Wax potting pick ups

[bonedarrell]

Greg Martin says one of the keys to great tone is a microphonic pickup.........just sayin

Yes...and someone said all high gain amps must make a lot of noise and hiss. Bullshit......

Well that's my excuse!!!

 

[OUTLAW1969]

You can find 100 percent beeswax in hair supply stores, and if it is a large store it is usually in the ethnic hair section.

What?

Was trying to be politically correct.

A lot of people with dreads, use the 100% bees wax from what I am told. No matter your race, that hair style is supposedly considered "ethnic" by origin, according to my neighborhood hair supply store.

Smaller independant stores seem to have everything grouped together, but "Mega Supply" chain type stores have different areas for different "types" of hair. I had a sales lady point at me last time, and say, "Uh uh baby.....you are in the wrong area of the store, you don't need to be in the ethnic hair section".

 

[steve_k]

You can find 100 percent beeswax in hair supply stores, and if it is a large store it is usually in the ethnic hair section.

What?

Was trying to be politically correct.

A lot of people with dreads, use the 100% bees wax from what I am told. No matter your race, that hair style is supposedly considered "ethnic" by origin, according to my neighborhood hair supply store.

Smaller independant stores seem to have everything grouped together, but "Mega Supply" chain type stores have different areas for different "types" of hair. I had a sales lady point at me last time, and say, "Uh uh baby.....you are in the wrong area of the store, you don't need to be in the ethnic hair section".

 

[steve_k]

Update....I couldn't find any bars of wax of here to save my ass. Raided the wife's candlebox and she had a bag of plain, no scented or colored tea candles. Popped about 20 of them out of the little tins, pulled the wicks and into the double boiler. Melted it down and dunked them Throbak's. Popped them in a 59 LP and perfect. No squeal or microphonics in the VH4.

Improvise....

 

[NinjaRaf]

There are some pretty good videos on youtube that go through the entire process and explain what to look for.

 

[pkripper]

I tried it in the past and didn't like the results but that was before Google!

 

[TrueTone500]

Waxing takes-away some transparency to my ears, but you may actually prefer it. If you want to get rid of squeal, but don't want to wax the pickup.

1. Remove the cover and the 6 x pole screws.
2. Coat each of the 6 x pole screws with blue Locktite, reinsert them into the bobbins, and let sit overnight.
3. If you use covers, clamp the cover on (not too tight) and re-solder.
4. Replace the pickup ring springs with surgical tubing. Some prefer this mod regardless of squeal...

 

[Anonymous]

Waxing takes-away some transparency to my ears, but you may actually prefer it. If you want to get rid of squeal, but don't want to wax the pickup.

1. Remove the cover and the 6 x pole screws.
2. Coat each of the 6 x pole screws with blue Locktite, reinsert them into the bobbins, and let sit overnight.
3. If you use covers, clamp the cover on (not too tight) and re-solder.
4. Replace the pickup ring springs with surgical tubing. Some prefer this mod regardless of squeal...

does that eliminate ALL the squeal? or just cut down on some?

i've heard about this before.

 

[dr.underhill]

a lot of the vintage style pu's i see on the market specifically state they are un-waxed. but if you got a pup that was wax potted to start with i'd guess it makes sense to re-wax it. it would take some serious work to de-wax a coil, or looks like it to me.

 

[dr.underhill]

steve_k your avatar makes it very difficult for me to concentrate on the discussion. very, very difficult.

 

[steve_k]

steve_k your avatar makes it very difficult for me to concentrate on the discussion. very, very difficult.

But, yours wins lots of points for a giggle....

 

[steve_k]

Waxing takes-away some transparency to my ears, but you may actually prefer it. If you want to get rid of squeal, but don't want to wax the pickup.

1. Remove the cover and the 6 x pole screws.
2. Coat each of the 6 x pole screws with blue Locktite, reinsert them into the bobbins, and let sit overnight.
3. If you use covers, clamp the cover on (not too tight) and re-solder.
4. Replace the pickup ring springs with surgical tubing. Some prefer this mod regardless of squeal...

does that eliminate ALL the squeal? or just cut down on some?

i've heard about this before.

It took away all of it in this instance. of course you can't stand right in front of the amp, but it cured all the microphonic whistle associated with an unpotted PAF. I am well pleased with the results.

 

[TrueTone500]

Waxing takes-away some transparency to my ears, but you may actually prefer it. If you want to get rid of squeal, but don't want to wax the pickup.

1. Remove the cover and the 6 x pole screws.
2. Coat each of the 6 x pole screws with blue Locktite, reinsert them into the bobbins, and let sit overnight.
3. If you use covers, clamp the cover on (not too tight) and re-solder.
4. Replace the pickup ring springs with surgical tubing. Some prefer this mod regardless of squeal...

does that eliminate ALL the squeal? or just cut down on some?

i've heard about this before.

If the pickup is the source. Microphonic ceramic caps, failed preamp caps, poor lead dress, grid resistors, etc... can also cause squealing. Nine out of ten the covers are the culprit.

 

[steve_k]

Thanks for the input fellas. Just need to find some wax now.

Brazilian wax has the best tone.......

Or so I am told.

I think they missed a spot.


Good thing I keep a pot of wax ready to go at all times.



A vacuum pot to get out all the air bubbles.