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I have some intermittant rattling on my ES-175. When it is noticeable, it sounds like I'm running the guitar through a distortion box, even when played acoustically. I've isolated the problem to the bridge pickup cover. I saw a thread with a similar occurance, but can't find it. Anyone know how to remedy this issue? Thanks!
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08-31-2014 10:38 AM
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Take the cover off and drop some wax on the inside (while keeping the cover warm enough so the wax won't cool) and while the wax is still soft press the cover back on the pickup and hold it until it has cooled down. Then solder it back on and you're done. This is a tip I got from a luthier when I needed to put some covers on two humbuckers that didn't have any. Worked a treat - no rattling, no squealing.
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Are you sure it is the cover and not the springs? Most covers are solidly installed and wont rattle when you play them (if we are talking about PAF style pickups). I would go against tommo and NOT recommend putting wax anywhere unless you know what you are doing.. Potting pickups (waxing) is not something you should try unless you know what you are doing and you know what the end result is.
What I have seen more often is that the springs in the pickup ring get a little too compressed and lose their springiness. they don't hold the pickup securely enough. Take the pickup ring out.. take the pickup out of the ring (don't unsolder..) and just stretch the springs an extra half inch or so. and put everything back.
My 2 cents.. sorry I don't have the original link.
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>>> I've isolated the problem to the bridge pickup cover.
In my opinion/experience it is staggeringly unlikely that the PU cover itself is rattling independent of the PU proper.
More likely are the springs, and FAR more likely is the entire PU making marginal contact with the bezel.
The spring fix is as Drew/Sambooka mentions - or better yet replace the springs with silicone tubing as used for fuel lines on model airplane engines.
But the 90+% likely fix is to get some black EVA foam at a craft store. They will have 2mm thick "Craft Foam" in sheets.
Then using 2-sided carpet tape attach some of this on either side of the PU about 2 or 3 mm below the top of the bezel. Make sure it fills the gap between the PU and the bezel on each side.
The black EVA foam is close to invisible and gets rid of the buzz. If you need extra thickness, many craft stores will have ~6mm foam, but you can also just add layers of the 2mm using the lifetime supply of carpet tape you now have.
It is certainly possible that you have a more exotic vibration source, but the odds are against it in my opinion.
All in my opinion.
Chris
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If for some reason you do remove and replace the PU cover. Do not de-solder it. Far better to use a Dremel tool to cut a slot through the solder blobs parallel to the PU edge. Then use a flat screwdriver to pop the minor remaining solder free. De-soldering is a minor pain to do, and if inexpertly done can cause several problems. Cutting sound harder, but works far better.
Do not remove any solder that was not cut away when removing the cover.
To replace the cover, use a 40 watt MINIMUM iron to re-solder. A cooler iron significantly increases the chance that you will overheat something - one of life's seemingly counter-intuitive situations.
In my opinion.
Chris
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Great thread I am having similar issue on two different guitars and 175 and my VB. One a new guitar I believe the spring was forgotten with assembling it, it is real loose. The luther said he uses surgical tubing and that All Parts sells it, so I ordered some. The 175 I think it might be the cover because the person that I got the guitar from changed the PU covers for gold ones, and I know he's not the greatest at soldering. But also sometimes I can quiet it down wedging a pick between the PU and the PU ring. So the craft foam sounds like a good solution to try first.
Thanks all for the info.
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As for the springs, I have a couple of times replaced slack humbucker springs with springs from worn out ball point pens. They can be cut to size as needed, work well and seems to be of better quality than some of the springs which come with pickups. Now, I don't say the springs is the problem in this case. I have had the same problem with my old 175. For 30 years it has had a bit of a saxophone reed wedged between the PU and pickup ring - less elegant than the solution PTChris came up with, but the effect is the same.
Last edited by oldane; 09-01-2014 at 05:05 AM.
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Potting a pickup is an entirely different procedure - the pickup itself gets a bath in hot wax (of a very specific mix) to eliminate vibrations in the coil(s) itself and this has to be done by a pro or someone who knows exactly how to do it.
Originally Posted by SamBooka
What I am talking about was just putting a very thin layer of wax between the cover and the top of the bobbins to make sure that the cover is not vibrating against the bobbins which is rare but does happen.
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Isn't potting a pickup about fixing a microphonic pickup like a lot of early Tele's were. I remember you could yell into the pickup and it would act like a microphone. Originally Posted by TOMMO
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Black Magic Tack...
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Yes and that's because of the coils being microphonic - the windings vibrating and causing squealing... Originally Posted by docbop
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In my opinion we would do well to consider that the covers themselves can also cause squealing.
(Again, I do not at all think the OP should be removing and replacing covers to get some wax between the cover and the coils.)
I think we have many experiences of squeal that are not 100% from the coils (or magnets, or pole pieces) vibrating.
In a simple example, getting the metal cover off a P-90 and going to plastic has cured many a squeal with no change to the coil or magnet.
(And presumably one could indeed improve the vibration control of this metal cover to get rod of the squeal.)
It may be best to note that you can get microphonic issues from several sources.
When adding metal covers to otherwise uncovered humbucking PU's it is a fine idea to control the possibility of vibration, which can get you mechanical buzz or microphonic squeal. But as for "fixing" an existing HB cover installation this way - in my opinion it is very unlikely to be a useful exercise.
ChrisLast edited by PTChristopher2; 09-01-2014 at 06:01 PM. Reason: spelling, but I just write "spelling" no matter the reason for editing
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I am drunk and don't give a f$&Dk ... if your guitar is rattling even when it isn't plugged in your pickups are not "microphonic"
Now go to bed.. all of you.
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Thanks. I'll try Chris's suggestions first, although I am most entertained by SamBooka's. Not sure what time it is in Montreal, but I sure hope he feels OK in the morning.
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In one of those "Why I never thunk of that" moments until Boston Chris* mentioned it, I did a search for plastic bucker covers and found these: Other Humbucker .
Whaddya know? Always wanted cream covers.
* I am a fan of Tom Scholz...
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Get the cream color and have someone paint a tie-dyed pattern, 60's Jazz lives! Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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Bah.. years of practice my son. Originally Posted by Encinitastubes
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Waaaaay off topic:
I have been around the block a few times, and actually circumnavigated the orb as well - sampling beverage every step of the way. But I can not for the life or me recall the last time I was truly plastered via alcohol.
I mean, I loves me some fine beer, wine, and whiskey. But actually getting drunk has passed into the past for me.
I am probably missing something.
Sorry for the derail. I also hope Mr. Booka is back on an even keel.
Chris
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Nah, it's just that you have passed from your first to your second youth. I know it, have been there (and am well on my way to the third youth by now). Originally Posted by PTChristopher2
Regarding whiskey - there's whiskey and there's whisky. For those of us Europeans who has been on a pilgrimage to Islay, the difference is substantial.
Last edited by oldane; 09-02-2014 at 03:05 PM.
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Finally got around to taking out the pickup, stretching the springs, putting adhesive foam rubber around the bottom edge of the pickup to make it snug in the bezel. Problem solved. No rattle whatsoever. Happy new year!
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I recently bought this Super 400, and the bridge p.u. definitely has the “rattle”. I wedged some cardstock between the pickup cover and the ring as a temporary fix. Otherwise this guitar has a huge magnificent tone. Thanks for the tips! Jerry T
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