Custom Shop Allan Holdsworth AH1B no wax potting?

[STLMTLHD79]

I have a NIB from 2004 I bought second hand unused as a set (with dual screw 59 neck). the bridge measures 16.2 according to MJ's writing on the box. The pickup appears to be unpotted however, with no wax residue on any of the baseplate or conductor cable. Could this be possible? I know MJ keeps super good notes I wonder if this is in one of her notebooks?

 

[Ascension]

I have a NIB from 2004 I bought second hand unused as a set (with dual screw 59 neck). the bridge measures 16.2 according to MJ's writing on the box. The pickup appears to be unpotted however, with no wax residue on any of the baseplate or conductor cable. Could this be possible? I know MJ keeps super good notes I wonder if this is in one of her notebooks?

That would make sense in it not being potted and here is why. Kiesel Carvin has several Holdsworth Sig guitars with specific pickups to those guitars . All were unpotted per Holdsworths wishes as they had a long relationship. Holdsworth insisted on unpotted pickups in his personal guitars and sig guitars so makes sense that the Duncan Holdsworth pickup is un potted.

 

[Mincer]

Allan didn't really use potted pickups. Actually, that double screw 59 you have is closer to what Allan actually used in the bridge pickups in his guitars the last several years of his life. He liked non-potted, double screw neck pickups in the bridge of his guitars. What is called the Metal Fatigue AH pickup in the Custom Shop is closer to what came in his sig Ibanez guitar in the 80s.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

I actually got a cool reply from the custom shop about a day after this post:


Thanks for reaching out. The AH1B is made with wax potting.

This pickup you have was made in the Custom Shop as a AH1 set with white bobbins. There is no indication of not being wax potted, so would have been wax potted for sure. Wax is usually wiped off from the outside of the pickup after the potting process and may have been also cleaned by the previous owner.

Thanks
Chris Cardenas
Customer Service and Technical Support
Seymour Duncan

 

[Clint 55]

Simply adjust the pole screws and wax will show if it has been potted. It should be quite easy to tell if it was or not. If it wasn't potted there will be zero wax while faffing with the screws.