Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

[Janglin_Jack]

I put a mini humbucker Antiquity II Firebird PU in the bridge of my Les Paul Goldtop. I had some trouble with an out of phase sound with both pickups combined and finally got that resolved with a magnet swap on the P90. I finally got to play the guitar at practice with loud volume and to my surprise the bridge PU started squealing with two light OD on. It was fine with one OD on at a time, but when stacked, it IMMEDIATELY squealed. All my other guitars are fine with this setup, and they are not set with tons of gain, (Zendrive and Barber LTD). Anyhow, I suspect it is due to the lack of wax potting but I am not positive that this will solve my problem. Does anyone have experience with Firebird Mini's not wax potted? I will likely have to send these to Duncan as I don't want to start a fire in my kitchen due to the open flame gas cooktop. I was going to try to mount the PU in a different manner, using foam instead of springs to see if that would help, but don't want to waste my time on a bracket, etc. Thoughts??

Jack

 

[jeremy]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

i use foam frequently and it works fine.

sounds like you just need to pot the pup in wax and that should solve your issue

 

[uOpt]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

You need to make sure it's inside the pickup. It could just be a wobbly mount.

Does it stop when you press your finger on the pickup?

How did you mount them?

 

[Janglin_Jack]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

You need to make sure it's inside the pickup. It could just be a wobbly mount.

Does it stop when you press your finger on the pickup?

How did you mount them?

I didn't try pressing on the PU. I mounted it by using the P90 wood screws through the cover and then through the PU mounting tabs. I put a rubber bushing between the PU mounting tab and the bottom of the bottom of the ring. I then put springs between the guitar body and the bottom of the PU mounting tab. It seemed to be very tight fit. I think I am going to create a metal mounting base and screw it to the guitar body and then thread holes in the mounting bracket. There is a Lollar YouTube out there that shows the process. Seems like a better way to mount. I plan to use foam under the PU instead of springs this time. It would be nice to do this once, that is why I am considering wax potting and then changing the mounting bracket. If you think I can solve it with the mounting, I can start there, but I really don't feel like yanking them later to wax pot. Do you think these should feedback so easy?

Jack

 

[uOpt]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

Screws through the center of the mini humbucker like you mount a soapbar?

Got a photo? Sounds painful.

I bet 45 cookies that your feedback is from the pickup mount (aka the whole pickup resonates) and not from lack of potting and resulting coil or magnet resonance.

 

[Janglin_Jack]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

Screws through the center of the mini humbucker like you mount a soapbar?

Got a photo? Sounds painful.

I bet 45 cookies that your feedback is from the pickup mount (aka the whole pickup resonates) and not from lack of potting and resulting coil or magnet resonance.

That would be an awesome mod!! Drill a hole right through the middle of the PU.

The Mini has "ears" like a regular HB. The Pickup Ring has holes on the edges that line up with the ears. So the wood screw goes through the mounting ring the through the bushing then through the "ear" then the spring then into the body. Scan ahead in this vid to 7:00.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0szX-Oq5o

Jack

 

[uOpt]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

Ah. That's what I was hoping for.

Got around to try the holding the thing with your finger test?

To you have treads on the pickup legs left or are they stripped?

I don't see how this can be a solid mount with height adjustment.

 

[Janglin_Jack]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

Ah. That's what I was hoping for.

Got around to try the holding the thing with your finger test?

To you have treads on the pickup legs left or are they stripped?

I don't see how this can be a solid mount with height adjustment.

Threads are gone, I drilled them out so the screw would go through freely. There is a bushing at the top and a spring for tension at the bottom. Seems just as tight as a regular bucker with spring mount to the ring. I have two little kids, so I won't be able to test it at volume for a few more days.

I was just playing the guitar with headphones with the gain pedals on. It seemed to be so sensitive that when I didn't play, I could hear the TV, (at low volume). I assume that means the pickup cover must be picking up very slight vibrations and the source of the feedback. I did the same test with my Tele with a Mini in the neck and same situation. My Les Paul with Pearly Gates and Custom Custom, (no covers) I can't hear anything. I also took the mini out of the bridge of the GoldTop and left it loose. Still picks up the TV. Is that enought to determine that is probably needs wax potting?

Jack

 

[uOpt]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

Hmmm, if the loose pickup picks up the sound from the TV I'd say that counts as microphonic.

Are you sure this is acoustics and not some electrostatic effect?

If you say the mini in the Tele picks up the same TV but doesn't feed back then there's still a bit missing.

 

[Janglin_Jack]

Re: Antiquity II Firebird Mini Humbuckers - Wax Pot?

Hmmm, if the loose pickup picks up the sound from the TV I'd say that counts as microphonic.

Are you sure this is acoustics and not some electrostatic effect?

If you say the mini in the Tele picks up the same TV but doesn't feed back then there's still a bit missing.

I didn't play the Tele with as much gain. I will try it over the weekend or at my practice on Tues. It did pickup the TV sounds, so I suspect it might be the same as the bridge in the GT. Does the Custom Shop do the wax potting?

Jack