Members vexed73 Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 I like my seth lovers but want a pickup that is potted so I can turn it up more. Any ideas as to a covered pickup that would be good? 4 conductor would be nice as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jack harper Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Question: what does potting really do?does it help to eliminate feedback or microphonics and whats the difference between those two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 What exactly is it about the Seth Lovers that you like? The tonal balance? How it reacts with your amp? Being pick sensitive? The Seth Lovers are probably my second favorite humbuckers I've ever owned, after the 57 Classics. I wouldn't say they sound identical by any stretch, but I'd suspect that most people that like one, would like the other. And as always, this is a great vid by forum member Docjeffrey comparing the Burstbucker Pro, the 57 Classic, the Seth Lover and the Pearly Gates, though they are in different guitars so keep that in mind. [YOUTUBE]1RDThSJoqdE[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Question:what does potting really do?does it help to eliminate feedback or microphonics and whats the difference between those two? It is specifically to help with microphonics. Microphonics manifests itself as feedback, though you can easily get feedback from a totally potted pickup, you just have to play loud and/or be closer to the amp. With a truly bad microphonic pickup, you get lots of unpleasant noises, not just the controllable, fairly musical sounding feedback many folks enjoy. Un-potted pickups allow you to easily get feedback, esp in a semi hollow or hollow body guitar which are naturally more prone to feedback issues. It's fun to play with, but very often it can be inpredictable esp for players that like to use modelers and/or several pedals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vexed73 Posted January 8, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 I like the warmth an smoothness. I like the vintage singing tone I can get out of my line 6 flextone 3. High output pickups dont seem to sound as good in digital amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Well... I've never thought of the Seth Lover as being particularly warm for a humbucker. But... I'd say to go to a shop and find a Gibson that has 57 Classics and see what you think of them. The 57 Classics are warmer than the Burstbuckers and I'd say the Seth Lover falls right in between those two, probably closer to the 57s though. And actually, the GFS Alnico II pickups are pretty low output. Less than my Seth Lovers or the 57 Classics and the GFS have a hair less top end though they are in an all mahogany guitar... mahogany neck/mahogany body. My Seth Lovers are both in mahogany body/maple neck guitars. I think they all sounds great, but I'd go for the Seths or the 57s over the GFS every single time but in fairness, I'd call the GFS warmer and more vintage sounding with a tube amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vexed73 Posted January 8, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 I have had 57 classics at the same time as the seth lovers and they are allright but didnt like them as much but if not playing them back to back might be just the ticket. Well... I've never thought of the Seth Lover as being particularly warm for a humbucker. But... I'd say to go to a shop and find a Gibson that has 57 Classics and see what you think of them. The 57 Classics are warmer than the Burstbuckers and I'd say the Seth Lover falls right in between those two, probably closer to the 57s though.And actually, the GFS Alnico II pickups are pretty low output. Less than my Seth Lovers or the 57 Classics and the GFS have a hair less top end though they are in an all mahogany guitar... mahogany neck/mahogany body. My Seth Lovers are both in mahogany body/maple neck guitars.I think they all sounds great, but I'd go for the Seths or the 57s over the GFS every single time but in fairness, I'd call the GFS warmer and more vintage sounding with a tube amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vexed73 Posted January 8, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Are 57 classics potted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Are 57 classics potted? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Yes, the 57s, 490s, 498s and Burstbucker Pros are potted. Standard Burstbucker 1, 2 and 3s are not potted. Yeah... like I said, the Seth Lovers and 57s aren't identical by any stretch, but I'd say they are in the same ballpark. If you love the Lovers and are wanting to play to a certain volume level that you currently can't something needs to change. For me, the Lovers and the 57s are absolutely the best I've ever owned or played. No doubt there are many $300+ boutique pickups that are right there, but I've never had them and am unlikely to in the future. I've never heard absolutely 100% identical pickups where one is potted and one isn't, so I don't know exactly what difference there is, but there has to be some difference. I've always thought unpotted pickups felt/sounded a little more open and a little less forward, but I'd think that could be reversed with a slightly different number of windings or a slightly different strength of magnet. Might contact Bryan at BG-pups.com. He's a forum member on here. Tell him what you're looking for, and if you want a little hotter or a little less hot than the Seths and see what you guys come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 A lot of the tone of Seth Lovers comes from the very fact that they AREN'T wax potted, but I would offer that Gibson Burst Buckers and GFS Vintage PAFs are wound in a similar manner. Low output with alnico magnets. Basically look for a "PAF style" humbucker with alnico II magnets. "PAF style" meaning they aren't wound very hot. Personally I prefer pickups that AREN'T wax potted. They have more sensitivity and presence. The vibrations of the body wood seem to come out more. I look at a pickup without wax potting to be like a microphone that's more sensitive. Sure it's going to feed back more because it's more precise. Vintage pickups from the 1960's demand really high prices and some people believe that modern pickups can't match their tone. I think a lot of the hype might be due to the absence of wax potting in older pickups. Those PAF's in Jimmy Page's 1959 are NOT wax potted and he seemed to have no trouble with them all these years. I don't play high gain or stand right next to my amp. I'm mostly playing stuff that would fall into the category of "classic rock" in terms of gain...and recording where feedback is easily controled. At any rate you can wax pot your own pickups if you really want to. Personally I think it kells tone and I'd only recommend going to a wax potted pickup if you HAD to because you were personally experiencing a problem you can't overcome otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Citizen Cain Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 I don't know. I've never heard Seth play potted, that I know of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted January 8, 2010 Members Share Posted January 8, 2010 Why don'y you wax pot your Seth Lover.If you'd like directions on how to pot your pickup without effecting the tone let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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