Can I fix microphonic Firefly pickups by taking the covers off?

Музыка

Pretty much all the affordable import humbucker guitars I've covered feature microphonic pickups, and each time commenters claim that removing the covers will fix the issue. "It's a simple fix" they say, "Just pop them off with a screwdriver". Are they correct? is it a simple fix? tune in to find out on this exciting episode of 'Watch Ryan Fumble With Tools And Break Stuff"
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Пікірлер: 558

  • @bradleyclosson5042
    @bradleyclosson50422 жыл бұрын

    Why did you even upload this? Thank you for wasting my time.

  • @cugir321

    @cugir321

    2 жыл бұрын

    Why did you even post? Idiot. This was very informative.

  • @DSilvergun

    @DSilvergun

    2 жыл бұрын

    Why did you watch it if you felt that way?

  • @bradleyclosson5042

    @bradleyclosson5042

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@DSilvergun because I expected better but keep getting let down from this channel. My bad.

  • @toxicity769

    @toxicity769

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@bradleyclosson5042 Absolutely your bad. Get smarter maybe?

  • @bradleyclosson5042

    @bradleyclosson5042

    2 жыл бұрын

    A hotdog eating contest at it's finest.

  • @1dancy
    @1dancy2 жыл бұрын

    You are like the Mister Rogers of guitar... just a relaxing time with someone talking about their feelings while playing/working on guitar. Thanks!

  • @JC-11111

    @JC-11111

    2 жыл бұрын

    Mr Rogers of guitar? No way. Why do people even say this? People say it about Ted Woodford all the time and it's just as ridiculous when they say it a out him as it is now. He's Mr Hum. His own person. Not Mr Rogers of guitar. That's just dumb. He does NOTHING that would make me think "oh he's just like Mr Rogers, except with guitars!" 🙄

  • @1dancy

    @1dancy

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JC-11111 Good day JC. It was meant as a compliment. Just a nice gesture. You know, a nice change of pace compared to all the insults and hate we see on the internet. I'm sorry you saw this as an insult to Ryan. I feel we need more love and kindness in this world. That's all. I wish you well.

  • @muznick

    @muznick

    2 жыл бұрын

    Can't be Mr. Rodgers. He didn't change his sneakers even one time. More like a deadpan Kaptain Kangaroo.

  • @BeauregardHall

    @BeauregardHall

    Жыл бұрын

    The Bob Ross of guitar youtubers. A LOT of happy little accidents. I enjoy then until I don't -- but I always appreciate his willingness to learn ON the camera instead of just being the wizened old "just do it this way"

  • @snicker576

    @snicker576

    Жыл бұрын

    I don't see the similarity whatsoever. Honestly this guy kinda freaks me out for some reason haha

  • @richardsmyth9018
    @richardsmyth90182 жыл бұрын

    You don't really need to remove the wax. The microphone effect happens when there is a gap between the pickup and the metal cover. The wax helps but good pickups are also equipped with an added piece of foam or self adhesive tape that conect or fill on the gap that exists between the metal cover and the pickup. The microphonic effect is due to the small feedback k vibration because if the air gap. No gap, no vibrations, no microphonic effect. The effect is basically the same as how a microphone or speaker works. Enjiy

  • @profound369

    @profound369

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for explaining

  • @timhallas4275

    @timhallas4275

    Жыл бұрын

    That's not quite right. Even pickups without covers will produce "micro-phonic feedback". The real issue is the coil wire vibrates producing sympathetic frequency modulation. Tightly wrapped wire reduces feedback, but wax or epoxy potting does far more. EMG makes the best high-gain humbucker design, by filling the entire plastic cover with epoxy resin and vacuuming out all of the air inside the coils.

  • @SpiderStratagemVI
    @SpiderStratagemVI2 жыл бұрын

    Ryan, the fact you experiment, do cool and unusual mods, try affordable guitars and are honest about your capabilities in doing them i why i subscribed. Keep doing you!

  • @avgmaster1

    @avgmaster1

    5 ай бұрын

    Don't forget an Excellent Shoegazer too!🌝

  • @iamsandman7
    @iamsandman72 жыл бұрын

    It’s really easy to disconnect ANY of the wires/leads when moving that stuff around. Sounds good on the neck pickup

  • @DeadKoby
    @DeadKoby2 жыл бұрын

    Microphonic pickups are caused by the coils being able to vibrate. The wax is supposed to prevent the vibration, but during the manufacturing process, the coil has to be firmly wound, and potting is usually done in a vacuum chamber to get the air out. I THINK this was shown on a Seymour Duncan factory tour... and or a Gibson tour. The black paint is the conductive/shield type.

