Burstbuckers and potting

[Fiesta Red]

I pulled the cover off a Burstbucker 1 in my new Les Paul Standard 50s, and it's potted. I thought these were supposed to be unposted. Even the Gibson website states as much

 

[Mr French]

I pulled the cover off a Burstbucker 1 in my new Les Paul Standard 50s, and it's potted. I thought these were supposed to be unposted. Even the Gibson website states as much

Here we go again.

Got any pics of the potted BB1 and are you not happy with the sound?

 

[jbash]

New AFTERMARKET BB's are unpotted.

 

[Mr French]

I know a person who has a LP with 2007 BB1 in the neck with cover and a SD WLL in the bridge and claims the BB1 might had been dipped in wax at the factory however under high gain or close to a speaker it will hold the sustain similar to unpotted pickup but won't feedback easily. The Duncan WLL is waxed potted and won't hold the sustain or try to feedback.

Not sure if it's the type of wax or technique that might cause a difference such as a "quick dip" oppose to vacuumed wax or dip and swirl around for a X amount of time.

I still think Gibson pups are great and the best pups are the early BB pre 2010's.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Here we go again.

Got any pics of the potted BB1 and are you not happy with the sound?

I love the sound. I took off the cover to match the bridge

 

[Fiesta Red]

I threw away the cover. I'll see if I can find it and post a pick of the wax inside

 

[Mr French]

I threw away the cover. I'll see if I can find it and post a pick of the wax inside

I've always read a hair dryer can easily melt the wax but I've never tried it before. Also been a very long time since I've taken a cover off of a BB.

Out of curiosity do you know what year your BB1 is from?

 

[ARandall]

Anything that blows how air will melt wax.....but only off the outside. There is no way the embedded wax from inside the coil will ever come out once the pickup is potted.
Plastic also melts and/or deforms at relatively low temperatures so its always something to be very careful of should you want to try it.

 

[Classicplayer]

I think highly of the BB 1,2 pair in my 2018 Trad. They are advertised as un-potted, but I know that I read that they are “lightly” potted (waxed). Aftermarket Gibson Burstbuckers are un-potted.

Once I figured out the best height for neck and bridge; tweaked weaker sounding pole screws to enhance the middle position, I realized that they sound very good under gain and when dialed back to only the barest of gain; which I refer to as my “clean” sound.

Classicplayer

 

[Knoby]

I know unpotting pickups is not advised. But if you really have to do it, the thought of people using a hair dryer really bugs me.

Try a dehydrater. it is a lot more controlled for constant low temperatures over long periods. Might need 24hrs for the temp to reach the core. Or until wax stops dripping out. Then put it in a centrifuge to force some more of that wax out. Repeat the whole process until no more wax comes out.

I repeat. I'm not saying it should be done. But at least its better than using hair dryer.

 

[Fiesta Red]

I've always read a hair dryer can easily melt the wax but I've never tried it before. Also been a very long time since I've taken a cover off of a BB.

Out of curiosity do you know what year your BB1 is from?

I bought my LP Standard 50s straight from Gibson a month ago because they still had one in ebony, so I assume it's a 2023.

Here's the pickup cover I removed. The white stuff ain't jizz

 

[Mr French]

I bought my LP Standard 50s straight from Gibson a month ago because they still had one in ebony, so I assume it's a 2023.

Here's the pickup cover I removed. The white stuff ain't jizz

Hair dryer should melt that easy.

BB are one of the best pups Gibson has today. Been a long time since I've tried the pro's and I forgot how they sound.

 

[AJK1]

I wonder if the Unpotted ones are made in USA and the potted ones are made elsewhere ?

 

[Mr French]

I wonder if the Unpotted ones are made in USA and the potted ones are made elsewhere ?

Really? I can't imagine Gibson doing that..

 

[Fiesta Red]

I liked the way both pickups sounded but was looking for a more aggressive sound from the bridge. If I had needed a very classic LP sound this would have been perfect.

 

[AJK1]

Really? I can't imagine Gibson doing that..

Me neither, but it just seems weird that they would pot some and not others in the same factory

 

[Mr French]

I liked the way both pickups sounded but was looking for a more aggressive sound from the bridge. If I had needed a very classic LP sound this would have been perfect.

Removing the cover will make a slight difference so they say. You could also raise the height.

 

[Mr French]

Me neither, but it just seems weird that they would pot some and not others in the same factory

I wonder why Gibson or even the mass production boutique winders pot their pickups.

Let's speculate for a bit here. Perhaps most players are high gain users or do most bedroom players have a 4x12 that cause feedback easily? Wax potted is targeted for those who gig at a bar?

So many question.. Gibson still makes great sounding pickups and at least their aftermarket BB pickups are non potted unlike some mass production winders who don't give you the option or you have to special order it and pay a premium.

 

[Classicplayer]

Removing the cover will make a slight difference so they say. You could also raise the height.

I agree. Raising the pickups would be my choice. Those pickups should be powerful enough to drive most amps. Try positioning bridge pup 4/64” from the 1st. string on the treble side, and 8-10/64” on the 6th. string side when fretting e strings at the highest fret. You then may experience a few more varied tones when using the middle switch position.

Classicplayer

 

[RetropM]

Generally speaking, Burstbuckers that come in guitars are potted and Burstbuckers sold separately are unpotted. It has been this way for almost the entire time that Burstbuckers have been around.