RWRP: What Does It Mean and Should You Use It on a Stratocaster?
RWRP means Reverse Wound, Reverse Polarity. One pickup is wound in the opposite electrical direction and uses reversed magnetic polarity relative to another pickup in the set. When both are selected together, the useful string signal remains in phase while part of the common-mode noise cancels.
Why a single coil hums
A pickup coil can capture electromagnetic fields from mains wiring and nearby equipment in addition to the signal produced by the string. A single coil has no second coil to cancel this noise as a humbucker does. Noise level also depends on environment, shielding, wiring and guitar orientation.
How RWRP cancels noise
To keep the string signal in the correct polarity while reversing captured electrical noise, both the winding direction and magnetic polarity are reversed. The two reversals compensate for the musical signal, while noise common to both coils tends to cancel.
On many modern Stratocaster sets, the middle pickup is RWRP relative to neck and bridge, making positions 2 and 4 hum-cancelling.
RWRP or vintage-correct configuration?
Some historical reproductions keep all three pickups with the same winding direction and polarity to remain closer to a period-correct layout. Combined positions then do not provide the same hum reduction. The choice is practical and historical rather than universally better or worse.
Mixing pickups from different brands
Wire-color conventions and magnetic polarity are not universal between manufacturers. Mixing an RWRP pickup from one maker with pickups from another can create an out-of-phase combination if you rely only on wire colors.
Key takeaway
Choose RWRP if you want quieter positions 2 and 4. Choose non-RWRP if your priority is reproducing a particular vintage set as strictly as possible.
Further technical reading
For a broader technical view, visit the Asyllum Lab and the related guides below.
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