  • @mark.guitar
    @mark.guitar2 жыл бұрын

    I am that tech! I always use a scalpel or a Stanley knife to take the solder off. A hairdryer usually melts out the wax. Great video. Keep encouraging people to have a go.

  • @popsfereal

    @popsfereal

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes! this is the way.

  • @geemac7267
    @geemac72672 жыл бұрын

    On the LP style pickguards, I always thought a better way to mount it was to put the one screw in the top near the neck pickup, and have a piece of felt stuck on the underside of the pickguard to stand it off the face of the guitar. Of course, there's an unused hole in the pickguard but like you said, we're all so used to seeing it, we might not even think about it.

  • @HDProductionsLive
    @HDProductionsLive6 ай бұрын

    I don't subscribe to many KZreadrs, but I can't stop watching this. Thanks for giving me something to do for a half hour. Bravo!!

  • @weslester5150
    @weslester51502 жыл бұрын

    Awesomeness. Definitely can relate to trying fix something and then ending up with it not working.

  • @stringmancer
    @stringmancer2 жыл бұрын

    Cool to hear someone else is a lefty and plays right handed guitar. I thought I was just a weirdo. I always felt bad for other lefties options are limited.

  • @rivendrive

    @rivendrive

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hey, I'm part of that club too

  • @muznick

    @muznick

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'm even more weirdo: a righty that feels more comfortable playing left handed.

  • @markhammer643
    @markhammer6432 жыл бұрын

    Wax potting helps, of course, but post-production potting is both awkward and risky. What I like to do to pack the coil a little more snugly, so it doesn't wiggle in place, is use plumber's teflon tape. It has no adhesive, but grips nicely so you can put a few wraps around a coil and pull tightly to pack the windings of the coil closer together. The stuff is cheap, available everywhere, easy to work with, and has just the right width for the job. Because it has no adhesive, that means you can take it off whenever you want without any risk to damaging the coil. Obviously it is not as effective as having wax seep through the entire coil, but for 50 cents, whaddya want - perfection, or simply an audible improvement?

  • @cugir321

    @cugir321

    2 жыл бұрын

    Really... I've done a mess and it's never been a problem.....don't let the wax get to hot. Less then 140 degrees F

  • @timhallas4275

    @timhallas4275

    Жыл бұрын

    Fender used to wrap the single coil Tele bridge pickup coil with string to control feedback. It worked fine until amps became more powerful in the 60s.

  • @markhammer643

    @markhammer643

    Жыл бұрын

    @@cugir321 Realistically, it's the outer 1/3 of the coil that risks being too loose in places. The innermost turns are generally nice and tight. So I don't pot fully. I lie the pickup on its side and use a heat gun to melt wax to drip down onto the coil. Then I use a lower heat setting to flow what has landed on the coil and have it seep in. It doesn't go ALL the way in, but as I say, it's really the outer 1/3 one is most concerned about. And after I've done the "superficial potting", *then* I use the teflon tape.

  • @franciscanlady6491

    @franciscanlady6491

    9 ай бұрын

    @@markhammer643 You could probably use a craft wax gun. It's similar to a glue gun and you buy it in craft stores.

  • @mkgearhead5151
    @mkgearhead51512 жыл бұрын

    Hey, I'm left handed and play righty too. It seems more natural to me to use my dominant hand for fretting. Maybe that's why my right hand technique is equivalent to beating the strings with a sock full of quarters. ;) When I pulled the covers off my FFLP I ended up with a black/white bridge pickup and a black/cream neck pickup. They still sounded dull and lifeless without the covers so I replaced them with a set of Epiphone ProBuckers.

  • @familiarpurrson8744
    @familiarpurrson87442 жыл бұрын

    This is the most relaxing failure I've ever witnessed. Seriously, congratulations on that. I could never do it. There would have been much gnashing of teeth and rending of fur by the end of the video. You are the Zen.

  • @joergwascher4827
    @joergwascher48272 жыл бұрын

    Hey Ryan...i have to say that your enthusiasm is highly inspirational...i am in my room doing simular stuff, talking to myself...without someone watching...so, you do something right...sadly i watch all your videos....stay grounded man...sorry for my english...greetings from austria

  • @RogueA.I.
    @RogueA.I.2 жыл бұрын

    I have one of these. For the price you can’t beat it. You have to really search for the finish mistakes. Mine also has a buzzing fret or two higher up the neck. I agree, they are certainly the best option for anyone that wants to practice their tech skills without putting an expensive guitar at risk. I’ll probably pick up a couple more and leave them in alternate tunings.

  • @worshiptutorials
    @worshiptutorials2 жыл бұрын

    I’ve been watching every single video you post. I get almost nothing else done. No ragrets.

  • @DMSProduktions

    @DMSProduktions

    2 жыл бұрын

    Ragrets?

