pick-up squeel!!!!

[Ammscray]

The magnets used in a pickup don't dictate how microphonic it can be...it's the tightness or looseness of the coil, the wire used and how they were wound...the higher output distortion p-ups such as the Dimarzio super distortion for example (which are potted now, but didn't used to be) use two coils overwound with 43 gauge plain enamel wire, 43 gauge being thinner than the usual 42...the older Dimarzio SD's were always microphonic because they were wound loosely by hand...but that's also why they sounded so good!

Most p-ups now are wound by machines and wound too tightly, which results in a compressed dynamic range and less clarity...also the potting process that duncan and other use is IMO too drastic and affects the sound of the p-up in adverse ways...the funny thing is I've had to pot many duncan p-ups over again! Gibsons are potted much better...

bottom line is if you're a pro and/or playing loudly with alot of gain, potted p-ups are a MUST...microphonic p-ups not only sound completely obnoxious but can totally ruin a recording as well

[Torchy]

Check these out ... I got a set of Irish Tour pups in my Strat ... Unbelievable sound. A colleague has the Mule humbuckers in his Indy Les Paul and they are the best HBs Ive heard. Reviews at Harmony Central bear this out.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/

Good explanation of how & why they wind pups a certain way ...

[ryanscissorhands]

Thanks everyone for the tips. Especially the one on how to check if it's just too much gain, if your pickup is really just a microphone. Let's just say that when I checked, I could pull out overdriven vocal solos that I could never do on guitar. Plus, I wouldn't need a wah pedal. But screaming into my pickups just isn't the same. . .

Well, I'm off to pot my pickups.