It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:38 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:34 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:30 am
Posts: 8
If you have ever tapped an old Fender power tube and heard that odd ringing, you'll know what I'm talking about.

I have a strat with the bridge pup exhibiting the EXACT same behavior.

The pup sounds great until some whack of my right hand on the body causes the pickup to start a microphonic howl, and the only way to get rid of it is to switch to another pup.

I don't want to replace the pickup because it sounds great, is there any way to get the pup to settle down perhaps by potting it?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:47 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Bad ground wiring, poor soldering and improper shielding are the most common causes for the 60-cycle hum.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:01 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:59 am
Posts: 492
As utterly stupid as it sounds, have you checked to see there's nothing stuck to the magnets underneath the pickup?

I had a pickup which acted exactly like that. Was absolutely fine, then after changing a pot, became immensely microphonic and touch sensitive to the point it was unusable at anything above a whisper.

Turned out to be a tiny spring had stuck to the back of the bridge pickup when I laid the scratchplate on my worktop. Removed it, and the pickup was absolutely fine again. Doh! :shock:

If it's just a case of a microphonic pickup, yes, you can pot it which should sort that out entirely. Plenty of resources on the web, although I'd be inclined (if you're really attached to that particular pickup and replacing it is not an option) to take it in to a local pickup maker and get them to do it, which will probably cost less than the equipment and materials you need to pot correctly in the first place.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:30 am
Posts: 8
Vulpinity wrote:
As utterly stupid as it sounds, have you checked to see there's nothing stuck to the magnets underneath the pickup?

I had a pickup which acted exactly like that. Was absolutely fine, then after changing a pot, became immensely microphonic and touch sensitive to the point it was unusable at anything above a whisper.

Turned out to be a tiny spring had stuck to the back of the bridge pickup when I laid the scratchplate on my worktop. Removed it, and the pickup was absolutely fine again. Doh! :shock:

If it's just a case of a microphonic pickup, yes, you can pot it which should sort that out entirely. Plenty of resources on the web, although I'd be inclined (if you're really attached to that particular pickup and replacing it is not an option) to take it in to a local pickup maker and get them to do it, which will probably cost less than the equipment and materials you need to pot correctly in the first place.


I have plenty of pups, but this one is special. It has a 60's Ritchie Blackmore vibe and I'll try to sort it out by having it potted before changing it.

Thanks, I'll look into potting it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:11 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
chromeface wrote:
Bad ground wiring, poor soldering and improper shielding are the most common causes for the 60-cycle hum.


This is not what the OP is describing.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:13 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
gnappi wrote:
I have plenty of pups, but this one is special. It has a 60's Ritchie Blackmore vibe and I'll try to sort it out by having it potted before changing it.

Thanks, I'll look into potting it.


Be best to have it done professionally. Potting involves high temperatures and can be dangerous if done improperly.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:57 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
bluesky636 wrote:
This is not what the OP is describing.


Yes, but my reply concerns possible causes.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 1868
Location: Kansas City Mo
I pot pickups all the time. Wax is at Walmart in the craft section its like a dollar.
Potting is really easy you just take a clean soup can set it in a pan of boiling water.
Put your bar of parafine wax in the can let it turn to water looking melted completly.
Dip in your pickup holding on to the wire (dont submerge lead wires).
when you dip it let it stay in there a bit to soak it in like 30 seconds to a min.
You should use a hot glove.
Lay it on a paper towel to dry.
You can use a blow dryer and paper towel to remove excess.
Since a single uses a cover theres not much need for that though.

If you can solder your own pickup and dip a tea bag you can pot a pickup.

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fenderguitarandamp/


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:54 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
chromeface wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
This is not what the OP is describing.


Yes, but my reply concerns possible causes.


Sorry. 60 cycle hum from a pickup has nothing to do with whether a pickup is microphonic or not. Microphonics is a physical phenomenon, 60 cycle hum due to bad grounds, shielding, etc. is an electrical phenomenon. I have a mildly microphonic humbucker in one guitar. Zero hum, but the pickup is not potted and the vibration between the cover and coil causes it to be slightly microphonic.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:58 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Proper method for potting a pickup. Note the safety precautions.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/ele ... /index.php

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:15 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 1868
Location: Kansas City Mo
bluesky636 wrote:
Proper method for potting a pickup. Note the safety precautions.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/ele ... /index.php




Yeah Im sure it might explain it better there for you.
Its super simple. Kinda like finger painting, just down right fun :)

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fenderguitarandamp/


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Microphonic pup
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:48 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 1868
Location: Kansas City Mo
kingofesquire wrote:
I would try to indentify what is causing the microphonics. I had a Bill Lawrence pickup that was microphonic and I had terrible feedback. Unfortunately, the problem was with a distortion pedal that I had modified which exasporated things in the signal chain. I would do the following.

1) use no effects while determining the microphonic pickups. Just use a guitar and amp to ensure that there are no outside causes of the microphonic like issues.

2) Fender uses compression tubing instead of springs to mount the pickups. Sometimes springs can create a microphonic situation at high gains settings.

3) Try putting foam under the pickups. Many guitarists use foam to absorb vibrations that may cause micophonic like issues.

4) As a last resort, pot wax the pickup.

Good Luck!



That was excellent advice the spring tubing is really a good point as is the signal path.

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fenderguitarandamp/


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: