beachwail Posted June 18, 2005 Posted June 18, 2005 I've seen so many different takes on this issue (seth lovers do squeal with nasty microphonics when you step on an overdrive pedal at gig volumes). I use the guitar in both "intimate" and "rock out" type of applications, so I need to remedy this problem. Here's the methods that I've seen, some claim that they work and other claim that they do not (or have negative side effects) 1..Wax the nickel cover. 2..Potting the entire pickups. 3..Remove covers entirely. 4..Replacing pickups. How much does potting/waxing affect the tone? Thanks for all suggestions.
Tonebutcher Posted June 18, 2005 Posted June 18, 2005 I just bought a Newport Pro and have asked the same question. On mine, the bridge squeals at not very high levels. I had a suggestion from a poster on the LPF to try just potting the magnet. I'm going to see if I can adjust to this before I mess around with the pickup, then try the above suggestion before getting into removing the cover or anything else. It's easy enough to pot the entire pickup, but I think it would choke the tone. Replacing the pickup is my last resort. I would think removing the cover would solve the problem easiest with the least impact on the tone. They're not potted for a reason, but the squealing is definitely a problem.
beachwail Posted June 21, 2005 Author Posted June 21, 2005 Nobody?I've read many accounts of other people having this problem...Somebody must use some overdrive with their Newports???What was your remedy?
gwayne Posted June 21, 2005 Posted June 21, 2005 What was your remedy? Not trying to be a smartass, but I sold mine. I didn't want to fool with swapping pickups on a Newport. The potting will work (I did this on a G&L), but IMO it seemed like it would be too much trouble on a Newport. GaleJT is now enjoying it.
mrhappy Posted June 21, 2005 Posted June 21, 2005 If the squeal is a really high freq then you'll probably need to pot the windings.If the squeal is a bit lower in freq, or it can be tamed by lightly touching the cover, then waxing or removing the cover could solve your problem.Might as well just pop the cover off to see if it helps... if so then you can wax it and put it back on(as tight as you can get it). If it doesn't help then you know you have to pot it.As far as changing the tone goes... at higher gain you probably won't notice much, if any, tone change and at least you'll be able to use it.Another thing you could try is putting foam beneath the pu to discourage it from vibrating. Some people have had luck with this if it's not too severe.I have Seths in 2 guits and Antis in another and don't have squeal probs with them. I do however have a PAF with some cover squeal issues. With the cover removed the problem dissapears. I recently reinstalled the cover(tightly/no wax)... it's better than it used to be(cover installed) but it's right on the border now.
straightblues Posted June 21, 2005 Posted June 21, 2005 I have unpotted Antiquities in a couple of different guitars. (My Newport has Phat Cats.) They have a little squeal but if you position yourself away from the front of you amp, at about a 45 degree angle, I have never had a problem I couldn't easily control. This is an old trick I learned playing vintage hollowbody guitars that squeal big time.
Guest teefus2 Posted June 21, 2005 Posted June 21, 2005 it is easier to just change the pickups to a potted model, imho. technically a potted seth isn't really a seth if you know what i mean. i had a problem with my 1st newport pro. i was playing in a fairly loud (satge wise) band and my riveras had jsut enough gain to get the newport into squealy territory. i went to fralin unbuckers and was totally impressed. they are very celan and brighter than your standard hb which is perfect for the way i use my newports. i play classic and 80's rock mostly and the unbuckers made the newport much more "rock friendly". i immediately put them in my newport pro custom order too. if you are going to go through the trouble (it's no fun but certainly not impossible) of pulling the seths to pot them i would just replace them. you can flip them for a decent price on ebay and cover the cost of their replacements.
Guest pirateflynn Posted June 21, 2005 Posted June 21, 2005 i went to fralin unbuckers and was totally impressed. I switched to Fralin Unbuckers in my Newport Pro with excellent results.
Guest teefus2 Posted June 21, 2005 Posted June 21, 2005 they really worked for me since i was looking for a big vibey sound but not necessarily a jazzy sound. mine are somewhere in the neighborhood of 5.0/3.5 for the bridge and 4.5/3.0 for the neck. pretty low output for hb's but they sound perfect.
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