Is wax potting of humbuckers really necessary in vintage rock?

[@garywordsworth9302]

"I play full stacks in small rooms" now that should be on a T-shirt ;)

[@suavetrainwreck7300]

hahahaha I agree

[@SuperGaryBurns]

I will buy two !!!

[@Reagebol]

Official Segeborn Merch!

[@Lisbonized]

Any merch from Johan would be fantastic. Loads of great catchphrases! “Alright, let’s go!”. “So much bang for your buck!”, would be another one!

[@hummarstraful]

Take my money! I want that T-shirt! Johan, there's an opportunity here.

[@danieleidet7131]

“Hi, I often play 100 watt Marshall full stacks in rather small rooms.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Johan is absolutely the best. Love that guy.

[@dcs2402]

I don't understand why you don't have a couple of hundred thousand subs mate. You have one of the most educational channels on KZbin, without a whole lot of bull crap. Keep rocking man.....

[@AuntAlnico4]

dcs2402 * You nailed it in your question ! He doesn't cater to all the bullshit so he doesn't get the huge following on KZbin but that is OK ! Rather Not deal with the bullshit and continue getting Johan uncut.

[@dcs2402]

@@AuntAlnico4 absolutely... I just want to be him for a week or so....

[@treatb09]

not that many people care about this stuff.

[@massapower]

Bc all the other channels are about narcissistic Musicians. JOHAN is the REAL DEAL !😎✌

[@moimeme7839]

dcs2402 I guess you just said it😎👍

[@hino-ucanada4506]

"Hi, I often play 100W full stacks in rather small rooms..." LOL, sounds like an introduction at AA (amps anonymous)... no worries though Johan, I'm right there with you ;)

[@AmpliFIRE]

It’s not necessarily the volume that causes feedback, it’s the amount of gain. When I use unpotted pickups with my JMP 2203, there is some feedback. However, as soon as I kick in an OD pedal the feedback becomes uncontrollable. I’ve switched to wax potted PAF’s and the difference in tone is negligible but the difference in quietness is amazing. Great vid as always!

[@drittal]

I want to be Johan Segeborn when I grow up. I’m almost 41 so it should be any day now.

[@timj41]

‘Comments are turned off’ is another way to control uncontrollable feedback . Awesome demo Johan, thank you.

[@c0nfused138]

So Im 15 and I started playing on electric like a year ago. Im so glad i found your channel in the very beginning. You make the most interesting and educating videos in the guitar theme for me. oh and i love marshalls...i rly do. My first real amp is going to be a ceriatone silver jubilee in a year or so 😊 Rock on Johan!

[@simpwood4973]

You know the video is gonna be good when the first sentence is: I often play 100 watt marshall fullstacks in rather small rooms

[@King_Kuya]

Loved hearing “Take Me”! You always play those B-tracks and hidden gems. Thanks!

[@jedishaw6771]

Some years back I was working in a music shop (doing guitar repair, setups, amp repair, pickup rewinds etc) rewound a lot of pickups from the 60s and 70s(fender, Gibson, Hofner) some where wax potted some were not( on the wax potted ones, the wax never penetrated the coil anyway, the unpotted ones always sounded nicer to my ears, lacquer potting a close second, still get some nice highs with lacquer. Some people wanted wax potting so I did it ( with a vacuum machine) never really liked the sound.

[@chocolatecookie8571]

Thank you for your story 🙏 I am currently reinventing my old Kiesel DC700 and underneath the two Kiesel lithium humbuckers I saw whiteish stuff. I thought it was some glue residue or something. I scraped it off but perhaps there is still wax in the inside of the humbuckers. Maybe there is a way to remove the wax? I could also leave it in there 😂. I also removed the copper shielding foil in the electronity cavity. Anyhow today I will put on strings to see if I hear sound changes.

[@dyamariv3628]

Where's the "Lets Go!" comment before the playing Johan?? Great videos by the way!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks! It will returen on Friday! ;-)

[@onlyfromadistance7326]

KISS ALIVE was their best album by far!!! Love, love, love this channel!

[@AndyK.23]

Killer tones! Shows all you need is talent, a PAF type pickup in a plywood guitar, and a Plexi!

[@gwEmbassy]

Indeed it sounds fantastic

[@YOUKNOOB]

Squeech = squeal + screech. Perfectly describes my SLA 100 feeding back on 10! Thanks for the awesome content - keep 'em coming!