  • @ceebee491

    @ceebee491

    2 жыл бұрын

    Rugrats😊

  • @DMSProduktions

    @DMSProduktions

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@ceebee491 Possibly!

  • @grayaj23

    @grayaj23

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@DMSProduktions On the internet, you either say "no ragrets" or "no regerts", in honor of the various bad tattoo memes.

  • @DMSProduktions

    @DMSProduktions

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@grayaj23 LOL! NO! I don't do 'memes'! Those are for 50 y/o basement dwelling virgin incels!

  • @dumbamerica
    @dumbamerica2 жыл бұрын

    You came up with a clever new way of getting that pickup kill switch effect without having to turn down a volume knob.

  • @jackiedixon5076
    @jackiedixon5076 Жыл бұрын

    Enjoy listening to you, I am an old guitarist and I am still learning. Anything guitar has my eyes and ears.

  • @lukeyduke79
    @lukeyduke792 жыл бұрын

    I had a set of pickups from iron gear arrive, and sometime during shipping (UK to Australia) they were stored somewhere super hot because the wax had completely melted out of the pickups and into their cases. It reset and you couldn't get them out without breaking the case they come in. Sent them an email, they had a new replacement set in the mail that day and also told what to do to make the melted wax set useable. Great company, good pickups.

  • @wharman1
    @wharman12 жыл бұрын

    Maybe next video is installing cheap, cheap, really cheap pickups. Love the video. I think you should sample the microphonic “Stay Grounded” for the outtro of all your videos.

  • @KevinMellon
    @KevinMellon2 жыл бұрын

    i learned after my first 2 FF's, to just do this right out of the gate with the others i've bought. it's crazy how it works! glad to see you did a vid on this.

  • @KevinMellon

    @KevinMellon

    2 жыл бұрын

    lol i just got to the part where the bridge doesn't work. sorry that happened, but i have literally just popped them off with a flathead screwdriver and then scraped the wax off like you did with no issues. damn!

  • @daddyosink4413

    @daddyosink4413

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@KevinMellon yeeeaaaa..... the "budget line" import stuff had that problem often. I would honestly just replace them with some inexpensive Dragonfire or GFS pickups, but that is mainly because I like zebras and have used both brands in several builds.

  • @BoltRM

    @BoltRM

    2 жыл бұрын

    Is it really necessary to remove the wax around the pickups?

  • @JC-11111

    @JC-11111

    2 жыл бұрын

    Next time, buy an Indio and you won't have to deal, with all of this crap. The one in my avatar was $219 and had none of the issues Ryan always has with cheap guitars. No microphonic pickups. No high frets. No badly cut nuts. Mine was so perfect, I've done nothing but play it and restring it in 13 months. Indios are cheap too. They just don't have these issues that Firefly and the other places do. Mine was set up so well I didn't even want to change strings because I didn't want to mess up the setup somehow lol

  • @BoltRM

    @BoltRM

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JC-11111 Good to know all Indios are as perfect as yours!

  • @jdg5468
    @jdg54682 жыл бұрын

    “I’m hoping this will be easy”. The story of my life!

  • @mikedwiles
    @mikedwiles2 жыл бұрын

    I'm amazed at how much better it looks without the covers. I would have never guess that.

  • @j.d.lawrence1222
    @j.d.lawrence12222 жыл бұрын

    To Editing Ryan, Yes this was a good and worthwhile video in my opinion. A little project that many prodded as easy diy can become a situation that you wish you would've just paid a "professional" to look at. I have a similar experience with building and modding effect pedals too. $20 worth of parts but I dont have a skills to solder them into the the close proximity without coloring outside of the lines!

  • @greenslider
    @greenslider2 жыл бұрын

    Great fun. Spent this morning plugging my guitars in and shouting at them😁

  • @ericdpeerik3928

    @ericdpeerik3928

    Жыл бұрын

    Time well spent.... Unless the neighbours saw you and you're getting a "wellness call" from the cops 😂

  • @danpaolillo2636
    @danpaolillo26362 жыл бұрын

    I did it to a 338 firefly. It also had wax potted pickups but not that much! A little wipe and they were clean. My technique was to wedge an exacto knife behind the solder, heat it up an slide the knife through. Worked great! Definitely improved the tone, and microphonic problem.

  • @60CycleHumcast

    @60CycleHumcast

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thats a great tip!

  • @lancomedic

    @lancomedic

    2 жыл бұрын

    But it did not solve the problem on the LP. It still squealed. I also have the 338. I will just have to replace the pickups I guess.

  • @assmaster420

    @assmaster420

    2 жыл бұрын

    i have a "newer" 338 that actually sounds pretty nice, way way better than the FFLPS that was a few months older. I fixed the FFLPS with a JB SH-4 in the bridge.

