[sdiy] Wrapping directions for pickups - polarity and such

[Robotboy8 at aol.com]

I'm in the process of constructing a simple electric harp.  In all a very 
simple project with one exception: it requires a foot-long pickup with custom 
magnet spacing.  Not difficult to make but tedious as all hell to wind.  So what 
I'm wondering is how necessary it is that the wire go around the magnets in 
the traditional direction
(beware ascii picture)
 /-----------------------\
|000000000000000I
\-------------------------/

as opposed to wrapping around the magnet lengthwise.  In other words, will 
the pickup work (and if so, how well) if the wire were wrapped around the 
foot-long bobbin such that the smallest diameter were made, rather than the largest. 
 And if that works, will it be better to have it come back over and cover 
itself again and a third time?  Wrapping front to back, then back to front, then 
front to back again?

       -eric, apologizing for how hard it was to phrase this question
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