[@alfaalex101]

That tone is so unbelievably amazing.

[@OnTheFritz602]

That inexpensive Epi sounds amazing!

[@diddymies]

wouldnt say it sounds amazing, great amp + great guitar electronics, in this case pickups, the tonewood/guitar platfrom doesnt matter so much, just the setup does give those signature sounds like tele will sound like a tele, even it would be made out of plastic and lp/sg would sound like a sg/lp , same goes for strat. ps I know this n old comment but just wanted to clarify. The guitar itself doesnt sound anything special.

[@Geo-wc7jc]

You always amaze me with your experiments, and thorough explanations, on top of being a skilled player. Thank you very much sir!

[@chrisact9601]

I'd be interested in the comparison anyway. Just to here the difference in tone (if any) although you'd need two pickups the same except for the wax to do it. That basket weave box you used there is the best sounding thing ever. Proper vintage animal that one. Great tone.

[@jean-philippemorin1176]

This pickup in this rig sounds awesome! Love this! Love the sound at 4min 09 sec especially.

[@Samana009]

The front camera jumping is awesome. Give some perspective how loud It is. Good

[@gerryloughran1676]

Always great to see that room jumping...recently watched Jason Lollar (Lollar pickups) on The Doug and Pat Show KZbin channel, he discussed the very subject and confirmed your thoughts on potting would tone down the pickup, however his argument for potting was not feedback, but it would retain stability and preserve the life of the pickup, he gave exact potting times to avoid dumbing down the tone from 15-45 seconds depending on pickup type...check it out some great info there.

[@jaycee30865]

I play full stacks in small rooms. Haha. Ouch. I play a tiny terror in 7w at 9:00 in a small room and am tempted to use an attenuator.

[@TheAlpineProject]

Haven't gotten around to trying it yet but look into getting an L-pad. Seems like a cheaper solution for small amps.

[@singletonepickups]

@@TheAlpineProject they work great. I build em into a pedal enclosure. I have 2 versions, each in 8 and 16 ohm. 50w and 100w. They totally rock!

[@TheAlpineProject]

@@singletonepickups Does that really work safely with a 100w head though? I may be confused but I seem to recall hearing that a cranked amp makes like 1.4x its rated wattage at peak, so it might be 140w?

[@nikolabegonja5490]

Actually, a 10w amp at full volume is just as loud as a 100w amp at half volume. That's because power is logorithmic.

[@singletonepickups]

@@TheAlpineProject I wouldnt dime any 100w amp through any 100w attenuator personally or a 50w through a 50w. Always give yourself a bit of wiggle room. 50w for a 20w amp, 100w for a 50w amp. All attenuators use rheostats that get very hot very quick when at their max rated level.

[@etiquettemona]

Ha, I remember 15 years ago when Johan Lundgren first refused to make me an unpotted Telecaster bridge pickup. Then he did it any way. Sounded fantastic - big piano-like tones. Until I hit a pedal. Thanks for hanging in there Johan S!

[@Panzersonor1967]

Wow....sounds amazing!

[@MosheAlvarez]

That sounded so f*cking good, Johan! I can hear you playing KISS riffs all day, man!

[@joshlyons5652]

So can the whole neighborhood

[@SeemoreDunkan]

Does anyone know exactly what pickup Johan was using here?

[@jpvvandermerwe87]

Great experiment ! Thank you very much Johan !

[@MrCyssiek]

best sounding special II ever

[@joshuabsmith1991]

I never even thought wax potting stole tone another great video johan

[@alejandrojerezrico3007]

Hi Johan, very very interesting video that one. Love the sounds. Is this pickup the "Smooth Operator" that I find in the the Lundgren website? I don't find no "59" pickup there

[@tmitz73]

Sick Tones Johan!!! Thanks and Cheers!!!

[@Cooker98]

I opened up my humbucker (Tonezone) many times to test modifications, naturally a lot of the wax in it got out. I also noticed a positive change in tone without much added feedback, I think its more important for stage rather than home.

[@csumme7]

Wicked awesome sound !!!!!!! Thanks!

[@HeadHondo]

I'm hearing simular dynamics to Ronson's Ziggy era. I suspect his pickups were unpotted. I know he removed the paint from that Les Paul in his theory to allow total resonance.