  • @gringogreen4719
    @gringogreen47192 жыл бұрын

    So.. Good job on what not to do Ryan. Also this should be a lesson on how fragile pickups actually are. Overall it would be the less expensive route to either buy GFS pickups or buy a used set of humbuckers that came off a higher priced guitar and put them in a cheap guitar. I have made some pickups with Jason Lollar a few years back at Roberto Venn here in Phoenix, so you can take a semi pro's response here. First if you like your pickups and want to keep them, my suggestion would either take it to a luthier to get it repotted or do it yourself if you have the setup (most will not). Honestly on a cheap pickup just replace them, you will be much happier. If you do take a cover off you would want to do it in a similar fashion as Ryan did with the soldering iron but use a razor blade or a hobby knife to break the solder hold. What taking the pickup cover off is it changes the magnetic field a bit also it leaves the pickup a little more prone to outside noise vs having a metal cover on it. So it really does not help a microphonic pickup change to being nonmicrophonic. If you had the machine to wind pickups one could cut the windings away and redo the whole pickup but you would be better off just getting new parts and making your own. Ryan, you should get GFS Surf 90 pickups to drop in the Firefly guitar. You should be MUCH happier with that. Also gut the pots on switch if you want a better sound.

  • @stuahlers1528
    @stuahlers15282 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for saving me the time! Love the show, wit and sometimes humor. Try on high fret, recrown that one the amount you need to get rid of the buzz. Will work and save time!

  • @bobmanners8624
    @bobmanners86248 ай бұрын

    I was finding all of these Firefly guitar reviews a bit unbelievable. How is all of this possible!? So, on a whim I pushed the button on Guitar Garden. I just got the newest offering of the FF338 in Chameleon Green. Absolutely wild color changes in the light from a beautiful green to blue to purple to an almost eggplant shade. Not just the top, but the back, sides, and neck. This looks like a very high end paint job. The body and "f" hole bindings are crisp and clean. It has locking tuners, a bone nut, stainless steel frets with hemispherical ends, alnico 5 pickup magnets, a small pin ABR style bridge, and full size pots. Right out of the box the set up was great (high E: 1/16", low E: 3/32". The neck had a smidge of relief and the intonation was spot on) - just tune and play. I plugged it into my Bartel Roseland and was very impressed. I don’t have to do anything to this guitar. Wow. Well, I've seen it, so now I believe it. But for $180, I don't know how it's all possible.

  • @timothymallon
    @timothymallon2 жыл бұрын

    7:10 yeah it's most likely shielding paint. Easy way to test is to put a meter on it, set for continuity and test on two locations inside the pickup cavity. But it seems overkill since they're humbuckers. 21:00 I am also left handed and play right handed. I also shoot a gun right handed. I find that it was easier to conform to right handed people when it came to guitars and guns, than to spend the extra money and try to find a lefty guitar. Also, I felt I would stand out too much being a lefty

  • @AmperahGaming

    @AmperahGaming

    2 жыл бұрын

    Til that guns come in right and left handed versions

  • @timothymallon

    @timothymallon

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AmperahGaming At a higher cost. Lefty specific things always cost more than the right handed counterparts.

  • @tnoutside

    @tnoutside

    2 жыл бұрын

    It is polishing compound from the buffing process at the factory. It under truss rod cover and a few other nooks and crannies.

  • @progrmr
    @progrmr2 жыл бұрын

    Great video! I have a FF LP inbound, will check for microphonic pickups and I dig the look with the covers removed...I'll be careful with those leads! :)

  • @butchlauer
    @butchlauer2 жыл бұрын

    I always felt most comfortable with my left hand on the guitar neck at a young age so playing right handed just seemed so natural to my lefty born self. Maybe a softer more plastic wax removing tool when your getting into those coils. The ol straightblade looked pretty abusive near that tiny wire and hilarious. 😆

  • @lone-wolf-1
    @lone-wolf-12 жыл бұрын

    That was fun, watching you do some work on the guitar, unpretentious and relaxed. Like :“let‘s see what happens“. But had to look away as you worked on that pickup using the top of the guitar as a working bench… a very nice veneered, stained red, highly polished 200$ little bench🤪😅

  • @fredchatham6680
    @fredchatham6680 Жыл бұрын

    A friend bought a Glarry Tele style guitar for me as a gift. The bridge pickup was so microphonic, every time I looked at it you could hear my eyes thru the amp.

  • @robertmcdowell6936
    @robertmcdowell69362 жыл бұрын

    Damn Ryan I knew the was a reason I liked you channel. Even when something doesn't work, we all still learn something. Didn't know the little tid-bit about you being ambidextrous. I too am the same way. Left hand dominant but play right, baseball right handed, right legged kicker, and right hand shooter as well. To answer, Yes! These video are great and important.

