Author Topic: Potted vs. Unpotted (Read 8751 times)

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:

gingataff · « **Reply #1 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!

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2006, 04:33:18 PM »

It intrigued me too, i would like to know the difference.

steve · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2006, 09:47:41 AM »

And the answer is.....

PhilKing · « **Reply #4 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.

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2006, 07:22:34 PM »

AAARRGH so many options

Tim · « **Reply #6 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.

Twisted Louie · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2006, 01:46:21 AM »

Hi Tim,

But if they are covered they still have to be potted, correct?

Twinfan · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2006, 12:32:58 PM »

Nope - you can have them covered and unpotted.

5F6-A · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2006, 08:10:22 PM »

my stormy monsdays are unpotted and they sound greeeaaaattt!!

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2006, 09:16:58 PM »

would you get more feedback in a semi if they were unpotted???

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #11 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!

carlaz · « **Reply #12 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! ;)

deg0ey · « **Reply #13 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

carlaz · « **Reply #14 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 ;)