toneseeker74
New member
I use both potted and unspotted humbuckers, and I really enjoy the extra "airiness" or "space" in the sound of the unspotted pickups. Is there any reason to choose laquer potted vs. wax potted vs. unpotted Jazz Bass pickups?
Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
- Thread starter toneseeker74
- Start date
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
I'm not familiar with lacquer potting. I've heard of resin potting, and that's a big risk.
The exothermic reaction during the curing process could compromise the insulation, and short out the wiring.
If the unpotted sound works for you, go for it.
I'm not familiar with lacquer potting. I've heard of resin potting, and that's a big risk.
The exothermic reaction during the curing process could compromise the insulation, and short out the wiring.
If the unpotted sound works for you, go for it.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
Here's a thought.
If you heat lacquer intended for potting to a temperature at which it flows freely, would this not adversely affect any lacquer already used in that pickup to insulate the copper within the coil?
Here's a thought.
If you heat lacquer intended for potting to a temperature at which it flows freely, would this not adversely affect any lacquer already used in that pickup to insulate the copper within the coil?
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
Aren't the Antiquity Jazz Bass pickups lacquer potted?
Aren't the Antiquity Jazz Bass pickups lacquer potted?
toneseeker74
New member
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
I bit the bullet and ordered a set of Fender Pure Vintage 74 Jazz Bass pickups. Fender specs say that these are lacquer potted. Right now my bass has Fender Custom Shop 60's pickups, and I'm not sure if they are potted or not. I'll post a review after I have tried both sets for a couple of weeks.
I bit the bullet and ordered a set of Fender Pure Vintage 74 Jazz Bass pickups. Fender specs say that these are lacquer potted. Right now my bass has Fender Custom Shop 60's pickups, and I'm not sure if they are potted or not. I'll post a review after I have tried both sets for a couple of weeks.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
Lemme know what you think of those actually! Been meaning to check out the pure vintage series. The site says it is "Shellac potted" so I'm assuming that's the same thing or similar?
Lemme know what you think of those actually! Been meaning to check out the pure vintage series. The site says it is "Shellac potted" so I'm assuming that's the same thing or similar?
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
Pretty much all of SD's vintage Fender style bobbins are dipped in lacquer prior to the winding process. This does two things: it seals the Forbon fibre which makes it less likely to warp over time due to humidity changes; and it coats the magnet pole pieces which makes them less like to oxidize over time as moisture gets inside the pickup. Seymour has done a lot of repair work on dead vintage Fender single coils and it's common to see inner coil pole corrosion that ultimately causes a break in the magnet wire where the wire touches the magnets.
For most pickups used in most climates, the benefits of the lacquer potting probably don't kick in until the pickup is a few decades old. But SD builds pickups to last the life of the guitar, or longer.
Pretty much all of SD's vintage Fender style bobbins are dipped in lacquer prior to the winding process. This does two things: it seals the Forbon fibre which makes it less likely to warp over time due to humidity changes; and it coats the magnet pole pieces which makes them less like to oxidize over time as moisture gets inside the pickup. Seymour has done a lot of repair work on dead vintage Fender single coils and it's common to see inner coil pole corrosion that ultimately causes a break in the magnet wire where the wire touches the magnets.
For most pickups used in most climates, the benefits of the lacquer potting probably don't kick in until the pickup is a few decades old. But SD builds pickups to last the life of the guitar, or longer.
toneseeker74
New member
Re: Lacquer potted pickups...yay or nay?
Cool stuff, Evan! Thanks!
I received the Pure Vintage 74's. Haven't installed them yet, but I measured their resistance. Bridge was 7.85k, and neck 7.35k. Fender specs are bridge 7.8k and neck 8.3k. Not sure whether my neck pickup is underwound or whether Fender publicized the wrong specs. Wouldn't be the first time, because they originally advertised their Custom Shop 60's pickups around 9k, but then later revised them to the 7's. My CS 60's measure about 10% underwound. Pretty lame that Fender advertises such erroneous specs.
As for a pickup shootout, I'm going to play the CS 60's a little longer, then I'll give the PV 74's a spin.
Cool stuff, Evan! Thanks!
I received the Pure Vintage 74's. Haven't installed them yet, but I measured their resistance. Bridge was 7.85k, and neck 7.35k. Fender specs are bridge 7.8k and neck 8.3k. Not sure whether my neck pickup is underwound or whether Fender publicized the wrong specs. Wouldn't be the first time, because they originally advertised their Custom Shop 60's pickups around 9k, but then later revised them to the 7's. My CS 60's measure about 10% underwound. Pretty lame that Fender advertises such erroneous specs.
As for a pickup shootout, I'm going to play the CS 60's a little longer, then I'll give the PV 74's a spin.
