Pickup covers

[ancient_owl]

Hi, mates!

Finally made my mind on choosing the right pickups (Custom+Pearly Gates) and now I want to install no-holes solid covers on them, these:
http://pop-music.ru/bigimg/888880013855.jpg

I want to smoothen a bit my tone with them as I want to remove the tone knob from the circuit. And now I would like to know how to install this particular covers. I've read that waxing is necessary, but, according to this article:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/easy-breezy-beautiful-covered-humbuckers/
I've decided to go with the tape - how to apply it correctly? I mean, this are fully closed covers, so maybe I should the whole top surface of the pickup with tape or I shouldn't cover the poles in any case?

 

[ancient_owl]

Re: Pickup covers

Up! Anyone?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pickup covers

SD generally has a drop of wax on one bobbin's top and then forces them down strongly so that the top of the cover can't move against the bobbin.

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: Pickup covers

I prefer covers but covers with no holes for the polepieces seems like a recipe for muffled tone. That's what's "wrong" with the stock Tele neck pickups people complain about. I wouldn't do what you're planning on doing.

 

[ancient_owl]

Re: Pickup covers

uOpt,
Yep, I know about that, but I'm afraid that poles when they touch the cover will create squeals...
Gypsyblue,
I guess they'll become less hi-endy, to prevent this I'll remove tone control. BTW, Gibson uses them on mini-humbuckers. And they look just great IMO!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup covers

Are those covers nickelsilver or brass?

Big difference on tone...

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pickup covers

uOpt,
Yep, I know about that, but I'm afraid that poles when they touch the cover will create squeals...

Why would they?

 

[ancient_owl]

Re: Pickup covers

LtKojak,
Nickelsilver = neusilber. No microfonic effect, according to the promotional materials. But still, I guess it exists, although reduced a bit.

 

[ancient_owl]

Re: Pickup covers

uOpt,
Frankly speaking I'm not good at physics, I've just read that it happens, but don't actually understand why... And how exactly does this squealing appear?

 

[dvadneau]

Re: Pickup covers

uOpt,
Frankly speaking I'm not good at physics, I've just read that it happens, but don't actually understand why... And how exactly does this squealing appear?

You have to back down the screws so they're flush or below the top of the coil. You want the cover flat on the top of the coils.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup covers

You have to back down the screws so they're flush or below the top of the coil. You want the cover flat on the top of the coils.

+1. If the pole piece screws are against the covers, you'll pobably get feedback from the vibrations, unless you used a bunch of wax between them.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pickup covers

uOpt,
Frankly speaking I'm not good at physics, I've just read that it happens, but don't actually understand why... And how exactly does this squealing appear?

If the cover is loose then it can feedback on it's down. But it doesn't have to do with the screw polepiece touching the cover, they always do.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Pickup covers

I wrote that article

Just do as dvadneau says and screw the poles down flush with the bobbin top. From there you can use the method described in the article.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup covers

Matt,

That's a great article, very simple and well written.

I, however, prefer to use the tape AND wax. I've had too many squeels from high output pups before I potted them. After the wax bath they were happy and content. And wax potting just so happens to be pretty simple.

 

[ancient_owl]

Re: Pickup covers

Thanks, mates!
Really helpful and newbie-friendly forum unlike many others :arms:

Special thanks to ratherdashing. Great article!

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Pickup covers

I prefer covers but covers with no holes for the polepieces seems like a recipe for muffled tone. That's what's "wrong" with the stock Tele neck pickups people complain about. I wouldn't do what you're planning on doing.

Putting holes in a Tele neck pu cover wouldn't help much. It would still be dull.

 

[ancient_owl]

Re: Pickup covers

I've been thinking about waxing... So, it usually is done to prevent the unnecessary vibration, right? But if the cover is soldered to the pickup there should be no movement between, should it? Maybe waxing does something in addition to making the solid connection...

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup covers

Even though it is soldered to the base of the pup, there can still be vibration at the top at the coil/cover interface. Even the air movement under the cover can cause squeeling.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Pickup covers

Even though it is soldered to the base of the pup, there can still be vibration at the top at the coil/cover interface. Even the air movement under the cover can cause squeeling.

That's what the double sided tape is for. It performs the same function as the wax.

No, it's not a perfect hermetic seal, but it's much simpler and it works very well. I've never had feedback problems using this method.