Potted vs Unpotted , can you really hear the difference ?

[JB6464]

If you have two identical pickup sets like 59's and one set is Potted and the other set Unpotted , do you think there is a noticeable tone difference ?
I am also taking into consideration that both pickup sets don't feed back or squeal causing any issues and are in stock OEM form with the A5 magnets , not modified .

 

[freefrog]

Objectively, wax potting a pickup slightly increases its stray capacitance and shifts down its resonant frequency accordingly. You may or may not hear it. Judge by yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOhkQK75edc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKLhf4jc6Ko

 

[larryguitar]

I've wound pickups, played them and then potted them to check this. Now, this is obviously not a blind test, so I'm sure expectations and such contributed, but I found I could hear the difference on most HB's, and could hear a serious difference on ALL SC's. I don't pot anything at this point, generally.

Larry

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Objectively, wax potting a pickup slightly increases its stray capacitance and shifts down its resonant frequency accordingly. You may or may not hear it. Judge by yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOhkQK75edc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKLhf4jc6Ko

That’s not my experience at all. And there’s no reason why wax would do that.


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[DavidRavenMoon]

As a pickup maker I’ve tested pickups both ways. I also encapsulate many in epoxy. Besides being microphonic and squealing like a pig I hear no difference.

Look how bright Fender pickups are. They were always wax potted.


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[freefrog]

That’s not my experience at all. And there’s no reason why wax would do that.

Hello David,

Wax would do that because of its dielectric constant. But as I said, the related capacitive effect is slight: around 50pF or 60pF more for a single coil according to our lab measurements here.

That being said to explain my statement and not to argue (I don't like to argue and you know my respect for your Internet contributions anyway).

Now and interestingly, the difference of perception between laryguitar and you illustrates precisely what I was humbly saying about the capacitive effect of wax: we may or may not hear it (for various reasons that I won't develop here).

Not enough time to make it longer. Kind regards and see ya.

 

[Mincer]

It does tend to 'feel' different. I have tested potted and unpotted Seth Lovers, and there seems to be more touch-sensitivity with the unpotted version.

 

[gsammo79]

I agree with mincer on the way an unpotted pickup feels and handles. That's what I notice most. Unpotted pickups are a huge feedback gamble, ime. But, they dont all squeal

 

[esandes]

Unpotted can be microphonic. You could literally talk to the pickup and your voice can be heard through your Marshall at 11. But I think the feedback may overpower your voice.

 

[LLL]

Yes.

 

[GuitarStv]

I can hear a difference . . . more feedback with unpotted.

 

[Mincer]

Unpotted can be microphonic. You could literally talk to the pickup and your voice can be heard through your Marshall at 11. But I think the feedback may overpower your voice.

Microphonics might not be a bad thing. If your style depends on touch-sensitivity, it can be a very good thing.

 

[Ewizard]

I too have made several pickups and one of them I purposefully did a light potting. I could tell instantly that it was going to require another full dipping. There were obvious signs of microphonics, you could hear the ringing of the guitar after a note was struck. It had a sound that was not typical. After fully re-potting it, all the microphonics went away and it sounded cleaner, clearer, and more solid as opposed to hollow.