Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

Redbowties88

Redbowties88

New member
So I'm messing around with the stock pickups on my g-400 having ordered a new set to install soon. I figured it wouldn't hurt to experiment with these a little first.

First thing is the pole pieces have gotten decently rusty over the years, how is that effecting the sound?

Another thing I hear is that these pickups are often heavily/over potted. So I might try removing as much wax as possible just to see what kind of change I get.

Any other fun ideas to try and change up the sound of a crappy pickup?

 
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Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

rust? you have to pay extra for that on a new pick-up.
I would say don't waste time on a crap pick-up.
over potting, rust??? makes a minute difference.

the magnet swappers will be here in a minute :nono:
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

I'm just doing it as more of an experiment/learning experience I don't expect to make this pickup not suck but it's interesting to see what effect's I can produce.

Also here's some more pics, in case anyone is interested.







 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

Rand-O-Monium said:
Jeebus...

No wonder the bees are disappearing...
Click to expand...

So it's safe to assume the rumors of over potting in these pickups is correct? This is my first time inside a pickup so I don't really have anything to compare it to...
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

Redbowties88 said:






Click to expand...

Congratulations, you're the owner of the arguably worst stock p'up set known to mankind.

The only use I can think of is as paperweight.

To MAYBE get to sound'em somehow decent is by changing the baseplates, slugs, keeper bars, screws, covers and magnets; which amount will exceed the price of an used, decent p'up.

While you're at it, don't forget to change the harness, as the one present in your guitar is made with pretty crappy components.

Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but that's how it is.

HTH,
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

LtKojak said:
Congratulations, you're the owner of the arguably worst stock p'up set known to mankind.

The only use I can think of is as paperweight.

To MAYBE get to sound'em somehow decent is by changing the baseplates, slugs, keeper bars, screws, covers and magnets; which amount will exceed the price of an used, decent p'up.

While you're at it, don't forget to change the harness, as the one present in your guitar is made with pretty crappy components.

Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but that's how it is.

HTH,
Click to expand...

I was well aware lol, but thanks.

I have a new set on order as well as all new pots. When I'm done the only thing original will be the pup selector.

I would like to reiterate again that I'm not trying to make this suck any less.. I just figured for fun it would be neat to play with them and different combo's. I don't mind a little soldering.
 
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Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

In case anyone is interested here's a pic of the reverse of the neck pickup. Turns out in the DOT's they used the same one both the neck and bridge. Also that one had just as much wax covering it. I just installed them both back in the guitar and left the covers off. I'll report back on the results when I get back to my amp.

 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

Ok so now I've spent some time and I can report my findings..

bridge pickup: definite improvement! It went from absolutely horrible black mud to just plain bad. It's almost live-able. It's still on the muddy end of things but it did brighten up some and is definitely more clear then before. I would say 25% improvement.

neck pickup: better, but still basically unusable for rhythm. Maybe 10% improvement in clarity but still pretty awful. However I pulled 6 pole pieces to make it sound more single coil-ish and now that method works great! I tried it before but there was not much if any improvement... now though the brightness really comes out and is really clear in comparison. It's not as bright as a single coil.. in fact it just kinda sounds like a little bit thinner then a humbucker but it sure works. This should help me live with this thing until the new p'ups arrive.

Final conclusion: worth the time? na not really. Unless you have no other option or just really like to tinker with stuff (as I do) I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure there's $50 pickup sets out there on the market that would blow this thing away.
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust/Overwax, How Much Does It Effect Toanz? Pics!

Re: Pole Piece Rust/Overwax, How Much Does It Effect Toanz? Pics!

This is an awesome experiment. I've always wondered this exact same, as my epiphone came with the same pickups. Seems like epiphone just throws the same pickups on the lp, explorer, dot, SG, everything else?
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust/Overwax, How Much Does It Effect Toanz? Pics!

Re: Pole Piece Rust/Overwax, How Much Does It Effect Toanz? Pics!

qaiso said:
This is an awesome experiment. I've always wondered this exact same, as my epiphone came with the same pickups. Seems like epiphone just throws the same pickups on the lp, explorer, dot, SG, everything else?
Click to expand...

Most likely all those type of models from that era. If you take a minute and pull off one of the pickups you should be able to reference the number to the pics I posted.

I will say that epiphany really stepped up their game though with the new pickups the put in the Wilshire I recently acquired. 100% better and that's not an exaggeration.
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

With a new set of pickups already on the way, the next thing I'd be concerned about is that bridge.
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

^ half the saddles are arse-about

if you still have a long time to wait, you may notice a difference without the cover and all that wax; but i'd just play your wilshire until the new pickups arrive
; ]
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

dr. ad said:
^ half the saddles are arse-about

if you still have a long time to wait, you may notice a difference without the cover and all that wax; but i'd just play your wilshire until the new pickups arrive
; ]
Click to expand...

Most of the tune-o-matics I've seen are the same way, half the saddles one way the other half opposite... It looks like I may be able to flip them. Do you think it makes much of a difference? the intonation is spot on, the tailpiece is decked and the strings still clear the back of the bridge, the bridge feels great. I've never been able to tell this one apart from any real Gibsons.
 
Re: Pole Piece Rust, How Much Does It Effect Toanz?

Most important thing I learned yesterday overall though definitely had to be,


NEVER EVER run a small pick guard cherry SG with black uncovered pickups. God damn it's ugly.
 
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