scottsgh Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 since i changed my p/u's to the gibson '57 classics, i get horrible feedback. not worth even plugging in. my tech told me he could wax pot them for $100. should i do this, or try a noise gate/ suprresor? it only does it with high gain. or could it be my amp? (a fender fm2-12, i know, i know) any help as always would be appreciated. thanx, scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsgh Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 since i changed my p/u's to the gibson '57 classics' date=' i get horrible feedback. not worth even plugging in. my tech told me he could wax pot them for $100. should i do this, or try a noise gate/ suprresor? it only does it with high gain. or could it be my amp? (a fender fm2-12, i know, i know) any help as always would be appreciated. thanx, scott[/quote'] oh, and i'm grounded to the tailpiece post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryM Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Everything you need to know about wax potting can be found here -> DIY Wax Potting Pickups I've done it many times and it works like a charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalfarm Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 since i changed my p/u's to the gibson '57 classics' date=' i get horrible feedback. not worth even plugging in. my tech told me he could wax pot them for $100. should i do this, or try a noise gate/ suprresor? it only does it with high gain. or could it be my amp? (a fender fm2-12, i know, i know) any help as always would be appreciated. thanx, scott[/quote'] This happens no matter how far away from amp you are? No matter what volume level? The Pups are REAL GIBSON? I'm asking as to inquire which is cheaper, wax pot or replace pups. Real GIBBY pups ain't cheap, EPI 57s are very affordable. But the tech may be onto something: But some guitars feed back uncontrollably causing a fierce whistle rather than anything you could possibly call an expressive effect. What causes this? The answer is that the coil of the pickup is, or has become, microphonic. Coils degrade over time. Even without mistreatment, the lacquer that insulates adjacent turns of the coil will crack causing microscopic short circuits. But the worst case is when the winding isn't uniformly tight and some turns of the coil have become loose and free to vibrate. This is what causes uncontrollable feedback. The solution to this is to 'pot' the pickups. This means dipping the pickup in hot wax so that all of the turns are physically sealed. You can easily use the power of the Internet to find out how to do this. But try it on a pickup you don't mind damaging first, not on your vintage Epiphone. With potted pickups, you should be able to hold your guitar as close as you like to the speakers, while you remain in control of the degree of feedback all of the time. I've never tried a DIY wax pot before, but if you're certain all other mechanical connections are correct, then check out GaryM's suggestion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsgh Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 yeah, there real gibsons, i know 'cause the the said they were! no, really, they have the pat stickers on the back. a-farm, i think your right about the p/us have become microphonic. i have changed the covers on both of these, and i got them used. so who knows how many times they've been messed with. that could have cracked the lacquer. i have checked the internet, and there's a thousand and one places. some say to remove the cover, otheres say keep them on. so you guy's don't reccomend a noise suppresser? i've never used on, but saw some guys on you tube demonstrating them, and they seemed to take care of the same prob. i'm having. some of the potting sites say use parafin wax, and some showing people using regular every day candles. i wonder if household candles are made if parrafin wax. i want to do this right. don't have an old p/u to test. has anyone heared if gfs p/u's? there advertised on guitar fetish, and am wondering if there any good. i took the '57 classic out of my epi. "v" and put the original back in. too hot! thanx, and will reply, so others who might have the same problem can use this info. scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsgh Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 checked out the fetish site, they seem to know what there doing. so any one else having the same problem, got the link thats provided. scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carverman Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 yeah' date=' there real gibsons, i know 'cause the the said they were! no, really, they have the pat stickers on the back. a-farm, i think your right about the p/us have become microphonic. i have changed the covers on both of these, and i got them used. so who knows how many times they've been messed with. that could have cracked the lacquer. i have checked the internet, and there's a thousand and one places. some say to remove the cover, otheres say keep them on. [/quote'] If they are genuine Gibson Classic 57s, then they are already double wax potted..doesn't make sense. Anyone can stick a sticker on it that says paf. some of the potting sites say use parafin wax, and some showing people using regular every day candles. i wonder if household candles are made if parrafin wax. i want to do this right. don't have an old p/u to test. has anyone heared if gfs p/u's? there advertised on guitar fetish, and am wondering if there any good. Your are supposed to use 20% beeswax and 80% paraffin. If the pickup was designed for wax potting, there should be a couple small holes in the corners for the wire to come out, the hot wax will run into this hole if the p_up is dipped into a double boiler setup with hot wax. I've used GFS vintage 59s and they are wax potted...good sounding p_ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryM Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 ... i have changed the covers on both of these... Ah, there's the problem. The wax "potting" gets broken when the covers are removed. The covers are likely causing the problem you are experiencing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 There's an article in last month's Premier Guitar mag, with pics, on how to pot pickups. There is a mention of putting a strip under the cover to prevent microphonics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsgh Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share Posted April 26, 2009 hey guys, thanx for all the help. i noticed all the wax when i took the covers off. it was kind of hardened, and i scaped some of it off. live and learn. tomm, i will go to michals, and get what i need. keep ya posted. scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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