Hi Andy,
That guitar looks fantastic! I've never seen an Epi LP with such a exquisite top. Is it a carved top. It can't see from the picture's angle. Glad you like the Rocksongs! ?
I hear you Alan!
Interesting debate this!
I suppose there are extremes everywhere in life and as I said before to MikeM this is when I get scared! If it’s financially viable for a small pickup manufacturer to spend all the time and effort to hand-wind a pickup with ultra specific parts as a one-off for a very discerning customer so be it. He’ll probably charge $1000 for such a pickup. However, in my view these people fall into the eccentric category and best left to their own devices.
I’ve personally re-wound a number of single-coils and humbuckers in my time on a black 1920’s Chinese precision hand-winder (with auto advance and return mechanism), but luckily she is now happily retired and gathering dust in the garage. It is indeed a time consuming job and it can drive you insane if you wind the coil too tight and break the strand, or get a short circuit on one of the turns somewhere in the coil and then once completed only to realize that the impedance is 3.2K or open circuit (infinity). Then you have to start all over again.
I believe very strongly in wax potting and often do this to brand new pickups, whether wax-potted or not. I just use normal candles melted in a little pot on the stove and dump the pickup in there for 30 minutes and move it around until I see no more air bubbles rise to the surface – works just fine! (once in hot liquid form the wax will seep in anywhere). This does indeed take care of microphonic noise and greatly reduces 50hz hum and other hisses and squelches. I've also had success by applying quick-setting clear Glyptal with a small paintbrush to a rewind to prevent coil vibration or movement even further, then dry it in the sun, shield it externally with aluminium foil (earthed) and finally apply cloth tape to achieve a very silent single-coil. It’s not rocket science or expensive – just time consuming! I suppose I’m digressing here and rambling on a bit but what the hell…………it’s fun! ?
Most people can actually perform wax-potting work themselves and it’s very easy to do. I’ve had excellent results on brand new single-coil and humbucking pickups made by Lace, DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan and others. Just work carefully and remember on single coils to remove the cover and on humbuckers the outer layers of cloth tape before you dip it into the wax.
When it comes to boutique manufacturers don’t forget about Bill Lawrence, in my view one of the top independent manufacturers, if not the best. Check out this link:
http://www.arlowest.com/Bill%20Lawrence%27s%20Shop/album/index.html
Like an idiot I sold a Bill Lawrence L-500XL during 2008 on Gumtree for R350.00. Why? Why? Why? ☹
And yes Telefan100, all Toneriders are indeed wax potted. ?
