Potting

The term “potting” refers to the sealing of pickup coils in a solid material. Potting stabilizes the components of the pickup so that they cannot move relative to each other. This eliminates vibration-induced signals that make a pickup act like a microphone causing unwanted feedback. Potting can also protect the inner coil from corrosion. The best technique for potting also includes “coil immersion.” Coil immersion is allowing a solid (wax) to be absorbed into the coil. Wax is used because it works well, is inexpensive, and it makes it possible to work on the pickup later. A correctly potted pickup coil will have the wax absorbed throughout the coil as well as the surrounding parts such as magnets, pole-pieces, and metal covers. This eliminates movement of parts inside the pickup.