Wax potting pickups that are wax potted from the factory. Why?

[Wolfshead]

As I posted in the Slash APH-2 thread (thought it deserved its own thread) I just got one of those pickups on ebay and it looked like it had been wax potted by the seller. Looking at his other auctions he mentioned a 490R pickup being wax potted "recently" so I assume he just likes to wax pot his pickups even if they've been done at the factory as standard.
My question is - why? Why would you do that? I could understand it if the pickup was microphonic, but how unlucky would you have to be to have multiple pickups like that? Is he buying faulty pickups and sorting them out then re-potting them? I've never come across this before, so I'm curious.

Also, is this going to affect how my new Slash bridge pickup sounds?

 

[Securb]

The seller could have been playing high gain or at high volumes and thought he needed to wax pot or additionally wax pot his pickups. He could have also thought wax potting was his secret sauce and treated all of his pickups. Wax potting fills tiny gaps in a pickup with wax to stop unwanted squeals and feedback at loud volumes. It can clarify the sound by reducing vibration, though some players feel it slightly reduces the pickup’s natural openness and bloom. I would say your pickup should sound pretty damn close to how it was originally intended depending on how much wax was used and how well the seller was applying the process.

My advice would be to install it and give it a listen. You might like it better potted. If not contact the seller telling them you did not intend on buying a notified pickup and ask for your money back.

 

[LTB07]

The seller could have been playing high gain or at high volumes and thought he needed to wax pot or additionally wax pot his pickups. He could have also thought wax potting was his secret sauce and treated all of his pickups. Wax potting fills tiny gaps in a pickup with wax to stop unwanted squeals and feedback at loud volumes. It can clarify the sound by reducing vibration, though some players feel it slightly reduces the pickup’s natural openness and bloom. I would say your pickup should sound pretty damn close to how it was originally intended depending on how much wax was used and how well the seller was applying the process.

My advice would be to install it and give it a listen. You might like it better potted. If not contact the seller telling them you did not intend on buying a notified pickup and ask for your money back.

Wouldn’t it be better to offer potted and non potted pickups for people who may not like potted pickups.

 

[Mincer]

I think it would be great if people were clear on what they were selling so the buyer can make an educated choice.

 

[freefrog]

My question is - why? Why would you do that? I could understand it if the pickup was microphonic, but how unlucky would you have to be to have multiple pickups like that? Is he buying faulty pickups and sorting them out then re-potting them? I've never come across this before, so I'm curious.

Also, is this going to affect how my new Slash bridge pickup sounds?

Each time I've repotted an already potted humbucker, it's because I had modified it - by pulling off its cover then putting it back, by trying different magnets / slugs / screws, etc.

If the seller has tried a few mods then brought the PU back to its original specs, having repotted it shouldn't change its sound (playing a same pickup unpotted then potted would make a subtle difference. Potting it twice shouldn't, since the dielectric constant of wax is not subject to change without notice).

 

[Wolfshead]

Seller told me he'd been getting feedback from his amp on tour so his tech mentioned wax potting. From what I gather the tech potted all his pickups but he thinks it was the amp at fault (a Bludgamp, I'd never heard of them before).
Anyway, I fitted the pickup last night, replacing an original APH-1B. Not had much chance to play it, not sure I hear much difference lol

 

[Chistopher]

Wouldn’t it be better to offer potted and non potted pickups for people who may not like potted pickups.

It would raise the cost of manufacture to set up your factory for twice as many varieties of pickup. I think its a shop floor custom option at SD though. The only pickup I know of that's in production as both a potted and unpotted option is the Burstbuckers. If you buy them aftermarket they are unpotted, If they come stock in the guitar they are potted.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

even though Seymour Duncan does state that their potted pickups will never have any feedback, well that is only partially true. After 40 years of play, temperature changes and grime, the wax does have a tendency to break down, leading to some micrphonics to occur. I have multiple 80s duncans that will get a slight sequel since the wax has slightly broken down from the mentioned factors.

 

[jeremy]

after 40 years, we all need a little tlc to do our best