Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

K

KramerAmsterdam

New member
Hi,

I have tried 3 Superdistortions now and 2 out of 3 (all vintage btw) have killer crazy feedback issues..howling tone that splits my eardrum. I have the suspicion the baseplate has 'broken' of it's expoxy insinde the pickup so there's like vibrations from the baseplate, causing the noise. Is this possible, if so how can I solve this, can it be solved? Need to re-epoxy the baseplate or would waxing does the trick?

Thanks for the input.

Cheers,
Remy
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

If by "vintage" you mean that these Dimarzios are from back in the early 80's or even the 70's, I believe the problem is inadequate wax potting.
All the Dimarzio pickups I tried back when I was learning to play or had only been playing a few years, in the early 80's, had the same problem with microphonic feedback and squealing. Sometime in the 80's, Dimarzio addressed the problem and Dimarzios made in the last 20 years don't generally have a problem with squealing.

If you know a guitar or pickup guru who knows what he's doing, wax potting will probably fix the problem.

I tried potting a pickup once myself, after reading that Eddie Van Halen did this to his own pickups. All I succeeded in doing was melting the bobbins and making our apartment stink of burned plastic and wax.:disappoin
Get someone who knows what they're doing to do it.
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

I have posted how to pot pickups on this forum a dozen times. I have never done any damage to a pickup and I have obtained very good results. Try the search function.
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

Ok the potting is clear, I can do that. Actually I have 3 out of 4 howling like madmen now..another one arrived today..it's sickening..Though..the wax..you use different brands and even ways of cooking than we do here ..can I use candlewaz as well? We have those little round tealights..that material seems like what I find in pickups?

125-150F is the max temp, right?

Still I am annoyed that my pickups are all messed up..I know I draw most feedback from my pedal than my amp so the signal might be high-but a guitar with an EVH/78 in it is quiet and smooth in the same setting?

Anyways..potting or selling them is the only way..I hope the first option.

LAst question for now: how to get of the wax? I noticed that stuff is nasty? Is a guitar polish a good cleaning solution?

Thanks much,
Remy
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

I have a 1978 Dimarzio PAF and it needed to be repotted. I never noticed a problem since I play at low volumes but I sold it to one of the bros here and he tried it with his triple rectum and it drove him nuts. After I got it back from him I potted it and it sounded much better.

I go to the grocery store and buy canning wax or you can use candle wax. I use a candy thermometer and heat to 150f. When it is cooling I use a razor blade and a wire brush to clean off the excess while still pliable. I then use a little bit of paint thinner on a cloth to clean things up after the pickup has cooled.
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

Very common amongst the old SuperD's. Back in the day, they didn't need to wax pot them because the gain levels then weren't anywhere near what they can get to now. A Marshall Super Lead cranked with a SuperD loaded Les Paul gave you wonderful controllable feedback and great tone to boot.

Use paraffin wax and/or beeswax. Don't use candle wax. It's much thicker and heavier. The parrafin wax is much thinner and will get in to there it needs to much easier and quicker. You can find it in the baking section at the grocery store, at least here in the USA you can.
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

The candles I mean are in small aluMINIUM cups..they tend to melt completely when lit. Not meant to burn them like normal candles they'll fall apart.

That must be it than. I thought I was getting paranoid by these pickups, but it is tthem. I'll pot them-read some articles in the Forum (Thanks Idsnowdog). I'll inform you how it went, might take a couple of days though.

Last question..I did read using stellwool to clean them..seems like a rugged way..how about GHS polish e.g.?

Thanks much , will be ride melting these bad boyz!

Remy
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

Do NOT use steelwool to clean them. The little particles from the steelwool will stick to the magnet and poles and cause a big PITA mess to clean up. If the poles need cleaning, you could just take them out and give them a good polish. The plastic should be easy to clean with a damp cloth.
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

My first post here guys. I am having the same problem but with Duncan Custom 5's. I have two of them in a pair of the mid 90's Washburn USA custom shop Mercuries. One was really bad and I pulled it last night to send back to Duncan for a replacement. The Tone Zone I dropped in as a replacement is just dead quiet. I am running a Marshall TSL 60 head on a 4/12 or a Fender Prosonic combo on a Fender 2/12 and at higher volumes when I go wide open on the guitar volume the pickups go microphonic and howl like crazy. It's Maddening!!
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

Welcome, Ascension. The C5 should be wax potted already. Sounds like it needs a fresh dip or a reheating. Sometimes when swapping magnets the pickup needs to be reheated to get the wax flowing again and that helps seal the outter parts up. A hairdryer is good for this. Sometimes a pickup that's been wax potted and goes microphonic can be cured just by heating it up with a hairdryer and making sure the screws holding the bobbins to the baseplate are nice and snug, but not too tight.
 
Re: Crazy feedback on Superdistortion-how to fix?

Hey Guys,

It worked! Went very smoothly. I did 3 Super Distortions total. 1 was a mess to start with (no spacers before!) but worked like a doll. I used those 100% parafine Wax candles I mentioned.

I tried them also and though 1 is still somewhat sensitive to microphonics (but these were short tests, tried 3 of them in 30 minutes in 1 guitar , replacing incl) I can say all 3 are so much better they are very usuable to up to par with my regular Seymour Duncan. So ..thanks much for all the help and advice.

Cleaning was not necessary, just a wipe off.

I did make some pics-so If I find time later today I'll ad them if you like.

Again thanks much.

Remy
 
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