Wax potting

Rico · 05-15-2008, 11:03 PM

Situation: You have a pickup with no cover and is not wax potted.
You want to install a cover.

Question: Do you have to wax pot the pickup before you place a cover on.?

I only ask, because, I read somewhere that you should, to cut down on feed back.????

Which makes me think, because Duncan Antiquities come with covers and are not wax potted at least that's what the add said.????

So I'm kinda cornfused.????

Masa · 05-16-2008, 01:34 AM

It depends. If you play loud, you should wax pot it. I play loud sometimes, and I can't really use the non-potted pickup, becasue of the feedback.

People say the one without wax pot sounds better (more open and so on), but I don't have a choice.

uOpt · 05-16-2008, 12:52 PM

Some Seymour Duncans have neither the coils nor the cover waxed.

But make no mistake, high quality winds are less microphonic without wax than junk pickups are with wax or epoxy.

These SDs also have the cover on very tight. It is likely that if you casually put them on on your own you will get more feedback.

To make that clear: there is extra waxing going on with the cover. It is not just a waxed pickup with a cover on.

***b-squared*** · 05-16-2008, 01:23 PM

You can also use a thick piece of double-sided tape to hold the cover tight against the pickup...prevents it from moving.

WB uses that technique on his non-potted pickups--works well on my guitars.

BB

PoorMan · 05-16-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico

Situation: You have a pickup with no cover and is not wax potted.
You want to install a cover.

Question: Do you have to wax pot the pickup before you place a cover on.?

I only ask, because, I read somewhere that you should, to cut down on feed back.????

Which makes me think, because Duncan Antiquities come with covers and are not wax potted at least that's what the add said.????

So I'm kinda cornfused.????

No, you don't have to pot it. I've wound many pickups and not potted the coils or the cover and never had a problem. Potting is a preventative measure. If you don't have feedback problems now, I wouldn't pot the pickup. You may, however, want to pot the cover as a preventative measure from vibrating and feeding back.

But it depends how loud you play and with how much gain.

Big John · 05-16-2008, 02:04 PM

Wax, schmax...real men use superglue for potting.

Rico · 05-17-2008, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the info guys.

eddym · 05-17-2008, 01:34 PM

A further question on this topic,

If one wanted to change ones chrome covers to nickel, would any action other than the solder blobs be needed, ie, can you just literally take off one cover and push on another?

Thanks.

Nugget · 05-17-2008, 02:05 PM

Providing the replacement cover is of the same pole spacing then yes you can.

eddym · 05-17-2008, 02:18 PM

Thanks Nugget! thats exactly what i was hoping to hear!!

alexdemars123 · 10-27-2009, 03:14 PM

My Duncan Antiquity humbucker feeds back like a mofo. If i took the cover off would that solve the problem?

Nightwerks · 11-01-2009, 03:41 PM

It should solve the problem due to the fact that there will be no air pocket in between the coils and the cover ( no air to vibrate) though the pole shoe with poles and baseplate might cause feedback if not tightly built. but get it dunked in some wax if you are finding it a big problem.

captcoolaid · 11-01-2009, 03:44 PM

Do a 10 minute wax.

hillbilly · 11-01-2009, 10:15 PM

All of my Les Pauls have solid nickel covers and un-potted pickups.

No feedback unless I want them to.

It's a question of how good you are at manipulating the Volume control, and how many overdrive boxes you have 'on' at the time...

My opinion: un-potted, put your amp on '7', and use your Volume & Tone controls...limit your OverDrive boxes to 1 (one).

jonesy · 11-01-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddym

A further question on this topic,

If one wanted to change ones chrome covers to nickel, would any action other than the solder blobs be needed, ie, can you just literally take off one cover and push on another?

Thanks.

Gibson 490R is 1 15/16" pole spacing and 490T is 2 1/16" spacing. Just added a cover on the neck pu of "Alice" pressed it on tight, no wax and I am liking the sound that I get now, tamed the neck pu and made it sound a bit thicker with the cover on. Have not noticed any feed back or microphonic's with cover installed.

5F6-A · 11-02-2009, 05:12 AM

cool!!!

Nightwerks · 11-03-2009, 05:48 PM

Output has a lot to do with if it should be potted or not. If pickups are PAF sort of output then they most likely wont feed back where if they are say 43g wire wound hot then you more likely going to need them potted.

You can just stick 2 strips of black tap to the roof of the cover, that will be a preventative of feedback too and saves messy potting.

