ilovefuzz.com

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.

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.

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.

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.