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Thread: Microphonic Pickups

  1. #1
    Occasionally Onery Member CantankerousCarl's Avatar
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    Microphonic Pickups

    General tech info/advice/life experience requested.

    Picked up a vintage (non-PRS) guitar (35 y.o.) which, like many older guitars, is prone to the pickups going microphonic. I didn't notice any issue with this guitar until I went looking for it, and upon re-stringing, the string-less guitar does indeed amplify taps to the body and pickups a bit. I did not experience any squealing / howling on the burn channel of my Boogie @ 7 and the volume at what I would consider "way too loud for basement dwellers." The guitar sounds and plays fantastic, definitely my favorite non-PRS guitar ever to-date already.

    I must add the caveat that these particular pickups are epoxy-sealed, and from what I have read, not able to be wax potted at home, and possibly not be repaired by professionals.

    So, after the above setup, the question is, how serious an issue are microphonic pickups? Is it something that will just worsen over time, inevitably making the guitar unplayable? Do any of you have vintage guitars that exhibit degrees of microphoning? How do you deal with it? Are there ways to freeze / reverse the symptoms?
    MD: 1990, 1991 & 1992 CE24s, 1993 STD24, 2011 CU24 Throwback, 2012 Siggy (Trem)
    SEs: 2003 EG, 2009 Semi-Hollow Soapbar x2, 2010 Santana, 2012 CU24, 2012 Korina One, 2012 245
    Amps: Boogie Express+ 5:50C, H&K Tubemeister 18C

  2. #2
    408 Sig Club President Twinfan's Avatar
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    The only way to cure it is a complete re-pot.

    I wouldn't worry about it - play it as it is, and only worry about it if a\nd when it becomes a serious issue.

  3. #3
    Senior Member zebraprs's Avatar
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    I have a nice old Hollowbody gtr.. the pickups are also microphonic. I can pot them but I have not had any issues playing live yet.. if I do, I will have them potted.. But I would leave them alone if they are not causing you any issues when you are playing...
    ZebraPRS
    Guitars: 1967 Gibson Byrdland; 1995 PRS Custom 24; 2009 PRS McCarty Smokeburst PF09; 2012 PRS Swamp Ash Studio; 20?? PRS Custom 24 Custom Zebra Stripes
    Amps: PRS Original Sewell 50 watt #43 with Paisley 2x12 cab; PRS Pre-Prod 2 Channel C with 2x12 DB Cabinet, 10watt custom combo

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