Keven, the main reason I'm switching out my Gibson pickups is for this obnoxious buzzing that I've been getting. A local tech told me they were microphonic, and tapped all over the guitar and pickups, with it coming quite loudly through the amp. Previous techs ignored it, and didn't tell me so I thought it was normal. I don't get any squeal from those pickups though, and it can hardly pick up my voice at all. But I get this strange buzzing that gets dialed out with the volume knob and changes with the tone knob. The buzzing isnt even completely why I want to get rid of them now, I did some research on Mules and I think they'd be much better for me- especially if I can get them unpotted. The 57s feel kinda muffled and not open enough. And I'd love coil splitting, so i'm ordering these Mules with 4 conductors.
I talked to Tim and he said he uses unpotted pickups (Mule and Riff Raff) playing Ozzy covers. He said he doesn't get squeal at those gain/volume levels, and most players would probably use a bit more gain than me for Randy Rhoads or Zakk Wylde tones.
Alex, for the style I'm playing, the unpotted sound would be ideal but the potted protection from microphonics would also be ideal.
I plan on getting covers on my pickups and told Tim this, and apparently BKP puts some tape between the pickup and cover to kind of get the best of both worlds. Not exactly what Tim said, there was a little more detail to the taping and location of the tape, but I don't recall at the moment.
Anybody have experience with the covered, unpotted pickups? or unpotted pickups and these gain levels?
I'm thinking I'm just going to go for unpotted and use them this way for the session coming up. If I get squeals at band practice levels, I'll send em back after the session to be potted. I'm not sure if I'll have to pay for potting waiting that long, but I'd be willing to pay a little bit for tone.
