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i replaced the pickup in my blacktop bari with a single coil blade pickup. i'm loving the way it sounds, but even with just a fairly small amount of gain (in the AC/DC crunch ballpark) it is prone to howly feedback. the pickup is not potted. i guess i could think about doing that. or i could buy a noise gate...which just seems like giving up. i don't know....any advice? i actually am super stoked about the way the pickup sounds.

I'd say potting that pickup would be a good start but not sure if it would effect the sound in a negative way. I hate noise gates though and like you said, I consider it a last resort or cop out to control feedback. I think they're helpful if you run insane amounts of gain and have quick stops/mutes that have to be absolutely quiet and precise but I'd exhaust other methods before going that route....

hmmm...just got an email back from the guy who made the pickup. he said he wax pots all his pickups under vacuum, so that (theoretically) shouldn't be the issue. he did say i could take it apart to make sure there's compressible foam in between between the magnets and the coil (which is supposed to be there to dampen any vibrations), and if not, replace it.

i guess i could just submerge the whole damn thing in wax & hope that solves the issue.

in short, i'm annoyed.

Have you tried lowering the pickup height?
Even a small amount can sometimes make a big difference.

MEC wrote:Have you tried lowering the pickup height?
Even a small amount can sometimes make a big difference.

yeah. it didn't help with this particular issue. it wasn't the 'strings vibrating uncontrollably' kind of feedback, it was annoying microphonic howling. actually, i discovered that if i tap on the pickup it rings at the same frequency of the feedback. definitely an inner vibration thing.

i wound up yanking the pickup & replacing it with something else, but i will be wax potting it at some point in the future.

AxAxSxS wrote:

ha. i own one of those, actually. unfortunately, this was the kind of feedback that you could hear even while you're playing, so unless i left the EB in the heel-down position at all times, it wouldn't solve the issue.

Is your guitar shielded? Coating the electronics cavities with shielding foil/paint can help reduce noise.

^ Will help with noise, but not feedback.

Do you play near you amp?
Like myself at home I always sit just infront of my amp.
If is the case move your Equipment in your room see if the feedback is still there.

TURN UP AND LET THAT SHIT SOAR.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

voerking wrote:it wasn't the 'strings vibrating uncontrollably' kind of feedback, it was annoying microphonic howling. actually, i discovered that if i tap on the pickup it rings at the same frequency of the feedback. definitely an inner vibration thing.

i wound up yanking the pickup & replacing it with something else, but i will be wax potting it at some point in the future.

This was that switching pickups on a Telebari thread... I like the way the stock ones are even if they are cheap... I work with what I got... I do have that Triplebucker that might RAWK in the bridge though...

Don't stop playing.

if the pickup covers come off, try putting some tape--like masking tape--on the inside of the PU cover to deaden it. i've seen some folks online suggest this as an alternative to potting PAF-style humbuckers, either by taping the cover or by putting a loop of tape or piece of foam between the cover and coil. NOTE: i have not tried this, but it seems like it might help with the OP's resonance problem.

I'm wondering about all this since it's Telebari but I am tempted to say LEARN TO LOVE FEEDBACK... Oh I did...

Avoid all Protoss players.

Problem solved.

Josh Pelican wrote:TURN UP AND LET THAT SHIT SOAR.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Thought I understand the Op's dilemma, I lol'd and slightly agree with this.