Has anyone here ever wax potted their own pickups?

Do-it-yourself pedal building

Moderator: Ghost Hip

Forum rules
The DIY forum is for personal projects (things that are not for sale, not in production), info sharing, peer to peer assistance. No backdoor spamming (DIY posts that are actually advertisements for your business). No clones of in-production pedals. If you have concerns or questions, feel free to PM admin. Thanks so much!
Post Reply
User avatar
nbabmf
experienced
experienced
Posts: 890
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:43 am
Location: San Diego, CA

Has anyone here ever wax potted their own pickups?

Post by nbabmf »

I installed some pickups in a friend's guitar the other night and had to swap covers. He wanted the chrome ones from the Epiphone pickups I was removing and not the gold ones from the Gibson pickups he's had lying around for years. The Epi pickups were fucking encased in a block of wax, but the Gibson ones had hardly any. Guess what? The Gibsons are microphonic as all hell, probably because I disturbed the wax when swapping the covers.

Any tips, tricks, suggestions? I don't think he's going to want new pickups, so wax potting them is the best option I think.
Image

I love the smell of solder in the morning.

Successful dealings with: blooghost, starcastic, bronzetalon, theavondon, absent, jero, sevenSHARPnine, magiclawnchair, oldangelmidnight, and others that I can't remember lol
User avatar
culturejam
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 2381
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:25 pm
Location: Nueva Yersey

Re: Has anyone here ever wax potted their own pickups?

Post by culturejam »

Just be careful. Wax is quite flammable, obviously. I'd suggest getting one of those cheap double boiler setups they sell at craft stores for candle making. It's a very safe way to keep wax melted long enough to pot the pickup.
Disclaimer #1: Co-Founder, Product Developer at Function f(x).
User avatar
Bellyheart
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 5791
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:23 pm
Location: Richmond, Va

Re: Has anyone here ever wax potted their own pickups?

Post by Bellyheart »

When I went to fraylin's office they had a small pan full of hot wax. I got to watch them make my pickup. They dumped it upside down in wax with the leads hanging out. It bubbles for a bit and when the bubbles stopped it was all done. I'm not sure if that helps.
User avatar
eatyourguitar
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 3127
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:37 pm
Location: USA, RI

Re: Has anyone here ever wax potted their own pickups?

Post by eatyourguitar »

I've used beesewax for dipping things. I have a huge wok filled with beeswax. the wax stays in the wok when I'm not using it. its easier to work with than paraffin I think. its also totally inert since its been heated so many times. a lot of gibby's have a shitload of wax in the covers. they fill it up to the top. some boutiqe brands will goop them so they last longer. its not like its a big secret whats in a pickup.
WWW.EATYOURGUITAR.COM <---- MY DIY STUFF
Post Reply