software

I added this to an old thread of mine, but I thought I'd make it a new one, in case someone is searching for help with unpotted pickups.

I had been through a few SD pups for my les paul, and ended up falling in love with the tone of the Seth Lovers. The problem is that the lack of potting made them really microphonic and unusable for me. I had heard that potting them would solve this, but take away the honk that makes them growl so well.

After asking people here and on other sites, I ended solution that didn't sacrifice the tone.

I took off the cover, and put 2 pieces of double sided tape between the cover and the pickup. Not where the screws are, but the other side. I pressed really tight and soldered them back together. I also replaced the mounting springs with closed cell foam, similar to that found in sandals. I cut it into small chunks and drilled holes in it. I didn't have any surgical tubing or I would have used it instead. I may actually switch one day when I find some.

These things together really did the trick. It will still go microphonic, but you have to have the amp cranked and the pup directly in front of the speakers a foot away. And the best part is that the pickups still have the open airy honk that I bought them for. I totally recommend doing this before potting them. It may not work for you, but it is well worth a shot before you drastically change the tone.

I'd like to thank the people who pointed me in this direction, in particular Lewguitar for the idea of using tape, and Reiner from Guitar Works in London Ontario (who incidentally makes killer custom guitars), for the double sided tape idea.