Hotrails microphonic squealing

[SEAN RAF]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, so first things...hello

I've installed a Hotrails into the neck position of a Jackson SL1 and I'm getting ear splitting microphonic feedback when I stop between notes. The pickup sounds great as long as I don't stop playing. Any ideas?

[Kam]

Don't stop playing.

[Morior]

Don't stop playing.

HAHA!


If you use very high gain settings, turn down the gain.

If the gain isn't too ridiculous, you may have either a wiring or wax potting problem.

[Kam]

A few more details would be nice. If it only happens when you're playing at high levels of volume and/or gain then feedback is normal and can be controlled by any number of things, from how close you are to your amp to what direction you're facing to buying a noise suppressor of some sort.

If it happens at normal bedroom volume levels and/or lower gain levels then it could be a problem with the pickup. Did you buy it new or is it second-hand?

[SEAN RAF]

I play through a 5150 on high gain. I use a Boss NS2 in the front end. All my guitars have Seymour Duncan pickups, mainly Custom 5 and Custom. No problems on any other guitar. This happens at low volume. I won't be backing off the gain...that's my sound. It happens whether I'm 2 or 30 feet away from the amp.

[frankfalbo]

Was it a new pickup? If so, call Customer Service. The high pitched squealing is microphonics, and could be occurring in the pickup's wire, between the blade and the magnet, etc. Wax potting eliminates this feedback, but there is always the chance with a used pickup that it has seen extremely high temperatures (in a car trunk, a store window, etc.) the wax can be melted and seep out a little. But if it's new, then send it back, we'll take care of it. If it's used the Custom Shop can also re-pot it for you, I don't know the fee but it's not that much.

[astrozombie]

This happened to me shortly after having a hotrails installed in the bridge of my tele.

I didn't know what it was at the time, but remembered an Alkaline Trio record where the same noise was heard, and I liked it, so i didn't think much of it.

[Jeremiah]

I remember reading somewhere that rails type pickups and mini humbuckers, which sometimes have a similar design under the cover, are often more prone to microphonic feedback than a traditional magnet/polepiece arrangement.

Not sure what the answer is to stopping it though, unless, as suggested the wax has melted or it was badly potted to start with.

[Kam]

Would shielding help at all or is that purely for unwanted buzz?

[Razix]

Mine isn't microphonic at all, if that helps...

I would say just follow Frank's instructions. He knows much better than any of us do about what is "normal" for a SD pickup.

[stevie_bees]

Hope you manage to sort out your problem, and welcome to the forum.