Microphonic Pickups

[vandyne11]

Quick question, my stock pickups went microphonic about a year back, and i got a semour duncan '59 and an SH-4 4 put in. Seems that my '59 just went microphonic overnight, is this possible?

 

[Code001]

It's possible, but are you sure it's the pickup?

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

 

[~Abstract~]

I kinda like a slightly microphonic pickup...seems to transmit more of what I'm doing with the guitar.

Neil Young likes 'em too.

 

[vandyne11]

It's possible, but are you sure it's the pickup?

Yup, last night it was fine and everything was normal....now its crazy loud when you tap the pickup, and it'll feed back instantly if you dont hold it down with pressure. Like literally, i cranked my amp like usual and the '59 freaked out on me haha

 

[vandyne11]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

I couldn't tell you. It's pretty much a stock SD '59 i ordered through a guitar shop in Findlay. I custom ordered the Chrome cover for looks though. I'm starting to think that could be the problem, because my old pickups were chrome too and did the same thing. The Tech guy also said that i couldnt just put a random chrome cover on it either, and it had to be special ordered, or else it will hum exactly like it's doing now....

 

[Code001]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

I couldn't tell you. It's pretty much a stock SD '59 i ordered through a guitar shop in Findlay. I custom ordered the Chrome cover for looks though. I'm starting to think that could be the problem, because my old pickups were chrome too and did the same thing. The Tech guy also said that i couldnt just put a random chrome cover on it either, and it had to be special ordered, or else it will hum exactly like it's doing now....

That's not exactly true. You can add a cover to uncovered pickups, but you need to re-pot them.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/ele ... /index.php
https://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... ckups.aspx

 

[vandyne11]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

I couldn't tell you. It's pretty much a stock SD '59 i ordered through a guitar shop in Findlay. I custom ordered the Chrome cover for looks though. I'm starting to think that could be the problem, because my old pickups were chrome too and did the same thing. The Tech guy also said that i couldnt just put a random chrome cover on it either, and it had to be special ordered, or else it will hum exactly like it's doing now....

That's not exactly true. You can add a cover to uncovered pickups, but you need to re-pot them.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/ele ... /index.php
https://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... ckups.aspx

Perhaps they've become un-done?

 

[Code001]

Covers should be soldered on. It's unlikely that they came undone, but inspect the solder joints just to be sure. Try repotting the pickup and see what happens. There are instructions in the links above.

 

[FIREBALL]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

I couldn't tell you. It's pretty much a stock SD '59 i ordered through a guitar shop in Findlay. I custom ordered the Chrome cover for looks though. I'm starting to think that could be the problem, because my old pickups were chrome too and did the same thing. The Tech guy also said that i couldnt just put a random chrome cover on it either, and it had to be special ordered, or else it will hum exactly like it's doing now....

findlay,oh?

 

[vandyne11]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

I couldn't tell you. It's pretty much a stock SD '59 i ordered through a guitar shop in Findlay. I custom ordered the Chrome cover for looks though. I'm starting to think that could be the problem, because my old pickups were chrome too and did the same thing. The Tech guy also said that i couldnt just put a random chrome cover on it either, and it had to be special ordered, or else it will hum exactly like it's doing now....

findlay,oh?

Yup, Ohio

 

[FIREBALL]

Is your 59 wax potted or natural?

I couldn't tell you. It's pretty much a stock SD '59 i ordered through a guitar shop in Findlay. I custom ordered the Chrome cover for looks though. I'm starting to think that could be the problem, because my old pickups were chrome too and did the same thing. The Tech guy also said that i couldnt just put a random chrome cover on it either, and it had to be special ordered, or else it will hum exactly like it's doing now....

findlay,oh?

Yup, Ohio

its nick steven

 

[Mr. Willy]

What does a microphonic pickup sound like, other than the obvious feedback?

 

[Code001]

What does a microphonic pickup sound like, other than the obvious feedback?

It's ridiculous feedback. Listen to the end of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrdC8LMwYK8

 

[Death by Uberschall]

What does a microphonic pickup sound like, other than the obvious feedback?

It's ridiculous feedback. Listen to the end of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrdC8LMwYK8

Yep, that high pitched squeal is what it sounds like.

 

[FIREBALL]

you could have microphonic tube in your roadster

 

[luxxtone]

It's possible, but are you sure it's the pickup?

Yup, last night it was fine and everything was normal....now its crazy loud when you tap the pickup, and it'll feed back instantly if you dont hold it down with pressure. Like literally, i cranked my amp like usual and the '59 freaked out on me haha

Definitely sounds like the cover needs to be wax potted on. I don't think '59s are wax potted to begin with...but I could be wrong. Either way, that cover needs to be taken off and wax potted back onto the pickup.

 

[Anonymous]

a buddy of mine that had a microphonic 490t actually didnt wax his.

he used silicone caulking. makes more sense to me than using wax.

anyone?

 

[blackba]

I had a Gibson 498T pickup that became microphonic and starting have a high pitched squeal. I repotted the pickup using the links already posted and have had no issues since (although the guitar has since been sold).