Hi -
I hope someone out there can help me. I came by a beautiful black '78 strat the other day for a good price. I love it. BUT the 5 way switch in the number 2 position which is a combo of the neck and midlle pickup, where both tone controls affect the sound is AWFUL. It's way quieter - very thin - and very quacky and nasally - and not so nice -- interesting - but not too usable. I was told that it's because the Neck Pickup is reversed polarity.

Should i actually go in there and change the black and white wire leads around?

First, the combination of the neck and middle pickups is the number 4 position, not 2. See the Fender website for reference.

But that has no bearing on the issue. I'm not saying that somebody hasn't messed up something in the wiring harness, but it is unlikely tht polarity is the issue. Middle pickups on original Stratocasters had the same polarity and winding direction as the others. At some point (not sure when) Fender realized that if they reversed both the polarity and the winding direction of the middle pickup, that there would be a hum-canceling effect in positions 2 and 4. Both positions 2 and 4 are in fact quacky, and they are a little bit weaker, too. But I can't hear from here, so maybe there really is something wrong in there.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

When I replaced the original neck pup in my strat with a Texas Special, I had this same problem in position 4. The volume was extremely low and tinny. I reversed the wiring and all was cured.

+1 Been there - done that - it works!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

What ratboy says is correct. I converted my Texas Special Fat strat into a sss configuration.When i installed the bridge pickup it sounded tinny with not much volume.I reversed the wires on the bridge pickup and solved the problem.