I found that the stud side actually has more output than the adjustable side on a traditional humbucker. There is a direct connection to the magnet inside the pickup on the stud side and the adjustable pole extends out the bottom of the pickup. There is a slight loss of magnetic field and energy out the bottom. Players like Peter Green during the early Fleetwood Mac days turned his neck pickup around on his famous Les Paul. The adjustable side of the humbucker would be facing the bridge rather than the neck. The pickup was also out of phase that gave his playing another unique sound. Gary Moore is now the proud owner of the famous instrument.