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Partial- or half-potting

4/3/2006 1:20 PM
Zhangliqun	Partial- or half-potting Had heard a variety of opinions on the effect of potting on tone (most of them negative) but there's nothing like firsthand experience. My waxpot arrived last week and off I went experimenting. The rule of thumb as far as I had heard and read is to dip the pickup for about 10 to 20 minutes, or until all the bubbles are gone. So I dipped a Tele bridge I made for about 25 minutes to make sure -- and it flat-out killed the tone. The top was gone and the overall output was noticeably down. So I figured, maybe I overdid it with the time, so I went to the other extreme and dipped another Tele bridge I made for about 7 minutes. VOILA! It not only sounded about 99% the same, it still passed my feedback test with flying colors. I also dipped a 'bucker that had been returned due to major feedback problems for only 5 minutes and same result, though I was able to get it to squeal a little when I crammed it up against the speaker at 12. (Previously, it was out of control by 4 on the master). I think it even improved the tone, smoothing the top ever so slightly. I think I'm going to keep it for my LP. Anyway, the lesson for this newbie appears that there is a wide enough margin for error in potting that it can be used also as another tool to refine the tone, not just for reducing feedback -- but probably you veteran winders already knew this?

4/3/2006 1:20 PM

Zhangliqun

Partial- or half-potting

Had heard a variety of opinions on the effect of potting on tone (most of them negative) but there's nothing like firsthand experience. My waxpot arrived last week and off I went experimenting.

The rule of thumb as far as I had heard and read is to dip the pickup for about 10 to 20 minutes, or until all the bubbles are gone. So I dipped a Tele bridge I made for about 25 minutes to make sure -- and it flat-out killed the tone. The top was gone and the overall output was noticeably down.

So I figured, maybe I overdid it with the time, so I went to the other extreme and dipped another Tele bridge I made for about 7 minutes. VOILA! It not only sounded about 99% the same, it still passed my feedback test with flying colors.

I also dipped a 'bucker that had been returned due to major feedback problems for only 5 minutes and same result, though I was able to get it to squeal a little when I crammed it up against the speaker at 12. (Previously, it was out of control by 4 on the master). I think it even improved the tone, smoothing the top ever so slightly. I think I'm going to keep it for my LP.

Anyway, the lesson for this newbie appears that there is a wide enough margin for error in potting that it can be used also as another tool to refine the tone, not just for reducing feedback -- but probably you veteran winders already knew this?

Replies:

nobody special Yup...... -- 4/3/2006 1:45 PM
Mickey Boy Everybody has a different idea or w... -- 4/3/2006 1:55 PM
nobody special U may want to look at your winding ... -- 4/3/2006 2:04 PM
Hummer Surely we can reach to Exteching a ... -- 5/5/2006 11:24 AM