Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Canadian Steve on July 20, 2006, 04:05:31 PM

Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Canadian Steve on July 20, 2006, 04:05:31 PM
I was looking at the Gallery section and in the 'BKPs in Tim's guitars' section there was a LP with unpotted Mules.  I was just wondering what difference there is between these and potted ones. :mrgreen:
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: gingataff on July 20, 2006, 04:32:26 PM
I saw that too, especially as I recently read a post that seemed to imply that potting was essential to avoid microphonics. I'd love to hear a sample!
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Crazy_Joe on July 20, 2006, 04:33:18 PM
It intrigued me too, i would like to know the difference.
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: steve on July 21, 2006, 09:47:41 AM
And the answer is.....
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: PhilKing on July 21, 2006, 12:22:41 PM
I think it is a little more 'open' sounding.  I have a set of unpotted Stormy Monday's on order.  Tim had mentioned these to me when we were talkig about pickups.  He was experimenting with this concept for a while, to make sure that it didn't cause more squeal.

The original PAF's, T-Tops and other early Gibson pickups were never potted.  It was only after people started to remove the covers that potting started.
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: CaffeineJunkie on July 22, 2006, 07:22:34 PM
AAARRGH so many options
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Tim on July 22, 2006, 10:19:25 PM
OK, potted vs unpotted..............well unpotted vintage voiced p/ups sound and respond amazingly, made correctly they're not microphonic either but very 'alive' feeling.Higainers really don't benefit from being unpotted at all as the response is more compressed and the dynamic is totally different but in a vintage style p/up like Stormy Monday or The Mule you get an even more vocal tone and extra bite too...........it's one of those'you need to experience it' type things as the guitar tone is right on the edge and literally alive!
For purists it's the only wayto go but if you're pushing a mega hi gain rig it's not so practical.
All in all very cool but not for everyone.
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Twisted Louie on July 23, 2006, 01:46:21 AM
Hi Tim,

But if they are covered they still have to be potted, correct?
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Twinfan on July 23, 2006, 12:32:58 PM
Nope - you can have them covered and unpotted.
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: 5F6-A on July 23, 2006, 08:10:22 PM
my stormy monsdays are unpotted and they sound greeeaaaattt!!
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: CaffeineJunkie on July 23, 2006, 09:16:58 PM
would you get more feedback in a semi if they were unpotted???
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Canadian Steve on July 24, 2006, 12:47:02 PM
Quote from: Tim
OK, potted vs unpotted..............well unpotted vintage voiced p/ups sound and respond amazingly, made correctly they're not microphonic either but very 'alive' feeling.Higainers really don't benefit from being unpotted at all as the response is more compressed and the dynamic is totally different but in a vintage style p/up like Stormy Monday or The Mule you get an even more vocal tone and extra bite too...........it's one of those'you need to experience it' type things as the guitar tone is right on the edge and literally alive!
For purists it's the only wayto go but if you're pushing a mega hi gain rig it's not so practical.
All in all very cool but not for everyone.


Thanks for that!  So I imagine unpotted + uncovered will give an 'airier' tone!
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: carlaz on July 24, 2006, 02:51:28 PM
Heh, at a gig last Friday the guitarist of the band I play in discovered that the unpotted Dimarzio bridge humbucker on his main axe had gone microphonic.  Serves him right for using Dimarzio's! ;)  I keep telling him he just needs a Miracle Man/Trilogy Suite HSS set, but does he listen? No!  And, so, he pays the price! ;)
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: deg0ey on July 24, 2006, 03:22:11 PM
Well, maybe now his pickups have $%&#ed up he WILL listen to you and buy BKs now - make sure to remind him of their amazingness every five minutes, and the fact that they're wax potted to prevent the microphonicness of them :D
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: carlaz on July 24, 2006, 03:53:09 PM
I do remind him at every opportunity, though that said, I haven't yet succeeded in convincing him that scooping his mids so brutally doesn't sound as good in a mix as it does alone in his bedroom, either ;)
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: CaffeineJunkie on July 24, 2006, 03:56:04 PM
especially not from a microphonic dimarzio :p
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: deg0ey on July 24, 2006, 03:57:14 PM
Maybe the following sentence would work better:

"Your live sound is shitee. You're out of the band unless you buy BKPs and learn to EQ properly :drink: "

Ok, so that's a bit harsh - but it would work :P
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: carlaz on July 24, 2006, 05:04:04 PM
Tempting ;) but that would be a lot like work! :roll:
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Fourth Feline on July 24, 2006, 07:49:39 PM
I love this forum;

it not only teaches pickup 'savvy' but also lessons in tact and diplomacy ...

 :lol:
Title: Potted vs. Unpotted
Post by: Canadian Steve on July 24, 2006, 10:15:09 PM
Quote from: carlaz
I do remind him at every opportunity, though that said, I haven't yet succeeded in convincing him that scooping his mids so brutally doesn't sound as good in a mix as it does alone in his bedroom, either ;)


I used to always scoop my mids as well and wonder why I got lost in the mix!  Now I boost them and it works better in the mix! :band5: