What makes a pickup squeal?

[squawk]

Hello all,

Wondering what makes a pickup squeal or feedback? I've got a pair of Gibson Bustbuckers (unpotted - #2, #3) in a LP and I love the tone but hate the feedback I get especially when the amp - a fender bassman RI, is turned up above bedroom volume. They squeel even when there is not a lot of gain.

I thought I might solve the problem by melting some wax between the pickup cover and the pickup (partial potting) - or is there something inside the actual wound pickup that makes it microphonic?

I could send them off and have them potted (I think Fralin does this for $10 ea), but I'm worried that might change the sound too much...

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

In a nickel covered pickup it's often the cover itself resonating. Wax potting is usually the cure. But you can try removing the cover and installing a piece of 1/2" masking tape inside the cover in the area where the non-adjustable slug polepieces would be pressed against. The tape will prevent the cover from resonating as easily....it'll act as a dampener. Then resolder the cover back on again but press it on very tightly before soldering. A clamp is helpful. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

Lew's way is the way I do it also....I Lay a peice of masking tape over the slug bobbin top,clamp the cover,and resolder it..

Another method is to just melt some candle wax,dip the cover in it,let the wax setup and change color,then clamp the cover and resolder it...If you use wax then you don't need the tape and I feel the wax actually works better because as you push the cover down,the wax squeezes and fills voids...

The wax could possibly dampen your highs ever so slightly but it's not something I pay much attention to....I'd rather have very slight dampening than microphonics anyday!

Check out my tutorial with pictures in the vault.
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

 

[squawk]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

Thanks! I'll give one or both methods a try, depending on what material I have handy. Maybe tape the neck and use wax on the bridge or vice versa. Anything would be an improvement over what I'm hearing now...

Thanks again!

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

It's usually the result of threatening the pickup with a stiff prison stretch if it refuses to testify.

 

[rainsong86]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

I'm thinking about ordering a nickel covered custom 5 from SD.. I guess they're called the "classic covers" line and they come covered from the factory.. which method do they use to pot them?.. and there a big difference between a covered custom 5 and an open coil especially with metal and heavy rock tones?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

I'm thinking about ordering a nickel covered custom 5 from SD.. I guess they're called the "classic covers" line and they come covered from the factory.. which method do they use to pot them?.. and there a big difference between a covered custom 5 and an open coil especially with metal and heavy rock tones?

I believe they'd be dipped in wax for the potting procedure. I think there is a slight diff in tone between covered and uncovered pickups and that the diff I hear is that the uncovered version has a bit more presence: more highs. If you think about it, Jazzers tend to always use covered humbuckers I think they like the warmth) and rockers tend to use uncovered humbuckers ( I think they like the added sizzle or prescence or slightly more aggressive highs). Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

I believe they'd be dipped in wax for the potting procedure. I think there is a slight diff in tone between covered and uncovered pickups and that the diff I hear is that the uncovered version has a bit more presence: more highs. If you think about it, Jazzers tend to always use covered humbuckers I think they like the warmth) and rockers tend to use uncovered humbuckers ( I think they like the added sizzle or prescence or slightly more aggressive highs). Lew

Lew....It's funny for me cause I pretty much always leave the covers on my humbuckers(Except in a strat)so I really can't even comment on the differences? That cover would almost have to make even a minute difference in openess of tone and the highs,but there's been alot of discussion on the subject for sure...I just adjust the amp and my guitar controls and go to it....:laugh2:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

John: I don't own a single guitar with covered humbuckers. The only one I had with covered pickups was my Monoco with the Seth and Custom Custom and I sold that a few weeks ago. Ever since the late 60's when I saw Jeff Beck's Les Paul close up with the set of double cream pafs I've either removed the covers or used HB's with no covers to begin with. It's 50/50 looks and tone. I like the look of uncovered better than covered and also tone seems to have more prescence to me. My Les Paul has a set of Tom Holmes HB's I special ordered in double cream...I removed the covers before I even put them in the guitar. But it's all just personal preference...HB's sound fine either way: covered or uncovered.

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

John: I don't own a single guitar with covered humbuckers. The only one I had with covered pickups was my Monoco with the Seth and Custom Custom and I sold that a few weeks ago. Ever since the late 60's when I saw Jeff Beck's Les Paul close up with the set of double cream pafs I've either removed the covers or used HB's with no covers to begin with. It's 50/50 looks and tone. I like the look of uncovered better than covered and also tone seems to have more prescence to me. My Les Paul has a set of Tom Holmes HB's I special ordered in double cream...I removed the covers before I even put them in the guitar. But it's all just personal preference...HB's sound fine either way: covered or uncovered.

Lew

I have admit that I'm a sucker for double creams myself,but I've always just stuck with covers because of the price differences or having to go CS for most of the off the shelf stock Duncan stuff with cream covers...The tones with the covers on are fine for me...Guess I'd only have an issue with it if I were to pop the covers and listen,but then I'd be giving up the cosmetic look I love so much in my LP/SG guitars...But I believe what you say about covered vs un-covered if it comes from you! :smokin:

 

[greendy123]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

I was kinda wondering about this effect with uncovered pickups. A few weeks ago I got to crank my amp for the first time. A squeal just kept coming unless I touched all my strings. Is this the how people normally get feedback, by cranking an amp and standing in front of it?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

I was kinda wondering about this effect with uncovered pickups. A few weeks ago I got to crank my amp for the first time. A squeal just kept coming unless I touched all my strings. Is this the how people normally get feedback, by cranking an amp and standing in front of it?

Well....There's what I call "sustain" which is a musical note that stays in pitch and has a singing quality about it when you find the sweet spot between your guitar and amp...

The other sound is a squeel like when a microphone feedsback...This squeel is termed "microphonic" and a pickup can make the same sound...This noise is high pitched,uncontrollable and very non-musical....

People that use non-potted pickups sometimes complain about this microphonic problem...A cover that has air space between itself and the top of the pickup bobbins is one of the biggest problems when a humbucking pickup squeels..

 

[greendy123]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

The microphone feedback sound can be used musical if it used creatively or effectively.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

The microphone feedback sound can be used musical if it used creatively or effectively.

There is absolutely nothing musical or useful at all when your pickup goes microphonic other than to drive other people crazy or to get them to leave the area you're playing...It's an obnoxious loud high pitched peircing sound...

You're wanting sustain...Sustain is musical as explained above and it's done by cranking your amp up and turning the heel end of your guitar towards your speakers and hearing the note sought of taking off or sooring away....It's a very musical and inspiring thing when it's happening and you have control over it...Listen to Santana and you'll hear what I'm talking about..He can hold a note with sustain all night with his setup..

 

[greendy123]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

It is a pretty annoying sound, but I find it useful in some songs when it goes from clean to distorted. The sound is kind of used like a transition between the tones.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

It is a pretty annoying sound, but I find it useful in some songs when it goes from clean to distorted. The sound is kind of used like a transition between the tones.

:13: Diffrent strokes I guess? :laugh2:

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: What makes a pickup squeal?

When it's done properly, the wax secures the structure of the pickup so no individual components, say the magnet or a screw or the cover, can vibrate or self-resonate in high-gain situations. That's what causes the microphonic feedback or squealing.