~davie

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V5G56B3U

listen to that, its a recording i did with the pickup, first half is just plucking, second half is me yelling directly at the pickup (listen between 7-9secs).

Pick noise isn't related to the pickup being microphonic. If you heard your voice in them, that's a clue.

Wouldn't the actual picking noise FROM THE PICK be a picked up by microphonic pickups? I think there's already some wax in it, because there's like residue on the plastic, but in terms of HOW WELL it is potted, i dunno. And I can actually hear (it's quite noticeable) the plucking sound when I play with distortion. But I've bought some Parowax paraffin wax to pot them later.

actually, i meant out of phase, i have a phase switch.

i haven't tried them. but it's probably a "cheaper version of squier" LOL

the humbucker is there just to market it to the kids that like playing rock and metal stuff

just because its a humbucker doesn't necessarily mean its good

I did it back in the 70's on my Ric bass. It's not very useful unless you want a REALLY thin tone with no bottom at all. If you turn one pickup down a little it brings the bottom back a bit.

Also running them series out of phase has a bit more lower mids, but that's really thin sounding too.

thanks dave, i thought no one was gonna answer me. lol

but anyway, i just love the off-phase sounds on my strat though, perfect for those funky rhythm riffs

i've got some overwound single-coil pickups from that guitarfetish clearance sale. They sound pretty hot and are pretty nice sounding, but there's an issue with playing them on loud volumes such as on distortion. The problem is that I can hear the plucking sounds of the pick when I play, more so when I play lead solo type stuff with any amount of distortion. I'm not sure if they were potted before (how well potted and with what substance), so I started to suspect that there may be a microphonic issue. So I tried a test, I put my face right in front of the pickups and yelled it them. and I think the pickups 'picked it up' . I even heard my echo when I had the delay pedal on. lol. So.. what should I do? Will potting them solve this? Or is there a limit to how much microphonics you can get rid of?

try adjusting your truss rod, if you truss rod needs adjustment, then it might end up fixing your nut's action.

if that doesn't work, then maybe try adding something to your nut slot, like veneer? or maybe wood filler.

the push-push pots cost $$$, which i unfortunately DON'T HAVE!

so I think i may be surrendering to the tele-style knobs. lol. looks interesting though.

um...you could dip them in that silicone tool grip stuff. If you can find it in white, then you can tint it to a cream color using analyne dies (assuming they're compatible). Let me do a quick search.

EDIT: Plasti-dip. Comes in white too (or you could try the clear over a creme knob)! http://www.plastidip.com/industrial/plastidip.html

hmm.. interesting, it could work, i wonder if they sell something similar in canada somewhere. anyone know?

hmm.. i think stewmacs discontinued those rubber grip ones, and also I want them in 'cream'

maybe i can add-on something? or modify mine? any ideas? lol

does anyone have any ideas? or know how/where to get strat-style traditional volume/tone knobs that are easy to push or pull on (for those push-pull pots). On my guitar right now, i left a slight gap to pull from the bottom of the knob, but its quite troublesome and uncomfortable to use. lol. I know that something like a telecaster style knob would be MUCH easier to push/pull but I want to keep the stock strat look

anyone?

has anyone tried it? I just curious on how is it. I've never heard or heard of a bass with a phase reversal switch.

doesn't look like the wire is connected to the switch's terminal. and also, how many conductors are on that humbucker? 4? because you need atleast 4 conductors in order to do coil-tap, i think. lol

its looks okay, but I'm not sure if the coil-tap switch makes sense

hmm.. interesting..

not too sure about this one, but how long did you let the nitro cure? because nitro needs like about 1 month to fully cure.

Thanks for your reply.

Both the body and the neck are currently in the raw state with no finish at all of any kind. I'm still working on both of them.

BUT, when i'm finished and put it together, i need them to be closer in colour, if not identical BEFORE I start applying colour and finish.

Your suggestion of a stain like miniwax, worries me because of the word "WAX" i think. Surely that would react with anything I try to paint over the top of it?? Like the colour coat and lacquers? That's why I wondered if there was any water based colouring dye to match a mahogany colour. I might also require a supplier in the UK as shipping materials like this is a problem for some suppliers these days.

Of course, you are right, I have two necks, one to try tests on and i can even use my actual neck in places like the tenon for testing. Good idea.

Any further thoughts from guys who are experienced at this kind of problem would be great.

lol, it's minwax, NOT miniwax, Minwax is a BRAND of finishing products (http://www.minwax.com/), they make stuff for stains and clearcoats. They have have both water-based and oil-based stains, which both have some sort of mahogany colour. The oil-based one is gonna need a pre-stain conditioner, but I think the water-based ones don't need one. There are some other brands out there, but I've used Minwax stuff, they aren't bad.

Once the stain is fully dried and absorbed onto the wood then you should be able to clearcoat over it. Polyurethane or nitrocellulose sprays would probably be your best choices. But it depends on what you're going for.

your best alternative would probably to get some kind of oil-based stain like minwax, and search for a mahogany colour that matches your mahogany wood most, and make sure to use some pre-stain wood conditioner so it doesn't get blotchy spots. If the maple neck is already finished with a clearcoating then i would suggest you sand it off.

test it on some scrap maple? or a non-visible spot on the neck, if the stain is too dark then dilute it slightly with some thinner, i guess. if its too light then i guess you could try multiple stain coats.

hope that helps. lol

nevermind guys, i found some 'real' grain filler. they sell it at benjamin moore's

sb guitars, which hobby shop did you go to? because I'm also in Toronto.

where? and what brand? what's the price? lol

ah i see, thanks for the clarification

You wont get any signal if only the hot wire is connected and not the common. Just a lot of hum.

you sure? and what is a 'common' ?