Squeling pickups

[seeker]

Ive got a set of Gibson minihums from the early 70s installed in a 90s Gibby double cut Studio(?). They sound greeat clean and with moderate breakup. However, under full gain/distortion, they sometimes squel like a pig.

Without wax potting, which is a non starter, is there any way to reduce/eliminate the piggie factor?

[murkat]

aside from potting,

pulling the tops off, put tape between the coils and can, resolder, hope for the best.

Light potting is the best solution.

[JGravelin]

You could also try using slightly longer, stiffer pickup adjustment springs. This will exert more pressure on the ring when adjusted to your normal playing position and reduce some of the vibrational transference that can sometimes happen with the usual springs. Or, use surgical tubing instead of springs for even better effect.

Improving the mechanical 'fit' of the pickups to both the rings and the body as a whole is the point here and can make a huge difference toward minimizing those unwanted microphonics.

Good luck!

[veatch]

I'm no expert, but i've put foam under a pup to keep it in place (similar to the tighter spring idear above) That has help in a couple of cases, but not in others.

Good luck!

[JGravelin]

Yup yup. The foam bit underneath can sometimes work too - totally worth a shot.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Bill Laurance used foam under single coil size pickups, hint hint.

I actually don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. But it just sort of occurred to me as I was reading through this thread.

[seeker]

aside from potting,

pulling the tops off, put tape between the coils and can, resolder, hope for the best.

Light potting is the best solution.

What kind of tape?

[murkat]

aside from potting,

pulling the tops off, put tape between the coils and can, resolder, hope for the best.

Light potting is the best solution.

What kind of tape?

vinyl tape can work.

the fundamental problem (s) with those minis are~

a. the original potting has dissipated, evaporated from the coils or

contact area between top of the coils and cover.

b. cover was not installed correctly ( gap between cover and coils.

c. pickup assembly is loosely fitted together initially or has become over time.

Keep in mind, the mini coil material (abs plastic) is not of a hard plastic (butyrate) like all other gibson paf types....

they melt, warp fairly easly (gibson clear, milky plastic material used in late 60's, 70's and current "special colored'.