Polishing scuffed hambuckers

[soulman969]

Oh wait.. P90s?? I thought he was talking about hums... if P90s the covers just pop on like single coil pickup covers (and are usually plastic anyway) - I don't think people even bother sticking them on with anything

They needed some work to remove them and the dog ear versions on my Casino proved to be impossible to remove with any tools I own. I'm still waiting to take it to a luthier to have him take a shot at it.

The covers for the humbucker are tacked into place by two smaller spots of solder which should be removable without impacting the potting of the pickup. There are several videos available online.

 

[BlueSquirrel]

@Noodling Guitars I totally agree with you.

In order to melt chocolate here, we use a small pot into a bigger pot full of water and we put it on the stove (it's called 'bain Marie'. I think that expression works in English too). Nobody has special equipment, yet everybody enjoys making chocolate cakes.

 

[BlueSquirrel]

They needed some work to remove them and the dog ear versions on my Casino proved to be impossible to remove with any tools I own. I'm still waiting to take it to a luthier to have him take a shot at it.

The covers for the humbucker are tacked into place by two smaller spots of solder which should be removable without impacting the potting of the pickup. There are several videos available online.

The P90s on the Casino are different indeed. One wouldn't want to get hurt trying to remove them with the wrong tools.

 

[Keefoman]

HB's on my 339 have scuffs/cloudiness. Tried Brasso on them, but no improvement. Should I spring for MusicNomad guitar polish, or is just the same as Brasso?

View attachment 20523

I think your pickups look just like they should do on a well played and loved guitar!

 

[BGood]

Oh wait.. P90s??

? ? ? I didn't see P90 mentioned either.

 

[Equalphone]

A guitar tech charges about 80 / 90 euros to change covers here (they said they have to send the pickups to somebody else to pot them so it takes a long time as well). I live in a city center where apartments are very small and people have long commutes which prevent them from both storing tools and devoting time to DIY stuff. I guess they just ask a guitar tech to change covers for them, whatever the cost.

Thanks for all the videos and all your great tips, they are very interesting. It might try it some day.

The aged look just gives a guitar mojo IMHO.

But, If you own something like a Dremel and could cut the old solder joints, that would save one side of the heating/wax melt process. Then you could just solder new ones on.

I wouldn't be too concerned about a little wax loss. It's not a scientifically calculated amount in there. Dip and drip. Not to mention, some people spend a lot of time de-waxing pots to get those "early PAF" tones. I don't think you'll miss a few drops.

Me, I'd go with "clean and aged" covers. In fact... I have on a recent guitar. Looks fine.

 

[Raiyn]

+1 on the clean but lightly scratched.

I clean my guitars regularly, and I might do a light polish on the chrome if I'm polishing the frets.

I take care of my stuff, but I recognize that stuff happens. Any ding or scratch adds to the story of the guitar - even if it's just me bumping the headstock on the door frame like a goober.

We're talking about a mass produced import guitar of recent manufacture. It's not a pristine sixties Gibson museum piece. Take reasonable care of it, but you don't have to baby it.

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