Members BootRoots Posted May 21, 2005 Members Share Posted May 21, 2005 what exactly does this do for the pickup again? cut down on noise or something like that. This sparked my intrest since I been looking into SD 59 and Seth Lover. I noticed the 59 is potted and the SL is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yabba Posted May 21, 2005 Members Share Posted May 21, 2005 basically, it keeps the coils from moving (relative to each other, and the magnets/rest of the pickup); that sort of movement is bad, and is what causes (pickup based) microphonic noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members '56Goldtop Posted May 22, 2005 Members Share Posted May 22, 2005 Non-potted pickups are a bit more musical, and IMO, sound better. If you're a high-gain junkie, it may be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Europa760 Posted May 22, 2005 Members Share Posted May 22, 2005 i cant wait till that wyatt guy answers these technical questions. he has my favorite answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Blackface Posted May 22, 2005 Members Share Posted May 22, 2005 I think if they are not potted, noise will vibrate the wires and cause them to be microphonic. If they are potted, the wax keeps them from moving around and they aren't microphonic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ThomasD Posted May 22, 2005 Members Share Posted May 22, 2005 Potted pickups are also less likely to fail with age - no wire movement means less likelihood of wire breakage or insulation failure and shorted coils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BootRoots Posted May 23, 2005 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2005 so is it possible to still pickup small vibrations (ie pick hitting the pickup) with potted pickups? I ask because the pickups in my SG seem to be potted yet it will make a sound when I tap the pick on top of the pickup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hardtdc Posted May 23, 2005 Members Share Posted May 23, 2005 I've been looking at Seth Lovers also. I wonder if wire breakage would really be a concern. Original Gibson PU's weren't potted and they are some of the most sought after. I guess you could wax pot the SL's if you were concerned about microphonics. From SD's sound clip files, the SL's are definitely the best for the tone I'm looking for. I like having a bit more mid for a fuller sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Switch Posted May 23, 2005 Members Share Posted May 23, 2005 it's not so much to do with tapping the pickup with ur pick, that'll always generate noise. It's to do with one of the tiny little windings in the pickup resonating with, say, a note or something, and it vibrates in sympathy and obviously moves around and bangs into the other tiny little wires. It can start to oscilate at said frequency making the pickup squeal. Wax potting waxes everything in place and stops those little wires from being able to move around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted May 23, 2005 Members Share Posted May 23, 2005 There's way more benefits to wax potting a pickup than not. Any sound differences are better addressed by changing the number of windings or the magnet. Vibrations from the guitar body shake the windings loose over time and then you get movement of the windings leading to unpredictable sounds...more often than not bad. You also get "pickup squeel feedback" easier because the windings vibrate sympathetically with the note being played easier. If you have an unwaxed pickup you like a lot, dip it in hot wax and clean it off. It will probably sound the same if not better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sparky6string Posted May 23, 2005 Members Share Posted May 23, 2005 Originally posted by guitarcapo If you have an unwaxed pickup you like a lot, dip it in hot wax and clean it off. It will probably sound the same if not better. I've heard way too many stories to the contrary to do this. I think I'd rather just buy new pickups that are already waxed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BootRoots Posted May 23, 2005 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2005 thanks for the info guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted May 24, 2005 Members Share Posted May 24, 2005 Lindy Fralin gives tips on wax potting youself.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hardtdc Posted May 24, 2005 Members Share Posted May 24, 2005 Originally posted by guitarcapo Lindy Fralin gives tips on wax potting youself.... I believe there's a really good article on the Guitar Nuts website also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yabba Posted May 24, 2005 Members Share Posted May 24, 2005 Originally posted by hardtdc I believe there's a really good article on the Guitar Nuts website also. http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/electrical/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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