05-15-2008, 11:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rico Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Henryville, PA Posts: 657 Thanks: 30 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wax potting Situation: You have a pickup with no cover and is not wax potted. You want to install a cover. Question: Do you have to wax pot the pickup before you place a cover on.? I only ask, because, I read somewhere that you should, to cut down on feed back.???? Which makes me think, because Duncan Antiquities come with covers and are not wax potted at least that's what the add said.???? So I'm kinda cornfused.???? __________________ And so Castles made of sand, slip into the sea eventually.

05-16-2008, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Masa Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting It depends. If you play loud, you should wax pot it. I play loud sometimes, and I can't really use the non-potted pickup, becasue of the feedback. People say the one without wax pot sounds better (more open and so on), but I don't have a choice.

05-16-2008, 12:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
uOpt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 685 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting Some Seymour Duncans have neither the coils nor the cover waxed. But make no mistake, high quality winds are less microphonic without wax than junk pickups are with wax or epoxy. These SDs also have the cover on very tight. It is likely that if you casually put them on on your own you will get more feedback. To make that clear: there is extra waxing going on with the cover. It is not just a waxed pickup with a cover on.

05-16-2008, 01:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
*b-squared* 'MLP Mid-West' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: About 15 minutes from the LOU...(STL) Posts: 12,158 Thanks: 270 Thanked 187 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Wax potting You can also use a thick piece of double-sided tape to hold the cover tight against the pickup...prevents it from moving. WB uses that technique on his non-potted pickups--works well on my guitars. BB __________________ I use: WB Custom Pickups--6707 VTP/VTPH, 5707 Prototypes, Habaneros, Firewaters DeTemple 'Sweet Spot' Pickups (Strat) RS Guitarworks Electronics Jonesy's Caps

05-16-2008, 02:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Big John ...with a big mouth Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Posts: 2,145 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Wax potting Wax, schmax...real men use superglue for potting.

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05-17-2008, 10:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rico Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Henryville, PA Posts: 657 Thanks: 30 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting Thanks for the info guys. __________________ And so Castles made of sand, slip into the sea eventually.

05-17-2008, 01:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
eddym Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting A further question on this topic, If one wanted to change ones chrome covers to nickel, would any action other than the solder blobs be needed, ie, can you just literally take off one cover and push on another? Thanks.

05-17-2008, 02:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nugget V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Secret Location Posts: 864 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Wax potting Providing the replacement cover is of the same pole spacing then yes you can. __________________ http://www.shedpickups.com

05-17-2008, 02:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
eddym Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting Thanks Nugget! thats exactly what i was hoping to hear!!

10-27-2009, 03:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
alexdemars123 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting My Duncan Antiquity humbucker feeds back like a mofo. If i took the cover off would that solve the problem?

11-01-2009, 03:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
Nightwerks Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting It should solve the problem due to the fact that there will be no air pocket in between the coils and the cover ( no air to vibrate) though the pole shoe with poles and baseplate might cause feedback if not tightly built. but get it dunked in some wax if you are finding it a big problem.

11-01-2009, 03:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
captcoolaid Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: who says I am alive Posts: 2,390 Thanks: 99 Thanked 60 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Wax potting Do a 10 minute wax. __________________ peace n tone Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity WBpickups-My tones as fat as a Samoan ballerina Yeah my gear is beet up, Thats cause I play it. Shut up and play. http://www.myspace.com/daisychamber whiners click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwyG...eature=related

11-01-2009, 10:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
hillbilly V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 865 Thanks: 0 Thanked 49 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Wax potting All of my Les Pauls have solid nickel covers and un-potted pickups. No feedback unless I want them to. It's a question of how good you are at manipulating the Volume control, and how many overdrive boxes you have 'on' at the time... My opinion: un-potted, put your amp on '7', and use your Volume & Tone controls...limit your OverDrive boxes to 1 (one). __________________ Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting for what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb disputing that vote.---Benjamin Franklin >>> RS GUITARWORKS <<< Southern Electric

11-02-2009, 05:12 AM	#16 (permalink)
5F6-A Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Back and forth the UK Posts: 4,139 Thanks: 110 Thanked 160 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Wax potting cool!!! __________________ Saltaire's Vicars "Post Tenebras Lux" ----------------------------

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11-03-2009, 05:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
Nightwerks Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wax potting Output has a lot to do with if it should be potted or not. If pickups are PAF sort of output then they most likely wont feed back where if they are say 43g wire wound hot then you more likely going to need them potted. You can just stick 2 strips of black tap to the roof of the cover, that will be a preventative of feedback too and saves messy potting.

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