[@Schlumpf.Meister]

At around 4:46 you can see the camera rattle and shake! Are you wearing noise cancelling head phones or how can you stand this otherwise? You keep surprising me! As to feedback - I just changed some Tele PU parts - replaced the well fitting but brass neck PU cover with a not so well fitting but zinc cover - the sound opened up, so did the feedback :-|, added a baseplate to the bridge PU but forgot to glue it on - unplayable due to feedback. And this was with a 50w amp half way cranked. So even the feedback is in your fingers I guess.

[@mattaki]

"I play 100 watt Marshall full stacks in small rooms" = "I am a deaf badass"

[@PeterDad60]

WHAT?

[@Buhhhhhh-xi4ju]

He gave up his hearing for a good cause

[@brianmason9803]

From a tech point of view, any feedback in the PuP winding means that the wires are moving. If enamelled wires vibrate against each other the insulation will short out and be destroyed - hence PuP failure. WAxing the coil removes an uncontrollable variable meaning that you get the right sound every time. Your ears are probably better than mine, but from the tech perspective waxing is a great benefit. Just as a thought - It is so hard to hear the true sound of a guitar if you play through a distortion box. Keep it clean to compre.

[@brianmason9803]

You could have it printed on hearing aids for the older bass players like me.

[@ryans9029]

What's the riff starting at 7:08??

[@stompdancer62]

What humbuckers are these ?

[@ronnie5129]

I love a little Squeel on my pickups, but you have to get far away from your amp, unless you want to sound like Jimi Hendrix, but he knew how to do it, I have a 160 watt Peavey amp, going through a 8x10 1970 Marshall Cab, I have to leave the room, Rock on, Cousin Figel

[@marcelbelanger4424]

Johan always gets good tone, but this clip stands out!

[@Ilya-hl8jx]

Uncovered pickups is less microphonic

[@Thomasdgolden]

I think most of my feedback issues are when the PA is in play. Not that feedback is bad, there’s certain times when it gets out of control. Great Video!

[@JonasDaniel95]

3:15 ægte Ace Frehley lick haha hell yeah

[@nicholassollitto2352]

Sounds amazing.

[@Nightingale1887]

I wax potted a hot wound PAF yesterday to fix it from feeding back really badly. I couldn't even stand close to an amp without it going crazy. Maybe the unpotted pickup is lacquer potted? To my ears my pickup became more usable. Now it just produces string tone instead of tapping, scraping and other noise.

[@amymurphree7177]

The sound is actually different but you play so awesome!!!

[@kengihepworth5761]

Wax also reduces microphonic tendencies of grounded brass in pup design.

[@pwnEdge1]

Great tone ,Im looking into maybe trying a unwaxed vintage pickup 🎸🤘🏻😎

[@scottpayne33]

Would love to see you on the tone talk podcast with dave friedman.

[@karimba45]

Great pickups!

[@destroso]

So why does nobody talk about this as the secret to vintage tone?

[@arcticraven2462]

Simplifies the mystery of the pickups from the era. People pay big money for PAF clone pickups.....

[@rareform6747]

I had just installed chrome pickup covers on 2002SG . Getting correct covers is important and calking , solder then all good or you get high pitch feedback . WOOO Kiss licks !

[@soulagent79]

Sometimes you find pickups in old Japanese or Korean guitars from the 70s or 80s, which are not waxed and microphonic as hell, but sound amazing.

[@ant1sokolow]

In fact most of the feed back come from the sound being picked back by the guitar itself (the wood then strings then pups..), not directly by the pickup. That's why it can be controlled by playing new notes(hence interrupting the feedback), holding the neck or by muting the strings . This kind of feedback tend to be 'musical' and help the sustain. It is an integral part of the 'real' electric guitar playing experience. Potting don't modify this sort of 'good' feedback. On the other hand there is microphonic feedback, direct interaction between amp and pups, wich is often super high pitched and annoying, not easily controlled by player and not related to the music played. Well made and installed pickups are relatively free of this kind, even unpotted. The potting is often a 'cache-misère' for poorly made pups.

[@snakeone8541]

Agree. Ive got a unpotted bb3 in one of my Les Pauls and have never had a problem with squealing feedback. Pick up height adjustment volume knob awareness play roles as well.

[@dries7547]

That's not really true. What you explain is feedback, this video is about squealing. Uncontrolled squealing is due to the cover vibrating against the bobbin mostly, fixing the cover tight on the bobbins or with double side tape between the cover and bobbin solves mostly 90% of your squeal issues.

