Do not perform modifications to a vintage or valuable instrument without being aware of the ramifications. If you have any doubt as to your ability to perform a modification, have it done by a professional! We are not responsible for any damage resulting from attempting or performing modifications.