First Humbucker ready to pot. . .

[kayakerca]

Well, I'm finishing up my first venture into building a humbucker. Construction went well and I learned a lot, but it was a whole different animal from Strat style single coil builds! I'm guessing there are some tricks I'll figure out with time.

It was a "by request" wind for one of my customers. 4.1kΩ of 42 on the screw and 7.1kΩ of 43 on the slug side. A bit of old mixed in with a bit of bite I guess. The "test pilot" is dropping by later this afternoon to pick it up. Wired it up a 4 conductor lead so he can play with it if he wants.



Looking forward to his feedback.

[Jim Darr]

Let us know how it sounds. Were you able to control TPL? And if so, what was your target?

[kayakerca]

Let us know how it sounds. Were you able to control TPL? And if so, what was your target?

tpl = 65 (both coils)

[Jim Darr]

tpl = 65 (both coils)

Should sound pretty good then. Please let us know how it sounds. Around 65-70 is always a good place to start for a HB. Magnet type & strength?

[kayakerca]

Should sound pretty good then. Please let us know how it sounds. Around 65-70 is always a good place to start for a HB. Magnet type & strength?

Went with an A5 and bumped the gauss up a bit from the level they came from with from Mojo. Spent a fair bit of time reading BachtoRock's thread in the SD forum on this hybrid

HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

It's been picked up so I'll get feedback on the outcome in due course.

[David Schwab]

You pot the entire pickup assembled like that?

[kayakerca]

You pot the entire pickup assembled like that?

Yes, I potted the pickup fully assembled. When I finished the potting process, I shot the pickup for a while with my heat gun to drain as much of the "excess" wax back into the potting rig as I could get to flow out without the heat damaging the bobbins.

Maybe not such a good approach?

I'm here to learn. . .

[David Schwab]

Maybe not such a good approach?

I don't make humbuckers with covers, but I think others do it that way. It's common to put some wax in the cover to stop it from squealing.

I just pot the coils after I wind them, and before I assemble the pickup.

[buddha0709]

I put a little bit of wax shavings into the cover, then put the pickup into the cover, solder it together, then wax the whole thing just like you.
I like to make sure that cover isn't going to feedback, and that the whole enchilada is sealed. Though I tape so tightly I probably only need the little bit of wax shavings in the cover then a lil hair dryer to melt it.

I made a 42/43 humbucker recently for someone and they loved it, a5 mag as well.
Though I think I may have made my turn counts a bit closer. I went with ~6000 42 and ~6500 43.

[kayakerca]

I put a little bit of wax shavings into the cover, then put the pickup into the cover, solder it together, then wax the whole thing just like you.
I like to make sure that cover isn't going to feedback, and that the whole enchilada is sealed. Though I tape so tightly I probably only need the little bit of wax shavings in the cover then a lil hair dryer to melt it.

I made a 42/43 humbucker recently for someone and they loved it, a5 mag as well.
Though I think I may have made my turn counts a bit closer. I went with ~6000 42 and ~6500 43.

For what it's worth, I went with ~ 5,150 (4.1kΩ) of 42 on the screw side and ~ 6,750 (7.1kΩ) of 43 on the slug side.

But hey, this truly is a prototype.

[David Schwab]

For what it's worth, I went with ~ 5,150 (4.1kΩ) of 42 on the screw side and ~ 6,750 (7.1kΩ) of 43 on the slug side.

I have an old Bartolini Hi-A pickup with a mismatch that large. It's bright like a single coil.

[jonson]

Gibson pot their pickups that way after assembly whereas I never pot buckers but did one once as trial run and found it paid to masking tape the cover to stop any run out from pole screw gaps and made it easier to clean up after.

[copperheadroads]

when doing covers I don't bother to get wax from my pot ,Instead i light one of those little tea light candles for a minute or 2 before the cover goes on ,then from the candle drop some wax in the cover & press it & clamp it before the wax solidify s

[davos]

I usually pot them with the cover on but I have in the past put some wax scrapings under the cover and put the pickup under a desk lamp for 5 minutes. You'd be surprised how hot then can get

[big_teee]

I pot the pickups with the covers on.
T