Pickup squeal

[Matt300ZXT]

I've had this JB in the bridge of one of my Warriors and every once in a while, I'll get microphonic squeal, but only on the bridge. With a quality aftermarket pickup, does the potting ever just wear out or whatever? It's been a while since I've had this pickup out, so I can't remember if there is solder on the cover to the pickup. Surely there is. But if there isn't, without dipping it in wax (surely a pickup wouldn't miss that step at the factory), what do you guys do to fix that?

I do have soldering irons and stuff so I can solder it back on.

 

[SpiderWars]

Press your finger on the cover when it squeals, does that stop it or reduce it? If so it’s probably just the cover. Lots of methods to fix that but all of the long term solutions I know of require removing the cover either putting tape/wax/etc in there to damp the cover from vibrating then reinstalling.

Also you can tap on the cover with the plastic end of a small screwdriver or similar. It should sound dead. If there is any ‘ping’ to it then it’s likely not properly muted.

 

[Matt300ZXT]

It doesn't squeal often enough, and I just took the strings off as they're in dire need of changing anyways. Turns out neither covers are soldered, but looks like there is some sort of adhesive bonding the cover to the pickup itself. Also, it's a Duncan Custom, not a JB. I probably knew that at some point.

Anywho, do I go ahead and just use an Xacto knife to cut this adhesive stuff away and then pop the cover off? Anyone got experience de-covering Duncans?

 

[harddriver]

As Spider stated the wax potting of the coils should be fine unless the pickup was stored somewhere that was above the wax melting point. Usually is the metal covers that can become microphonic. I think people pull the covers and put a small dab of silicone caulk or paraffin wax and then reinstall the cover to dampen any further ring from the cover.

 

[Matt300ZXT]

I heard back from Duncan, they said the adhesive looking stuff was probably the potting wax holding everything together. It doesn't make sense to me why, if the bridge and neck covers are attached that way (no solder joints), then the neck should squeal too. Anyways, he said it's probably not the pickup, but perhaps loose mounting screws, or maybe the spring holding the pickup to the ring shifts and might make contact, which could cause the vibration/squealing.

I don't necessarily buy that, but I'm contemplating just putting some DiMarzios in it and selling off the Custom/59, as the pickups never really did a whole lot for me, and the 59 is in EVERYTHING and I don't really care for them much. I have like 3 other guitars with a 59 in the neck if I need its specific sound for any reason.

 

[SpiderWars]

I have one guitar with a 59n that sounds great…every other time I’ve tried it…nope.

They should be soldered tho. If for no other reason than to insure the cover is grounded.