Wax potting pick ups

[steve_k]

Does anybody do their own wax potting with pick ups? I've got some HB's that could use a fresh dip in the wax.

Any pointers? Shouldn't be too hard to do.


Steve

 

[fishyfishfish]

Yep, jelly jar filled with paraffin in a pot
of boiling water heated to 140-145 degrees
And a couple of 5 second dips giving it a couple
Minutes in between. Use a good thermometer,
dont go above 155 (or it could melt the bobbin)
Let cool and reinstall. I like paraffin over bees wax
because it seems to be more melt resistant when guitar
Is in the case or sun. Same for single coils.

 

[fishyfishfish]

I meant to say hot water, not boiling water, and don't use
a coffee can or other metal container. I had a pup
Stick itself to the bottom of the can next to the burner and die

 

[blackba]

Google wax potting pickups. The key is using a double boiler and not getting it too hot.

 

[steve_k]

I meant to say hot water, not boiling water, and don't use
a coffee can or other metal container. I had a pup
Stick itself to the bottom of the can next to the burner and die

Sounds easy enough. Thanks.

 

[OUTLAW1969]

I use a mixture of 75% paraffin / 25 % beeswax, after reading an article suggesting that ratio. Supposed to be a perfect balance between being pliant enough to get into the hard to reach areas, but firm enough to not melt or break-away once it solidifies. 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.

I use a deep cooking pot with these small flat stones (that my wife has in a decorative bowl) to line the bottom of the pot. That puts a barrier between the bottom of my glass jar containing the wax mixture, and the very bottom of the pot. Then I add water to a level that covers most of the jar on the outside. I boil the water, and this slowly melts the wax inside the jar. I get the wax to the right temp, and then dip the pickup down into the wax, utilizing the wire lead. You really want all of the air bubbles to get out, so a couple of slow dips, until no more bubbles..........your are done.

Just the way that I have been doing it for a couple of years, after doing mag swaps. Haven't lost one yet.

 

[rokker]

Do you guys find potting negatively affect tone...or does it reduce the need for a noise gate by controlling high gain squeal....i am getting squeals on my lighly potted wcr pus and am using the isp to knock it down...will potting fix this?

 

[shgshg]

Never do it, never needed it.

 

[steve_k]

Do you guys find potting negatively affect tone...or does it reduce the need for a noise gate by controlling high gain squeal....i am getting squeals on my lighly potted wcr pus and am using the isp to knock it down...will potting fix this?

Yes, that is exactly what it is for. I've got some PAF's that have a lot of squeal on the VH4, channels 3 & 4. I know its the pick ups because i just changed them on a Les Paul. I can assure you though, you will get less impact from the wax in the pick ups as opposed to a noise gate to fix your problem.

 

[bonedarrell]

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

 

[rokker]

So far im not diggin the isp...chops too much off...will see if i can muster the confidence to try this....may try some other pickups first....i dont want to accidentally ruin the wcr's.

 

[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?

 

[steve_k]

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......

 

[Anonymous]

Does anybody do their own wax potting with pick ups? I've got some HB's that could use a fresh dip in the wax.

Any pointers? Shouldn't be too hard to do.


Steve

Steve,

I've done a handful of pickups. the key is getting it up to 140-150º and keeping it there and not letting it get higher. the other tricky part is not letting the pickup tape around the bobbins come loose and pull the wire off. i've used zip ties around the bobbins to stabilize them, and it works better than nothing or just using more tape but they can slip around.

get a big baking thermometer with a clip. once the wax liquefies, clip it onto the side of the can, and adjust it til it's about about an inch from the surface keep the temp at 150ish.

i use 4/5 paraffin (gulf brand) and 1/5 kiwi saddle soap. maybe even more like 7/8 to 1/8 on that mix.

mainly, tricky part is keeping the pickup tape from unravelling and fucking up/pulling off the wire winding.... my pickups were old that i did, and the tape wasnt so sticky anymore. i had it happen to two pickups that i did, it's a pain in the ass. i also did a few other pickups that didnt unwind. i dont dip them, i soak them until the bubbles quit coming out. i would make a little wire dipping tool out of a coat hanger that you can hang the pickup from too and use it to lower the pickup into the wax with.

it can be tedious, but all in all, if the tape doesn't come off the pickups, you should be good to go if you mind the temperature. grab a chair, and watch the bubbles. once they quit, you're done. on the 4 or 5 that i did, it took about 30-40 minutes once i submerged the pickup, to get it completely saturated. all in all, i'd say it's about a 90 minute job from start to finish, including re-installation back into the axe.

 

[projectx102]

Here's Seymour himself potting Slash's pickups:

 

[Doubleneck]

Not trying to sell you on pickups or anything, just thought it was interesting that my favorite PAF type pickups that I have tried to date are the Wolftone Marshallheads and they aren't wax potted?

They do feedback in really high gain situations but nothing like I thought they would.

http://www.wolfetone.com/marshallhead.html#

 

[steve_k]

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

 

[MOOSEHEADS]

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

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

Or so I am told.

 

[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.

 

[MOOSEHEADS]

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.