  • @woodybrehm6857
    @woodybrehm6857 Жыл бұрын

    Ryan, Very Cool Video, I Appreciate your Straight forward video on this fly guitar. Every guitar player needs to be aware of microphonic issues. Rock on Bro.

  • @maconpatton
    @maconpatton2 жыл бұрын

    Get some solder flux and brush a small bit on the braided solder remover and then lay the wet solder braid on the area where you want to remove the solder/heat the braid. It helps liquify the solder after its heated up. As well, I would use a proper length stand off (like a solid stack of washers) behind the pick guard. Never done it, but has to look better than the cheap Chinese metal L bracket. Def a fun little video! Keep on keeping on. Fwiw I have a firefly that came with an open ground shield on a pot.

  • @SpiderStratagemVI
    @SpiderStratagemVI2 жыл бұрын

    I subscribe because you don't pretend to be a pro! I like the sometimes unprepared situations and love when you do refinishing and designs. Keep doing 'Ryan's and I will always subscribe!

  • @goranbosanac458
    @goranbosanac4582 жыл бұрын

    very entertaining and informative , had lot of fun watching your video...

  • @TheDrunkenScoundrel
    @TheDrunkenScoundrel2 жыл бұрын

    Tell Editing Ryan this is a good video. I was entertained and informed. Mission accomplished.

  • @eliwebster509
    @eliwebster5092 жыл бұрын

    I bought an '05 Epiphone Les Paul standard a couple months back and it sounded very muffled with the pickup covers on so I took them off. I also had to take the pickup ring off, it sucks. It sounds WAY better now. Also my covers had a lot more solder on them than that. I had to cut through the solder with the saw on my multi tool. And then work through it with a knife or a screwdriver. Can't remember which. It was a bit harder than what you went through haha. Also I was very careful in making sure I didn't catch that wire when scraping the wax off, I came close! It's really easy to do.

  • @Ra-gv6lx
    @Ra-gv6lx2 жыл бұрын

    Great setup and play with Ryan episode today 👍good video

  • @doubleuseven
    @doubleusevenАй бұрын

    I took the covers off on a -79 Gibson 345 once and it became a high gain guitar after that. Totally awesome. Wouldn't do that today, but this was -81, so no vintage at the time and I was a jazz/rock wannabe.

  • @WalkenDead
    @WalkenDead2 жыл бұрын

    After seeing to the end, and seeing the bobbins, if you have a guitar like that. You really like the guitar and it's a keeper for you, go with some Dimarzio distortions, the double creams, cause that looks really good.

  • @mykhedelic6471
    @mykhedelic64712 жыл бұрын

    My road to right-handed guitars was just like everything else. I also write left-handed but here we are living on a right-handed planet. Pretty much the only lefty thing I do is write/draw, everything else was more or less "converted." I used to air guitar as a lefty in the before times but when I finally got a guitar I enlisted a much more experienced friend to assist in its purchase and he showed up with a righty and gave me a quick lesson. Unlike a determined Jimi, I did not just flip it over and re-work it, I instead, dutifully, went about re-wiring my brain like I had with scissors or a baseball glove and carried on. One wonders what could've been... different. What if... Spiderman had been given an adamantium skeleton? Anyway, a righty who plays lefty-- now that dude is truly an anomaly.

  • @brittsmith8260
    @brittsmith82602 жыл бұрын

    I'm a lefty playing righty guy as well. I learned as a kid, because my parents bought me a right handed acoustic and I didn't really think about it, I just played.

  • @kenvorland
    @kenvorland Жыл бұрын

    Awesome video as always keep up rock on

  • @maxpower6271
    @maxpower62712 жыл бұрын

    Great topic for a video Ryan. I like when you do this stuff. I’m too chicken to try this out by myself 😀. Now maybe I’ll try

  • @andrewnuzzo7919
    @andrewnuzzo79192 жыл бұрын

    AND IM VERY SURPRISED TAKING THE COVERS OFF ACTUALLY WORKED. YOU THOUGHT ME SOMETHING TODAY. AWESOME.

  • @martinlicht1969
    @martinlicht1969 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks, hey, I'm no expert either, took 4 tries to install a wiring harness into an old Japanese Aria Diamond 335, and finally got it after giving up a few times. Yep, its easy if you know how !

  • @allengoeddey2719
    @allengoeddey27192 жыл бұрын

    I have used a utility knife to cut the solder off the cover. I'm not a fan of the 'erector set' pick guard bracket either. BTW, my first time watching one of your videos. I'll be watching more. Also a lefty who plays right handed.

