DarrellV
What's up, Doc?
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2016
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I have been waiting to start this topic till I knew when my Shaws were going to arrive back to me.
They have been gone out for a rewind for many weeks now, since before Thanksgiving.
If any of you have considered using the services of one of our MLP winders or wondered what it would be like to have your own pickups rewound , or a custom set made, I hope this thread can shed some light on the experience.
The biggest thing to deal with is time. I've seen other threads in here of folks going through the same waiting game as I went through.
Don't do this with an axe you cannot be without any time soon. Have a backup!
Many of you know by way of my now legendary post about how i came to be reunited with my 34 year lost lester. The deetz are here.
http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/ca...raculous-story-of-your-lp-acquisition.399996/
My 34 year old lost love, LOL, on my NGD! Sept 2016
Well, it turned out that some schmuck before me decided to pot the Shaw pickups in wax!
And if that wasn't bad enough, it looks like he did it on the stovetop!
A totally messy job that not only ruined any PAF qualities they may have had, but he also cooked the coil tape right off!
I had wondered when I got it back last September why the neck pickup sat tipped in the body.
Turns out the guy couldn't solder either and had left the covers so stretched out across the baseplate that the edge of the cover hit the wood on the side of the route!
I have read enough to know what potting is for and the pros and cons.
I even considered finding ways to cook or dissolve the wax out of the windings.
Just Kidding!.......
I checked with a couple of the winders in here and my worst fears were confirmed. There was no going back. The damage was permanent. I was told short of cutting the coils off and winding with fresh copper, it cannot be undone.
So that nameless faceless poophead is now burned into my subconscious for his dastardly act!
I've waited for 34 years to hear what this thing is supposed to sound like, and now I can't because rather than swap them out with any number of aftermarket high gain pickups, some clown potted these....
I want to hear what the legendary Shaw pickup was supposed to sound like in my guitar!
Needless to say this sore spot festered and grew till one day recently I said the heck with re-sale or OEM! I'm not planning on ever selling it anyway!
I also reasoned that unlike the original PAF's the material for the Shaws was still available and in use. Including the red poly wire.
So in my mind I figured the outcome could only be better. It couldn't hurt anything but resale.
After all, every other component like the magnets, pole pieces and spacers would all be re-used.
So nothing would be altered from OEM spec. including the use of the same spec wire used in the original.
I guess we'll see....
Honorable mention:
Dave from Sigil Pickups has offered to generously provide pictures and content from his side of the project as we go along..... I haven't even seen them all yet, and am looking forward to it!
They have been gone out for a rewind for many weeks now, since before Thanksgiving.
If any of you have considered using the services of one of our MLP winders or wondered what it would be like to have your own pickups rewound , or a custom set made, I hope this thread can shed some light on the experience.
The biggest thing to deal with is time. I've seen other threads in here of folks going through the same waiting game as I went through.
Don't do this with an axe you cannot be without any time soon. Have a backup!
Many of you know by way of my now legendary post about how i came to be reunited with my 34 year lost lester. The deetz are here.
http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/ca...raculous-story-of-your-lp-acquisition.399996/
My 34 year old lost love, LOL, on my NGD! Sept 2016
And if that wasn't bad enough, it looks like he did it on the stovetop!

A totally messy job that not only ruined any PAF qualities they may have had, but he also cooked the coil tape right off!
I had wondered when I got it back last September why the neck pickup sat tipped in the body.
Turns out the guy couldn't solder either and had left the covers so stretched out across the baseplate that the edge of the cover hit the wood on the side of the route!
I have read enough to know what potting is for and the pros and cons.
I even considered finding ways to cook or dissolve the wax out of the windings.
Just Kidding!.......

I checked with a couple of the winders in here and my worst fears were confirmed. There was no going back. The damage was permanent. I was told short of cutting the coils off and winding with fresh copper, it cannot be undone.
So that nameless faceless poophead is now burned into my subconscious for his dastardly act!

I've waited for 34 years to hear what this thing is supposed to sound like, and now I can't because rather than swap them out with any number of aftermarket high gain pickups, some clown potted these....

I want to hear what the legendary Shaw pickup was supposed to sound like in my guitar!
Needless to say this sore spot festered and grew till one day recently I said the heck with re-sale or OEM! I'm not planning on ever selling it anyway!
I also reasoned that unlike the original PAF's the material for the Shaws was still available and in use. Including the red poly wire.

So in my mind I figured the outcome could only be better. It couldn't hurt anything but resale.
After all, every other component like the magnets, pole pieces and spacers would all be re-used.
So nothing would be altered from OEM spec. including the use of the same spec wire used in the original.
I guess we'll see....
Honorable mention:
Dave from Sigil Pickups has offered to generously provide pictures and content from his side of the project as we go along..... I haven't even seen them all yet, and am looking forward to it!
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