[@Dierkenzee]

What album is your benchmark tone? Sorry, can't understand what you are saying.

[@dreamdiction]

4:58 What chord is that? BTW I highly doubt that potting changes the tone of the pickup.

[@Xebeche95]

minor 7th

[@RocknJazzer]

it's an E7#9 ... the hendrix chord. Actually a dom7 chord with an added #9. Has both a major 3rd, and a minor 3rd (ie #9). So it really has it all...major+minor+dominant

[@Felipe-pb9gu]

Any safe way to remove the wax?

[@russellesimonetta3835]

I watched a vid where they showed vintage, wax potted and,,,, paf dipped in laquer!!! The laquer dipped was some where in the middle.

[@RnRDS]

Hi Johan. Great early KISS sound indeed! I love this unpotted pickup; it brings out the tone-wood qualities. Just kidding ;) I don't see this pickup among Lundgren's products though: did you have it specially made? Funny that Ace Frehely says he already had the DiMarzio Super Distortion in his LP for Alive!. But it definitely sounds more like a PAF. Perhaps he had a DiMarzio PAF-Pro in there...

[@dries7547]

Uncontrolled squealing is most of the times caused bythe cover vibrating against the bobbin, fixing the cover tight on the bobbins before soldering or dampening them with double side tape between the cover and bobbin solves mostly 90% of your squeal issues.

[@cugir321]

I've wax potted a chinese single coil shaped humbucker. It doesn't feedback when it's turned up but it acts like a mic. If you tap your finger on the pickup it clicks. Tap on the pick guard and you can hear it......I have two other chinese humbuckers in the strat.....they are fine. They don't act like mic. One thing I've noticed is the monophonic pickup isn't grounded on the back. Trying to solve the monophonic stuff....any suggestions. Does your pickup act like a mic? When you tap it?

[@13Salamander]

Hey Johan, is it possible to list down which Marshalls you’ve in your own collection?

[@capitanvonchickenpants8492]

Strats with the swimming pool rout are a nightmare at high volume/gain the unsupported scratch plate vibrates

[@tommyboyce]

Nice to hear some KISS!!

[@rendyandrian7149]

Johan's fingers + marshall head + marshall cab = the sound of les paul I always hear in my head. I'm curious if you change your gibson/epi guitar to les paul style guitar from other brand. Does it still sound the same ?

[@ravenslaves]

One of the (many) things that annoy me about modern production pickups (30+ years) is this need to wax everything. Especially this trend towards massively overpriced Gold Foil pickups where they "make them to the same standards as the vintage coils... and wax potted". A huge part of the "Gold Foil" sound (as if there's only one) is the fact that they were cheap and un-potted. Microphonic to the hilt...and great in their own way...which means cheaply made, unpredictable and mostly out of control.

[@perlarsson6315]

I just realized Lundgren doesn't have a 59 in his lineup. Please elaborate.

[@innocentoctave]

That's the first time I've ever had to turn the volume down on your channel. Through my headphones set at normal listening volume some of the transients and high harmonics were so clear, sharp and loud that they were actually painful. The tone is excellent, though I lean towards an earlier '70s sound myself. The absence of potting didn't seem to make any difference, as you said. Perhaps modern standards of pickup construction have eliminated that particular problem - whatever its cause was - from new instruments?

[@paullaughton3440]

Thanks for another informative and tone tasty video. Thanks for educating me and keeping me entertained. This rig sounds amazing!

[@copytekk]

Hi Johan. Another great video! Which Lundgren model did you use? I love the unpotted PAF sound. Thanks!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Aaron! It’s a custom built 1959 PAF

[@brCharlieNagy]

OK if I have a noise supressor pedal that basic humz and bizz-buzz won't happen, right ? But I can get a strong *guitar-hero type) feedback) if I turn the pedal off, right ?

[@tnovacekt]

Hi Johan, will you check the new Boss Nextone amps out? Thank you!

[@Tacklebox455]

I have a set of vintage paf pickups non was potted ,mine I can't use with anything over a crunch setting anything after that and they just squeal very badly, I do however like there tone

[@joelmiddaugh8229]

I'm no sound expert but I'm pretty sure it is easier to control feedback with more/bigger speakers and more headroom? Like it would be squealing like crazy out of 1 10" or 8" speaker and lower wattage? Am I wrong? I mean, at similar volumes, of course.

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Hi what model guitar is that, I can't tell an Epiphone or Gibson?

