Original Franz Pickups: to pot or not to pot?

[guildguy516]

Several years ago I purchased a mid 50s Guild Aristocrat. It came loaded with early 60s Gibson P90s, which was an added bonus, but it also included the original Franz pickups in the case. With a little extra time on my hands in 2020, I pulled them out and tried them out. They sound really good and I much prefer them to the Gibson P90s, however, they are very prone to squealing. They are very microphonic and pickup me 'handling' the guitar body. I would love to keep them but they are not gig-able as is.

Let's discuss this OBJECTIVELY.

Currently being unusable in a live setting they would benefit from potting, however, I would be modifying a 65+ year old piece of irreplaceable equipment. Here lies an ethical dilemma: how shall these pickups be preserved. I am interested in knowing what you all think.

PS I have very detailed photos of my deconstructing and restoration of them if anyone is interested.

Happy New Year!

 

[Walter Broes]

I've potted all of mine, because it was a matter of "pot them and use them onstage, or have a guitar that sounds great at home"

Just don't overdo it and go for the full vacuum-total saturation industrial thing : I dunked mine into a parrafin/beeswax mixture until no more air bubbles came out (doesn't take long) and you're good, and the pickups still sound fantastic, but you can actually use them.

 

[Guildedagain]

What Walter said, verbatim.

I still have my stainless bowl with parrafin/beeswax mix, ready to heat if I need it. Haven't had to do it for 15 or more years.

Do watch out even when double bath heating wax on a stove, it is extremely flammable. Use an immersible thermometer, follow the directions, as Walter said get the bubbles out.

It doesn't affect the tone of the pickup, just kills the microphonic squeal.

I'd had some old pickups over the years so microphonic that you could speak into them.

 

[matsickma]

I agree with Walter and like Guildedagain I keep my container of potting wax blend ready for when needed. I picked up a '55 Aristocrat years ago and the pickups were so microphonic even at very low volume the pickups squealed. Once repotted the squeal problem went away and the Franz sound great.
M

 

[in a little rowboat]

I assume doing so would hurt resale value? I’m sure OP has no intention of getting rid of your guitar, but curious in general. I have a bunch of Franz-equpped guitars and a few spares. I’ve thought about potting several times but can’t say with certainty I’ll have all of these long term.

 

[Walter Broes]

I assume doing so would hurt resale value?

I'd assume that if you do it right and do a clean job, it wouldn't hurt resale value. Some Franz pickups are so microphonic that it's ridiculous, and I'd think a guitar that whistles at home volume level if you hold it at the wrong angle towards the amp/speaker would be harder to sell than one that plain works?

 

[Guildedagain]

Increase value by way of playability and tone.

 

[Rambozo96]

If you’re unfamiliar with the process I’d have a pro do it. I remember Lollar offering potting services but I don’t know how much it’ll run. Unfortunately I destroyed 2 pickups before getting it right. Also don’t use epoxy otherwise if the pickup breaks its unserviceable.

 

[mavuser]

will not devalue the guitar if done correctly, in my eyes.