  • @Russell_Optics
    @Russell_Optics2 жыл бұрын

    On the Firefly with the high fret that buzzes, Just use a fret rocker ( even a credit card works in a pinch ) and file/sand ( I use 400~600 grit ) it down level with the rest and crown/polish it again. It is pretty easy actually and only takes a few minutes. Tape up the fretboard 1st so you don't scratch it up. I've done it on several inexpensive guitars.

  • @richardclark.

    @richardclark.

    2 жыл бұрын

    I logged on to say exactly the same thing. After I got comfortable I will even do a full fret level. I practiced on my cheapies first. Lol.

  • @malcolmhardwick4258

    @malcolmhardwick4258

    2 жыл бұрын

    I've also done it on way more expensive guitars.

  • @dougwidmer8849
    @dougwidmer88492 жыл бұрын

    Hi- enjoy your vids very much Here’s what I do to un-wax pickups: Place pickup on a mound of paper towel Using a hair dryer on high heat, heat up the pickup and watch the wax melt into the towel. Only remove enough wax so that the excess is gone. While still warm wipe the pickup off. You can use a heat gun- but you have to be careful you don’t torch the pickup or hurt the guitar- if the pickup is still attached. Really the hairdryer is more than adequate

  • @marcyoungblood5925
    @marcyoungblood59252 жыл бұрын

    Hello Ryan, I really appreciate this video. I took a weekend luthier course and learned a few things so that I could tinker with my guitars. You went deep on this one. Was the neck pick up completely dead? Did you replace that pick up with another pick up?

  • @pyratoothNL
    @pyratoothNL2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for doing this in the name of science!

  • @kristinmcmanis133
    @kristinmcmanis1332 жыл бұрын

    ALL your videos are great! Thank you Mister Rogers/Hendrix

  • @Edika12
    @Edika122 жыл бұрын

    Even though these seemed to be wax potted, you should try putting then in hot wax first next time, before removing covers. That will reflow the the wax and help with the microphonics. Another trick I saw in a better quality pickup with a cover, when I removed the cover, was that they put masking tape over the slugs in the pickup.

  • @mkgearhead5151

    @mkgearhead5151

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, I think they're either not potting them long enough or the wax isn't hot enough to get between the windings.

  • @cugir321

    @cugir321

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mkgearhead5151 I got a single coil shaped humbucker from china. Sounds great but it is microphonic. I wax potted it again. (it was potted from factory). Still microphonic but a lot better. Got two different type single humbuckers from china.....they cost a little more. 12.00 ea. They were fine. Other one was about 7.00. It pays to pay a little more for the chinese stuff. (my good ones have a plastic cover...figure that) They sell the stuff with problems cheaper. Either way the guitar sounds great....with a line level they got punch. I get the LP type humbuckers for about 14.00 each on aliexpress or ebay (same pickups). They are usually very good and no microphonic noise when wax potted. The 13k ones.

  • @mdwayne741
    @mdwayne741 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome video....thanks so much.

  • @shckltnebay
    @shckltnebay2 жыл бұрын

    NO one ever points out the stop tail placement, which is wrong on real Gibsons, too close to the bridge, but actually looks like better placement on the FF

  • @thetownspeople6486
    @thetownspeople64862 жыл бұрын

    There’s nothing to expect to get from that pickup moving forward . I’d be excited

  • @hammeredseb7198
    @hammeredseb71982 жыл бұрын

    My Classic V in heritage cherry had an unrepairable buzz in the bridge, luckily a simple TonePro's bridge swap out & all is good. I have as well swaped out the stock tuners for genuine Grover tuners, which also fixed the constant retuning issue. These guitar's are good bones, but the places they cut corners is all the components. So, its a minor build off for them, but in my eyes well worth it.

  • @benford1726
    @benford17262 жыл бұрын

    The easy way to put a humbucker in the pickup ring is to use a crocodile clip to hold the spring out of the way

  • @noregrets5221
    @noregrets5221 Жыл бұрын

    You got it in your last statement "stay grounded " try running a shielded ground from pickup to the pots

  • @ianskelding2218
    @ianskelding22182 жыл бұрын

    If it was my guitar, I'd take both pickups out, and put an ibanez super 58 in the neck and a Dimarzio super distortion in the bridge position, job done apart from maybe put new pots in

  • @nellax8314
    @nellax83142 жыл бұрын

    great video boss

  • @MotorRoseMusic
    @MotorRoseMusic10 ай бұрын

    First off, I have a much smaller channel, but I am on par with your repair/upgrade skills. 😂😂😂 The best thing about cheap guitars today is, the quality has made leaps and bounds. You get a really decent that's not _too_ good. It's build quality is good enough, they typically use good wood, and look pretty cool. The fact they are +-$200 makes it worry-free upgrade territory. If I fudge it up, which is a 50/50 proposition, no sweat!, it was $200, keep trying til you get it good enough! Great video. I feel better.

