How do you install a pickup cover?
- Thread starter Wonker
- Start date
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
If you have a matchbook cut a strip of cardboard to fit over the slug poles. Use a little paint thinner to remove the wax residue on the sides of the pickup base, then use a wire brush to rough up the area to be soldered. Fit the cover on the pickup, cut two small strips of solder and lay them in the channel where the cover meets the pickups base. Then use a 50 watt soldering iron to weld the cover to the base. If you get any feedback afterwards you can repott to keep the cover from rattling.
If you have a matchbook cut a strip of cardboard to fit over the slug poles. Use a little paint thinner to remove the wax residue on the sides of the pickup base, then use a wire brush to rough up the area to be soldered. Fit the cover on the pickup, cut two small strips of solder and lay them in the channel where the cover meets the pickups base. Then use a 50 watt soldering iron to weld the cover to the base. If you get any feedback afterwards you can repott to keep the cover from rattling.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
That's all I usually do. The tape & wax hold the cover in place pretty snug, certainly good enough for normal volumes. If you're playing large outdoor venues, you'd want to solder the covers on to prevent any possible feedback.
If you solder them, use a gun if you can, as it gets hotter than an iron & that'll make the solder attach better.
That's all I usually do. The tape & wax hold the cover in place pretty snug, certainly good enough for normal volumes. If you're playing large outdoor venues, you'd want to solder the covers on to prevent any possible feedback.
If you solder them, use a gun if you can, as it gets hotter than an iron & that'll make the solder attach better.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
If I'm not going to wax pot them, I first put a piece of 1/2" masking tape inside the cover in the area that will cover the slug polepieces. That helps damp the cover and prevent feedback.
Then I clamp it on pretty tight with either a C clamp or the modified (padded) vice grips I have.
Then I solder a 1/4" glob of solder to the middle of each side of the cover and the baseplate to hold it all together.
If I'm not going to wax pot them, I first put a piece of 1/2" masking tape inside the cover in the area that will cover the slug polepieces. That helps damp the cover and prevent feedback.
Then I clamp it on pretty tight with either a C clamp or the modified (padded) vice grips I have.
Then I solder a 1/4" glob of solder to the middle of each side of the cover and the baseplate to hold it all together.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
You don't "pot" them with the wax.
You place one small drop of wax on top of one bobbin. Put the cover on, solder it shut with pretty high pressure so that the top sits on the wax on the bottom. Heat the top with a hairdryer so that the wax melts between bobbin and cover.
That is how the SD covers come mounted. The only trick is generating the pull to not end up with a loose cover and to heat up just enough for the wax to melt but not float around.
You don't "pot" them with the wax.
You place one small drop of wax on top of one bobbin. Put the cover on, solder it shut with pretty high pressure so that the top sits on the wax on the bottom. Heat the top with a hairdryer so that the wax melts between bobbin and cover.
That is how the SD covers come mounted. The only trick is generating the pull to not end up with a loose cover and to heat up just enough for the wax to melt but not float around.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
Say what??? Most folks who offer wax potted pickups DO use a pot filled with melted wax. You drop the pickup into the pot and when no more air bubbles come out of the pickup you're done and all the spaces inside the pickup and cover are filled with wax. That's how it's usually done.
Say what??? Most folks who offer wax potted pickups DO use a pot filled with melted wax. You drop the pickup into the pot and when no more air bubbles come out of the pickup you're done and all the spaces inside the pickup and cover are filled with wax. That's how it's usually done.
Wonker
New member
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
Now I’m confused
This is what I have.
^
l
l
l
This is with just the cover put on by hand as far down as it will go. Do the heads of the screws need to be up higher through the holes in the cover?
^
l
l
l
Can someone show me where the solder goes on this picture?
Now I’m confused
This is what I have.
^
l
l
l
This is with just the cover put on by hand as far down as it will go. Do the heads of the screws need to be up higher through the holes in the cover?
^
l
l
l
Can someone show me where the solder goes on this picture?
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
I describe what has been done to the Seymour Duncan pickup covers that I took the cover off that were obviously unmolested before, that means the potting done by Seymour Duncan.
This is for the cover only. The coils have obviously been potted before putting in the cover in the manner I describe.
Or in other words: the coils are waxed by actually putting them into a pot. But when the cover is put on afterwards the whole cover is not filled with wax, just a drop on top of one bobbin. I have seen that several times.
I describe what has been done to the Seymour Duncan pickup covers that I took the cover off that were obviously unmolested before, that means the potting done by Seymour Duncan.
This is for the cover only. The coils have obviously been potted before putting in the cover in the manner I describe.
Or in other words: the coils are waxed by actually putting them into a pot. But when the cover is put on afterwards the whole cover is not filled with wax, just a drop on top of one bobbin. I have seen that several times.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
+1. I've opened up many SD, DMz, & Gibson HB's, and they all have very little wax. Most is under the coils around the magnets to hold them in place, and a little on the of the coils so the cover doesn't move around. None of them look like they've been dipped in wax, and some have hardly any wax at all.
That's why cheap Asian-made HB's stand out, they are completely bathed in the stuff and look like a bar of soap when you take the cover off. Never seen an American-made PU look anything remotely like that.
