Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I bought a new 381 recently (look at the modern Ric topic page for pics and such), and the pickups are making microphonic feedback squeals....especially the neck pickup. I'm playing live with a medium loud drummer and the squeals seem to be getting worse.

Are Ric pups wax potted?

No, but having it done properly eliminates the high freq. feedback.

Good. I'll start looking around for someone to pot my pups. Maybe I'll get another pair from Ric and have them potted, so I can swap'em quick, without having to wait. I'm gigging or rehearsing every week and I love that 381. No going back now!

I've heard if you change the grommets out for the pads that it would help too. Does that sound right Dale?

Cole

Never done that, so I can't say, but a sound post inside the body much like a violin helps to keep the back and top vibrating together and putting foam rubber inside the guitar under the P-ups helps, I've always had the best results with wax potting the P-ups.

I get quite a control-able feedback with my 1997. I love it!

Are there any special precautions that need to be taken when potting Rickenbacker pickups? Toasters vs. high gains?

You have to take the bobbin out and expose the coil wire. This is a very delicate operation so take care. Unsolder P-up, remove screws that hold cover on, remover tape that covers the coil, melt parafin wax in a pan on low heat on stove top, hold P-up bobbin by P=up lead wire, dip in melted wax for several minutes until wax penetrates coil, let dry, retape, reassemble, reinstall, test, be happy, no squeal like a pig.

I might try potting it myself.

To Jerry: I also like feedback, and am quite good at controlling it. But I don't like microphonic feedback....where loose windings inside the pickups are causing a super high pitched whine. You can't control it. It's not the strings that are vibrating.

Thank you, I did not know that.