  • @SteveL7874
    @SteveL78742 жыл бұрын

    Wow... the FLAMED TRANSPARENT ORANGE really pops. ( the color ) 🤩🤩

  • @mikes4585
    @mikes45852 жыл бұрын

    Flux helps heat and distrubute said heat both for soldering and desoldering purposes. I dig your style 🤘🏻

  • @shadowminister4090
    @shadowminister40902 жыл бұрын

    Like the look of multicoloured pickup and matching pick guard.

  • @rjlong89
    @rjlong892 жыл бұрын

    Mighty fine lookin lp. Ive always loved red les pauls

  • @PierceThirlen2
    @PierceThirlen22 жыл бұрын

    I made my vacuum chamber from a super thick (5 mm) Anolon saucepan that I got for $5 at a thrift store because the teflon coating was toast. I laid wet or dry sandpaper on a flat granite tile and then wet sanded the top of the saucepan perfectly flat. I cut a gasket from silicone sheet and glued it to the cover made from a 1/2" thick piece of polycarbonate that I bought from a surplus store for about $5. I drilled out the rivets that held on the handle. I tapped one of the holes and screwed in a hose fitting with Loctite on the threads. I tapped the second rivet hole and screwed in a small valve (Also with Loctite) to use as a vacuum release. I bought a refrigeration style vacuum pump on Amazon for under $60. I use a mix of 80% paraffin canning wax and about 20% beeswax. The beeswax reduces the shrinkage while cooling. You need to get the paraffin wax fairly hot to get the beeswax to melt. But once it is mixed you can allow the wax to cool considerably before you do the potting.

  • @WalkenDead
    @WalkenDead2 жыл бұрын

    That cream and white is pretty interesting, I kind of like that

  • @Greggyboyz60
    @Greggyboyz605 ай бұрын

    Really cool video. Just be you. Entertaining, educational and funny. I have a microphonic problem on my guitar too. Thanks for the tips.

  • @Livi_Noelle
    @Livi_Noelle2 жыл бұрын

    Put flux on your desoldering braid. It draws the solder into and makes it work really well.

  • @rolandlemus203
    @rolandlemus203 Жыл бұрын

    ok, time for some hugs, no need for all the harshness below lol. I watched this on my lunch break, because I too have a firefly, with squeelling pups, and my lutheir friend mentioned, hey, lets just wax them if that is all they need? I said, nope, here are my new SD SH2, SH4 JB, JAZZ new pickup set, gold plated to match the LP hardware, and we will have new pups :) So glad I made that decision lol! I was rooting for ya though, because we where still undecieded on what to do them after they are removed. now I know, just toss them in the trash, but I appreciate your vid, you are way more adventurous than most of us!

  • @dougrandall6810
    @dougrandall6810 Жыл бұрын

    I love the Eddy V kept his guitars he was really worried about his finish .

  • @ryanfulldark2775
    @ryanfulldark27752 жыл бұрын

    I watched this entire thing. It was a good video.

  • @fredberthold1696
    @fredberthold1696 Жыл бұрын

    Hey Ryan what's your opinion on harley benton explorers?. Just got one and it's awesome 👌👏😎

  • @RelicOnMaui
    @RelicOnMaui2 жыл бұрын

    Have you noticed the polepiece screws go anywhere when you turn them? Other point - the metal pickup cover vibration is sometimes fixed by... placing a piece of masking tape across the line where the bobbins meet, then 3 dabs of silicon sealant and replace the cover before the sealant loses tack. But, about those polepiece "screws", since they are magnetic... if they vibrate it will be picked up by the coils

  • @thedudeleeman
    @thedudeleeman2 жыл бұрын

    I'm like you trial an error is what do. LoL it is relaxing to see and hear some of the same issues I've been learning 👍👍

  • @albertplaysguitar
    @albertplaysguitar2 жыл бұрын

    I thought the wax was supposed to be applied before the wrapping over the wires, not after. I'm no tech either... it's funny how you made the neck pickup less microphonic (and the bridge pickup non-microphonic🤣)

  • @cdavidlake2

    @cdavidlake2

    2 жыл бұрын

    I believe that to be the case. I've always wondered how these builders - who clearly know how to make guitars - don't know this.

  • @psychomafia
    @psychomafia4 ай бұрын

    Sounds really good actually

  • @edgaeta2001
    @edgaeta20012 жыл бұрын

    I find the Dragonfire pickups very inexpensive and sound really good. I've used them on several guitars

  • @bdavis8489

    @bdavis8489

    2 жыл бұрын

    DO FIREFLY GUITARS HAVE DRAGON FIRE PICKUPS?

