Out-of-phase pickups

It means that the two pickups are opposing each other so that you only hear the differences between what they're picking up from the strings when they're combined. It's a wierd, thin sound.

The term is often misused to refer to the second and fourth switch positions on a Stratocaster, which pickup combinations aren't normally out of phase with each other.

Ive heard that they rarely make guitars with out-of-phase pickups anymore. Why?

I don't think any big maker ever made them in the first place. Few people like the sound. Since they're cancelling out the frequencies they have in common, you're only getting a few overtones coming through that are significantly different between the two pickup locations on the string. A very thin, strange sound. Like I said, Strats don't have out of phase pickups and never did, that's a mistake.

Thanx!!!

Just out of curiosity, how do you make the pickups go out of phase?
I've heard some musicians played their guitars with out-of-phase pickups because they got it back from the shop and the electronics would be messed up.

reverse the wires on a humbucker will do this. My Ibanaz SZ did this. Personally I do not care for the sound. My Carvin has a swith that reverses the pups

didnt the fender jaguar/mustang/jazzmaster ranges have out of phase switches?

Jaxxmaster did, but you got me remembering 30 years ago :) . Not sure about the Mustang. I know a bud had this guitar, but I do not remember the switches on the stang.