Ouch! BAD microphonic feedback!!!

[sooperunkn]

I've got a C5 bridge and a Jazz neck in my Les Paul Custom. I recently put gold duncan covers on the pickups and the microphonic feedback is really bad. Especially at high gain/volume. I was a dumbass because I didn't wax the covers before putting them on :smack:

So I'm making an assumption that it's the covers causing the feedback. I did have some feedback before the covers but only when I really cranked my DR to like 7-8. Is there a quick fix I can try before I take these out (lowering the pups and raising the poles?) If not, I plan on taking the pups out and the covers off and waxing them. I also saw a detailed procedure on this forum once about doing just that (StratDeluxer????). I think that procedure also suggested covering the pole-pieces (the unexposed ones) with masking tape as well. Do I also have to wax the actual pickups too? Aren't all SD pups pre-waxed?

Any help out there?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ouch! BAD microphonic feedback!!!

It's the covers.

1. Remove them.
2. Put a piece of 1/2" masking tape inside each cover in the area where the slug polepieces will be.
3. Get two clamps of some kind...I use yellow plastic "vice grip" type woodworker's clamps.
4. Clamp the cover on TIGHT so it is pressed tightly against the top of the two coils/bobbins.
5. Clamp the sides of the cover TIGHT to the sides of the baseplate.
6. Resolder the cover to the baseplate.

That should do the trick.

If it doesn't, then the next step is wax potting.

Lew

 

[sooperunkn]

Re: Ouch! BAD microphonic feedback!!!

Hey I was just thinking that as a test I can put the masking tape on the top of the pup covers and see how that does in reducing the feedback. That should work the same right? Or does the tape need to be between the cover and the slugs to get any improvement? This of course would be just temporary

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ouch! BAD microphonic feedback!!!

You need the masking tape inside and most importantly you need to clamp those covers on tight. No air between the inside of the cover and the top of the bobbins. Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ouch! BAD microphonic feedback!!!

I learned the method I described from Tom Holmes, BTW. It works! Lew