Unpottin or unwaxing Pickups

[Harrysong]

Hi all!!

I' d like to unpott some pickups that I have. I know that real vintage ones weren't potted so i' d like to try some.
I know that i may get some unwanted microphonics at high volume but would like to try it anyway.
Which is the best way to remove as much wax as possible?
Thanks
Nicolas.-

[big_teee]

Hi all!!

I' d like to unpott some pickups that I have. I know that real vintage ones weren't potted so i' d like to try some.
I know that i may get some unwanted microphonics at high volume but would like to try it anyway.
Which is the best way to remove as much wax as possible?
Thanks
Nicolas.-

IME You can warm them up and squeeze them in a paper Towel to wick up as much wax as possible (Without any Metal covers).
Other than that, You can rewind them.
IME Once the wax penetrates the coils its there until you remove the wire.
Later,
Terry

[Harrysong]

Thanks. I've read that one method involves soaking the Pickup into Naphta. But just for an experiment I put Lighter fluid on a recipe and put inside a litle piece of paraffin. This was 3 hours ago and the paraffin looks intact . maybe the hair dryer method is better?

[copperheadroads]

If your talking about single coils with forbon bobbins
I think Naphtha has some effect on Forbon (It makes it sticky -which cant be good ) to a guitar builder ,its your all purpose go to cleaner .The only thing i don't clean with it is forbon
I have heard that methyl hydrate might dissolve wax even mineral spirits .I have now idea how it will effect the wire insulation

[big_teee]

If your taking about single coils with forbon bobbins
I think Naphtha has some effect on Forbon (It makes it sticky -which cant be good ) to a guitar builder ,its your all purpose go to cleaner .The only thing i don't clean with it is forbon
I have heard that methyl hydrate might dissolve wax even mineral spirits .I have now idea how it will effect the wire insulation

Hey Copper, I know you would do the same thing I would do.
Just leave that one alone, and make another non Potted Pickup to Beat On.
T

[copperheadroads]

I might as well take a couple of potted pups & dunk them in some chemicals for a couple of hours & see what happens .
If I remember I will try this tomorrow .

[Jim Darr]

Nicolas,

I think your best bet is to just leave them alone and wind some new un-potted ones. If your existing ones are “hand scatter” wound, they really would need to be potted even at moderate volume to prevent uncontrollable squealing.

Non-potted pickups generally seem to produce a more “lively’ sound. But a “hand wound” scatter will almost always will need to be potted.

Of course, I assume you were referring to Gibson HBs as traditionally being non-potted since they were all machine wound. Fenders were almost always potted mainly because they were “hand scatter” wound which causes more overlapping and therefore a less tight coil.

Good luck and keep us posted.

==========================================

Keep winding!!!

Jim

[big_teee]

Nicolas,

I think your best bet is to just leave them alone and wind some new un-potted ones. If your existing ones are “hand scatter” wound, they really would need to be potted even at moderate volume to prevent uncontrollable squealing.

Non-potted pickups generally seem to produce a more “lively’ sound. But a “hand wound” scatter will almost always will need to be potted.

Of course, I assume you were referring to Gibson HBs as traditionally being non-potted since they were all machine wound. Fenders were almost always potted mainly because they were “hand scatter” wound which causes more overlapping and therefore a less tight coil.

Good luck and keep us posted.

==========================================

Keep winding!!!

Jim

Not to disagree with tradition, but I hand wind Humbuckers all the time without Potting.
If you wind them tight, (No Loose Coils), no loose parts, and tape them well they are not bad Microphonic.
I pot all Pickups I sell.
Potting Single coils, makes them less Microphonic, and its seals and hold them together better.
Metal covers is another Issue.
Terry

[belwar]

I recently had a customer who complained about bad microphonics in his humbucker - Playing at loud volumes with gave him crazy feedback. I sent him a new set of pickups that I vacuum potted the pickup WITHOUT the cover, then soldered the cover on after the fact (I dont know what I was thinking), and he had the same problem. I told him to take the covers off an voila he was really happy. I dont think a good tight coil should be microphonic much at all

[Harrysong]

I once had a Hofner strat like (I think it was a 172 model from 62) and i tell you,, you could almost sing on the pickups!!The problem was at very high levels, but playing at normal volume it had a spaciouness, with some kind of reverb that sounded awsome. I wish I Still have it.
Just for the record. I inmerse a little piece of paraffin as I said before on a can with Isoprpyl Alcohol and another piece in Mineral spirits. After 24 hours, the paraffin in Mineral spirits is no longer there and the one in Isopropyl alcohol is almost intact. Don´t know if Mineral spirits can damage the coating from the wire.