[@jaycee30865]

Johan-san, remember paint the fence and sand the floor.

[@1truemoose]

I hope he has roadies to move 'em.

[@gcvrsa]

In every comparison between potted and unpotted versions of the same pickup design, I’ve preferred the unpotted version, but that’s just my personal taste.

[@Superchixxx]

Take Me is awesome song!

[@royabelrh]

Super useful thanks a lot, i go to put together a seth lover and a jb.

[@liverpoolred2834]

'Only' 125dB :-)

[@56LesPaulJunior]

Great video as always! I stopped potting my pickups in the 90's. Here's the question though.... Do you want to sell that amp?

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks! From my cold dead hands though. ;-)

[@56LesPaulJunior]

@@JohanSegeborn Hahaha! you're a good man, Johan!

[@deadscenerecords]

I freaking love it!

[@hkguitar1984]

It has been my experience that only poorly constructed pickups need to be wax potted. Older (many decades) un-potted pickups can loosen up over time and cause undesirable feedback. Mostly it depend on how well the pickup was manufactured as well as if it has been abused over its lifetime. For myself I prefer un-potted humbuckers. I’ve some single coils that were potted with lacquer, they are pretty great. Great content Sir, thank you.

[@jedishaw6771]

Same here, I'm in my late 50s now, (still playing in 4 different bands!) Been winding single coils and humbuckers for years, all unpotted except for occasionally lacquer potting. I prefer the sound of lacquer potted pickups over wax!

[@hkguitar1984]

@@jedishaw6771 very cool jedi shaw I’ve repaired and tinkered with pickups, however I’ve not made the leap to winding. Glad to hear you’re still making music and keeping busy. I turn 60 next month and I’m still going strong. Be well and be safe Sir.

[@shakeyjonez]

Most impressive. However, not all unpotted pickups will fare as well as the one used in this video.

[@jcoulter43]

Your tone is always amazing! I agree with you, that Epi sounds stellar. I think I mentioned to you before, I have an Epi Special II I picked up on a business trip so I'd have something to play at my hotel on a 5-week work trip. I brought it home and threw a spare Seymour Duncan Seth Lover in the bridge and it sounds very similar to yours. I have avoided telling my wife that because she'll be convinced I do not need more guitars then ;-) Great stuff as usual Johan. Rock on!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks man! Yeah quite a bang for the buck!

[@klepetar]

sometimes , the cover of the pickup does vibrate at high volume..it depends if there is a gap between the poles and slug coil and the cover..

[@michaelray5023]

I’d argue guys like Eddie Van Halen and SLASH used unpotted pickups during their studio sessions. It just sounds more punk rock without the wax.

[@error8418]

That squealing noise the unpotted pickups make, because they are slightly microphonic, is such an important part of the sound! It's like the potted ones are missing some harmonics. To me, unpotted humbuckers without covers are the best pickups ever.

[@gib412]

Johan could make a ukulele rock.

[@siegfriedwashburn3484]

Hi, Jonan! In some moments your camera was little "dancing" - so high the volume was. Excellent pick-up, but little hum is still lestanable. The only reason to buy J-100 is for replacement of pick-ups! But sounds cool! Thank you, 1000 likes Zigfrid

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Zigfrid! :-)

[@benknapp6516]

Big difference it seems, what's the limit before it's just squealing?

[@dumbdickler670]

Chances are, you'll never need more than 125db so I don't really know that it matters

[@JohanSegeborn]

It didn’t squeal even with the amp cranked

[@ZblockWoW]

Excellent sound as usual 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, glad to hear it!

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍🇺🇸❤4:41 TAKE ME (KISS '77)

[@chrisjones8977]

76

[@Sosu217]

Sounds absolutely fantastic to my ears! Thanks as always for the great videos!

[@DMSProduktions]

Ace Frehleh leed gitahh! \m/

[@massapower]

That early RAW KISS sound is spot on ! 👍😎

[@Andy_Yates]

LOVE the Lundgren Heaven 67 set I installed in my Japanese Epiphone Les Paul. Rich overtones and clarity, so good. I'm not sure if they are that set is wax potted, but they sure sound awesome. New Johan video always means a great start to the morning!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Andy! The Heaven 67 is wax potted actually.

[@Andy_Yates]

@@JohanSegeborn Thank you!! I couldn't find the info on that. I couldn't click order fast enough after your video with him :). Also great to support someone in the industry with that much personality and passion!