+1. I've opened up many SD, DMz, & Gibson HB's, and they all have very little wax. Most is under the coils around the magnets to hold them in place, and a little on the of the coils so the cover doesn't move around. None of them look like they've been dipped in wax, and some have hardly any wax at all.
That's why cheap Asian-made HB's stand out, they are completely bathed in the stuff and look like a bar of soap when you take the cover off. Never seen an American-made PU look anything remotely like that.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
By your's truly...
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm
By your's truly...
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm
El CHupacabra
New member
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
BTW i would raise the screws to at least meet the metal. Get a bit of boost in sound.
BTW i would raise the screws to at least meet the metal. Get a bit of boost in sound.
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
Yep thats a good reply man, it was a connotation anyway so nice execution of patience...
Yep thats a good reply man, it was a connotation anyway so nice execution of patience...
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
THis site is a wealth of support so thank you to all who contribute.
I installed triple shots and I used this thread earlier to secure a cover.
I wasnt using a pick at that point in time but now I've resumed and am using tusq picks so I notice this dirt when using especially my looper funtion
on BOSS ME25.
I ran a lot of TS and narrowed it down (by comparing 2 guitars also) to the neck pup.
at the time, melting it on the bobbin didn't sound as good an idea as hard fitting the slugs to touch the cover.
but I think then the whole cover has the magnetic pull of the slug and is quite likely the problem I only notice now using these picks..
Will prepare solution and post back result FYI.
THis site is a wealth of support so thank you to all who contribute.
I installed triple shots and I used this thread earlier to secure a cover.
I wasnt using a pick at that point in time but now I've resumed and am using tusq picks so I notice this dirt when using especially my looper funtion
on BOSS ME25.
I ran a lot of TS and narrowed it down (by comparing 2 guitars also) to the neck pup.
at the time, melting it on the bobbin didn't sound as good an idea as hard fitting the slugs to touch the cover.
but I think then the whole cover has the magnetic pull of the slug and is quite likely the problem I only notice now using these picks..
Will prepare solution and post back result FYI.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
These days I do it differently.
I use two C clamps.
First I loosen the four brass screws that pass through the baseplate and hold the pickup together. I loosen them just a little.
Then I slide the cover on and clamp it front to back.
Then I tighten those four brass screws I loosened...but be careful not to overtighten them. They'll strip easily.
Then I clamp the sides tight to the baseplate and solder.
Loosening the four brass screws, clamping, and then tightening those four screws seems to help a lot with eliminating microphonic feedback and tightens the whole pickup up and for me, eliminates the need for wax potting.
But I'm not a super high gain player.
These days I do it differently.
I use two C clamps.
First I loosen the four brass screws that pass through the baseplate and hold the pickup together. I loosen them just a little.
Then I slide the cover on and clamp it front to back.
Then I tighten those four brass screws I loosened...but be careful not to overtighten them. They'll strip easily.
Then I clamp the sides tight to the baseplate and solder.
Loosening the four brass screws, clamping, and then tightening those four screws seems to help a lot with eliminating microphonic feedback and tightens the whole pickup up and for me, eliminates the need for wax potting.
But I'm not a super high gain player.
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
+1^. I do a simpler version of what Lewguitar does when I use covers ( 3 guitars with, 4 without ) and none has wax potting at all.
When I do put a cover back on I put 2 strips of masking tape folded over each side of the lower part of the cover, (folded in and out) and low so it can't be seen or get caught up.
It fits and stays tight and never squeals.
Steve Buffington
+1^. I do a simpler version of what Lewguitar does when I use covers ( 3 guitars with, 4 without ) and none has wax potting at all.
When I do put a cover back on I put 2 strips of masking tape folded over each side of the lower part of the cover, (folded in and out) and low so it can't be seen or get caught up.
It fits and stays tight and never squeals.
Steve Buffington
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
Just in case anyone else is looking for info. I just installed covers in a SH1/SH14 set. I even changed the polepiece screws by gold finished ones.
Just a strip of electrician's tape (one layer) in between the bobbins, press the already installed cover tightly with a clamp, and solder the cover to the pickup baseplate.
No wax potting needed, no squeals (I play metal........)....
Just in case anyone else is looking for info. I just installed covers in a SH1/SH14 set. I even changed the polepiece screws by gold finished ones.
Just a strip of electrician's tape (one layer) in between the bobbins, press the already installed cover tightly with a clamp, and solder the cover to the pickup baseplate.
No wax potting needed, no squeals (I play metal........)....
Re: How do you install a pickup cover?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp7hAqmzecA
This is one way to do it, he uses a silcone bead, which I have never used but I am sure will work just as good as wax. This is a pretty simple mod but working with a soldering gun can be dangerous, keep in mind that heat will conduct and that the pickup cover may get too hot to handle. It helps to have a shop clamp to hold the pickup while you work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp7hAqmzecA
This is one way to do it, he uses a silcone bead, which I have never used but I am sure will work just as good as wax. This is a pretty simple mod but working with a soldering gun can be dangerous, keep in mind that heat will conduct and that the pickup cover may get too hot to handle. It helps to have a shop clamp to hold the pickup while you work.
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