  • @edgaeta2001

    @edgaeta2001

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@bdavis8489 I honestly do not know who manufacturers the pickups for Dragon fly guitars. But, by judging by the price of a dragonfly guitars I do not believe they would have Dragonfire pickups in then. As I said before Dragonfire pickups are great pickups for the price I have them in six of my guitars. And love them

  • @franciscanlady6491

    @franciscanlady6491

    9 ай бұрын

    @@edgaeta2001 At that price, they're probably mass produced no name generic pickups. And if so many are microphonic, the quality must be shit.

  • @edgaeta2001

    @edgaeta2001

    9 ай бұрын

    @franciscanlady6491 Do your research. Having purchased and installed a few sets, they are not microphonic. I have a Les Paul with a set of Seymour duncans. And 3 other les pauls with dragonfires in them. And they exhibit no less quality. By the way, I use Marshall heads on 4x12 cabs..

  • @Ycjedi
    @Ycjedi2 жыл бұрын

    I did this with my Epiphone Bonamassa Les Paul and got more clarity and volume. I was interested in one of the new FF Explorers or Flying V's but now I'm not sure.

  • @richardshank9583

    @richardshank9583

    Жыл бұрын

    Why? What's 200 bucks? Hell you could put SD antiquities or fralins in and still be at less the cost than an epi.

  • @fredcoston6580
    @fredcoston6580 Жыл бұрын

    great time , had fun watching. Don't worry about the negative people. Life should be fun

  • @curtwuollet2912
    @curtwuollet29122 жыл бұрын

    I'd try turning it face down and using a hair dryer to run the wax into the covers a bit more. Are the covers magnetic?

  • @chadmorral1326
    @chadmorral13262 жыл бұрын

    Of course I keep watching, it's December and I'm in Pennsylvania. I ain't going outside, it's cold.

  • @michaelparker4276
    @michaelparker42762 жыл бұрын

    If you want the best performance from solder wick you need to use a liberal amount of flux. It will suck it up like a sponge after that. Keep up the great content!

  • @JasonWW2000
    @JasonWW20002 жыл бұрын

    I thought it was a great video. Fun and relaxing. That paint was probably graphite infused to make it conductive. Graphite based paints are cheaper to make compared to metal based.

  • @Jrpyro-hm2vs
    @Jrpyro-hm2vs2 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy you so much I feel you are a really cool guy thank you for the video and I did learn something I do like the firefly guitars 👍

  • @dougrandall6810
    @dougrandall6810 Жыл бұрын

    For me on LP the pick guard helps me I have smaller hands and with my style of play it helps me a lot for me it helps raise the angle of attack . But that’s just how it works for me .

  • @charlene2400
    @charlene240020 күн бұрын

    I play doom metal on similar guitar, using bigger 6 of 7 string set(Magna), lol. Funny you reference that. Grandad lived in his garage and basement, "puttering", as Gramma used to say. Family was all girls after his generation, other than inlaws, but he had his refuge and hobbies down there. I generally expect to replace pickups on anything 300 or lower. Even my Jackson js11 is microphonic, at least in tap test.

  • @Achromatic_0
    @Achromatic_0 Жыл бұрын

    thanks. i thought this could be an issue if i got a hb sc500 so i decided to look for solutions and came across the whole taking off the covers thing. just makes me even more unsure of what to do and what to buy. i guess i could just wax them (since ive heard that sometimes they come without wax) or something. idk, i cant afford a whole new set of pickups on top of the guitar's price

  • @carlosencarnacion9667
    @carlosencarnacion9667 Жыл бұрын

    Will it make the sound bighter instead of warmer and will the volume increase? I personally prefer brighter sound like in a Telecaster or legacy Gretsch. Let's see...

  • @billieschwartz636
    @billieschwartz6362 жыл бұрын

    Well I guess the best way to fix microphonic Pup,s is to buy new Pup,s but it was a learning experience and a good video!!🎸 Rock on Ryan

  • @luenginidubois
    @luenginidubois Жыл бұрын

    Este video es genial!!! 😂😂😂 Muchas gracias, me divertí mucho!

  • @MikeYeary
    @MikeYeary2 жыл бұрын

    Don't let the hateful commentors make you jaded, man! You have a nice little program here, and many enjoy watching.

  • @HellcatCustoms
    @HellcatCustoms2 жыл бұрын

    The original PAFs weren't wax potted, so the covers probably did pop right off. Once they're potted, it's difficult to take apart without ruining. You have to first melt the wax out either using a stove-top double boiler or heat gun set on low.

  • @Kannonify
    @Kannonify2 жыл бұрын

    I actually kinda like that two tone pickup look! Reminds me of the zebra humbuckers in my PRS Custom 22 and 24 :)

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