Hope someone can answer.I have an old El degas SG copy with 2 humbuckers.The tone and playability are great,but when my master and channel vol are above 5, its like nails on a chalkboard.I have tried different cables and playing further away from the amp,nothing helps.The amp is a new 50W tube traynor.My SSS Strat is fine other than the hum.I love the pick ups on this guitar and would hate to change them, but the squeal/shriek is unreal.Thank you for all help.
pickup squeal/shriek
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Do the pickups have covers? If so, they are probably the problem.
When I added covers to dress up my 335, the pickups sounded shrill and brittle. I removed them from the instrument and immersed them in hot paraffin wax, being careful not to heat it much past its liquifying point. Being careful to get all the bubbles out, I then let the wax cool and solidify, then carefully dig the pickup & cover out of the solid wax. The wax fills all the cavities between the cover and the pickup, preventing reverberations from getting established. My guitar can be pinned now with no feedback at all.
Only try this if you are confident of your mcgyvering abilities....hot wax can damage the pickup windings if it is too hot, and can also burn skin painfully! Also, use a double boiler to heat the wax, that way it will never exceed 100 degrees C. Heating it over a a flame or burner directly is a no-no...wax burns with an intense hot flame.
When I added covers to dress up my 335, the pickups sounded shrill and brittle. I removed them from the instrument and immersed them in hot paraffin wax, being careful not to heat it much past its liquifying point. Being careful to get all the bubbles out, I then let the wax cool and solidify, then carefully dig the pickup & cover out of the solid wax. The wax fills all the cavities between the cover and the pickup, preventing reverberations from getting established. My guitar can be pinned now with no feedback at all.
Only try this if you are confident of your mcgyvering abilities....hot wax can damage the pickup windings if it is too hot, and can also burn skin painfully! Also, use a double boiler to heat the wax, that way it will never exceed 100 degrees C. Heating it over a a flame or burner directly is a no-no...wax burns with an intense hot flame.
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815 Posts
Before you go to all the trouble of doing the wax thing, try putting some foam rubber into the routes under the pickups. It may be enough to stop it.
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207 Posts
Good point, Lester. The KISS theory. As well, medium density foam under the pups helps stabilize them and makes adjustment of height much easier as well, by keeping them from flopping all over the place.Lester B. Flat said:
Foam AND wax....whoa!
finally
Just thought I would follow up on the pick up squeal.I lined the cavity with foam,same.replaced springs with rubber hose,same.Potted pick ups,fixed!.My first attempt and it worked.I can now dime the amp, wow is it loud.Also Changed out the tuners from factory crap to gotoh.Not too bad now for a cheap degas.Thank you for all help.
Just thought I would follow up on the pick up squeal.I lined the cavity with foam,same.replaced springs with rubber hose,same.Potted pick ups,fixed!.My first attempt and it worked.I can now dime the amp, wow is it loud.Also Changed out the tuners from factory crap to gotoh.Not too bad now for a cheap degas.Thank you for all help.
what about a tele?
hi there! This is my first post here and I'm thrilled about he Can-Con emphasis. I'm an avid TGP reader and just came across this site. Anyway, I'm having similar issues with my tele neck pickup (62 reissue pups). I'm finding the neck pickup really microphonic where it gets to a point that you can hear slight squealing/whistling noise and delay for about 2 seconds after I stop playing. This is obviously made more apparent when I move closer to the amp or engage my wah on (with the trebly side coming through) and then the squeal just goes on. I've played around with height and it seems to be still there. So would putting some foam around the pup between the cavity help here to? Thanks!!!
hi there! This is my first post here and I'm thrilled about he Can-Con emphasis. I'm an avid TGP reader and just came across this site. Anyway, I'm having similar issues with my tele neck pickup (62 reissue pups). I'm finding the neck pickup really microphonic where it gets to a point that you can hear slight squealing/whistling noise and delay for about 2 seconds after I stop playing. This is obviously made more apparent when I move closer to the amp or engage my wah on (with the trebly side coming through) and then the squeal just goes on. I've played around with height and it seems to be still there. So would putting some foam around the pup between the cavity help here to? Thanks!!!
Hi Deek.I am by no means a pro but try what Mandocaster,lester and js moore suggested.I did the easy stuff first.Of course with my luck it was the hardest one that worked.Let me tell you my pick ups whistled,shrieked,squealed you name it,it did it.The wax part was kinda fun and not at all daunting.Hope this helps.good luck!
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