Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

[Quencho092]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

do you think the surfers would need wax potting? have you played them under quite some gain?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

do you think the surfers would need wax potting? have you played them under quite some gain?

Nah...the Surfers sound just great under high gain, as do the Texas Hots. The pickups I just wax potted are OLD pickups! One was about 40 or 50 years old...the original neck pickup that came with my '54 Tele. Most single coils don't need wax potting. IMO, it's mostly the ones with metal covers or a metal bassplate that become microphonic, and it's the cover or bassplatethat usually causes the problem. IMO.

Lew

 

[psychodave]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

I had a coffee cup filled with my wax....70% carnuba and 30% beeswax...so the wax gets hard, but not rock solid. I use a double boiler to melt the wax.

Here is a simple trick to really get the wax in the p-up....

Go to Home Depot and get some PVC pipe with threaded ends. You only need about 5 inches or so and it only need to be able to fit one or two p-ups. Seal (air tight) one end and drill the other end for a one way air chuck or air nozzle. After you pull the p-up out of the wax (I suggest 3-5 minutes so that all of the metal/plastic gets hot enough for the wax to easily drip off) put it in the new pipe, seal it up and pump it full of compressed air. By compressing the air, you are now forcing wax into every nook and cranny. Let it sit for 5/10 minutes under pressure. This works for p-ups with or without covers!

Sounds like a lot of work, but it is not and it is better than just dipping the p-up. I have potted dozens of p-up and it is so easy.

I guarantee you will never have a squealing problem again!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

When I install covers on humbuckers, I always put a piece of 1/2" x 2" masking tape inside the cover where the slug polepieces will be. Never have any problems with squeeling but I clamp them on really tight before soldering.

That's a technique I learned from Tom Holmes...the tape thing I mean.

Lew

This is soo cool. Before learning that from you like a year ago or so, (since I don't want wax on my HBs) I used all crazy stuff inside the covers. And my horrible success ratio was like 1 every 5 trials.

I gotta thank you for sharing that very useful info and Tom Holmes for showing that trick to you!

B

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

This is soo cool. Before learning that from you like a year ago or so, (since I don't want wax on my HBs) I used all crazy stuff inside the covers. And my horrible success ratio was like 1 every 5 trials.

I gotta thank you for sharing that very useful info and Tom Holmes for showing that trick to you!

B

Thanks Doc! You know, the funny thing is, Tom Holmes doesn't even play the guitar. Sure knows good tone tho...

Lew

 

[montopunk]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

Hey guys I've read somewhere that to pot a pickup I need a mix of paraffin (candle wax) and beeswax.
Does it mean the actual wax made by bees?
I went to a honey store and they offered me this:



Will it do?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Wax Potting Microphonic Pickups

That is beeswax.... but truth be told every time ive potted a pickup ive used just straight paraffin wax. Its cheap and easy to find and melts pretty easy. Ive heard of some manufacturers using a mixture but no one has ever been able to tell me why. Until then ill just keep using paraffin.