Replacing squealing MFD bridge pickup on ASAT BluesBoy

[cedz]

Hello everyone !

I've been for a long time the happy owner of a superb Asat BluesBoy bought in NYC 10 years ago... Equipped with Seth Lover in Neck and MFD in bridge.

But bad news... 6 months ago, for no reason (no rain, accident, whatever reason), the MFD bridge started to squeal/hiss (sorry I'm french I don't know what is the correct word), in a way that is absolutely not a classic feedback or larsen. A real direct ear pain.

That's how I found out in this forum that it was a classical issue with this pickup.

Since then, I saw 2 different guitar techs : one checked the connections, the other waxpotted the pick up again and checked the bridge... Nothing changed and I paid 150 USD for no result...

So I'd like to replace this pickup and get into the love story again.

But I want to make sure I won't have any issue like that, so I don't want any MFD anymore... I loved the MFD, but I don't want to go into the same trouble again... What would you recommend in terms of bridge pickup, with high output to balance well with the Seth Lover ?

Thanks in advance

Cedric

[Miles Smiles]

Did you check the discussions her about that topic? Maybe there's a simple solution.

If I had to change it, I would try this one:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... _59_for_t/

I recently equipped a Strat with a Seymour Duncan JB Junior, which is also a Humbucker in single coil format, and I'm happy with it.

[Boogie Bill]

This problem drove me nuts with my ASAT Classic SH until I had the pickup potted. Re-potting fixed the problem on my guitar. BTW, I only paid $35 for this service, so I think you were overcharged. I would take it back and have it redone, ot take/send it to someone who knows what they are doing. Seymour Duncan offers potting services.

Using double-sided sticky under the bridge can help, and so can using surgical tubing instead of the mounting screws. I'm not a Tele guy, so I'm not well-versed in these pickups, but if I had to replace them, I'd go with something vintage sounding from Duncan, Fralin or Lollar.

Bill

[suave eddie]

Did this problem occur prior to the expiration of the 10 year warranty? There is definitely something wrong if you have been charged $150 and two separate techs cannot identify and resolve the issue.

[blargfromouterspace]

If I had to change it, I would try this one:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... _59_for_t/

I've tried the Lil '59 in my Bluesboy and hated it. I thought the clean sound was no good, the Seth Lover in the neck position had more spank. Someone else around here like it though and recommended changing the pots to 500k ones. I've been very happy with the Seymour Duncan JD I've had in it for a couple of years now. The match isn't perfect (never will be IMO), but all sounds are very pleasing to me - classic tele at the bridge, fat Gibson-type sound at the neck, Gretsch-y 'doink' in between.

[Craig]

Hello everyone !

I've been for a long time the happy owner of a superb Asat BluesBoy bought in NYC 10 years ago... Equipped with Seth Lover in Neck and MFD in bridge.

But bad news... 6 months ago, for no reason (no rain, accident, whatever reason), the MFD bridge started to squeal/hiss (sorry I'm french I don't know what is the correct word), in a way that is absolutely not a classic feedback or larsen. A real direct ear pain.

That's how I found out in this forum that it was a classical issue with this pickup.

Since then, I saw 2 different guitar techs : one checked the connections, the other waxpotted the pick up again and checked the bridge... Nothing changed and I paid 150 USD for no result...

So I'd like to replace this pickup and get into the love story again.

But I want to make sure I won't have any issue like that, so I don't want any MFD anymore... I loved the MFD, but I don't want to go into the same trouble again... What would you recommend in terms of bridge pickup, with high output to balance well with the Seth Lover ?

Thanks in advance

Cedric

Before you abandon the MFD pickup, check this post out: How do I fix MFD bridge pickup squealing problem? and check all of the sources listed in this post.

Hope this helps.

[louis cyfer]

the fralin steelpole 43 is about as good as it gets for matching the seth lover. it is constructed like an mfd, but with alnico. similar output, and a little beefier sounding.

[cedz]

Thanks a lot to you all for your answers !

Concerning the guarantee, I bought it in NYC but am living in Paris, difficult to go for it unfortunately.

Concerning the reparation price, repotting was part of a "setting package", and it's true it's quite expensive here in France. By the way the guy who repotted it is a real expert here, working with many pros, so after two trials I think that's an internal problem

Yes I showed him the post listing the 3 most frequent issues (waxpot, bridge, glued poles), but that didn't change the result.

Thanks for your advices concerning pickup replacement, I'm going to check all products you mentioned (especially the last mentionned one), before making my choice !

Glad to be part of G&L lovers, and for your reactivity !

Thanks
Cedric

[supereiv]

You could buy a new one too !
By the way, tu habites Paris (moi aussi)? Ce n'est pas souvent qu'on voit des français par ici, bienvenue !

[cedz]

Yes I could ! But I don't want to go through the same troubles in few years again... I need a long term mojo !

Oui Paris merci !

Effectivement peu de G&Listes, mais vraiment une excellente marque (fiabilité micro mis à part )

[supereiv]

Je n'ai aucun problème de fiabilité (et je vais recevoir ma quatrième G&L). Les MFD ne sont pas si cher $69 le micro aigu. Je viens justement de recevoir un set complet pour une ASAT classic S.

petit question, c'est quel luthier qui a traité ton micro ?

[cedz]

DNG a Paris : wax potting mais aucun changement (enfin il m'a donné la guitare comme si c'était OK... Je l'ai ramené direct). Puis petit bout de papier sous le bridge, mais aucun changement (mais en test en magasin elle semblait mieux encaisser le drive, sauf que je n'ai remarqué qu'après que le potard de tone avait été un peu tourné, histoire de calmer les aigus).

Et avant ça Eponyme guitar mais il n'y connaissait rien donc il a juste rajouté une soudure

Dans les deux cas 50 à 75 EUR l'intervention inutile (car au passage chgt de cords, réglages classiques...) mais comme disait le mec de DNG "je ne vais pas bosser pour rien, y compris sans résultats, parce que le micro a des défauts de conception que je ne sais pas résoudre"

Bref je crois que je n'irai plus jamais voir un luthier !

Voilà la triste histoire

[supereiv]

il y a clairement de la mauvaise foi dans cette histoire de DNG. Je leur ai confié une paire de fois des guitares, maintenant je vais à l'atelier d'alexandre à Orsay, plutôt un peu moins cher (55€ le réglage) et si tu veux te faire plaisir ils ont un plek. Je n'ai rien à reprocher à DNG, mais je trouve qu'ils se la jouent un peu...

[cedz]

Oui c'est clair. Lorsque tu n'es pas pro, il y a de fortes chances pour qu'ils traitent ton souci vraiment trop à la légère, et pour un prix max.

Sorry to all english speaking G&Lists here

Last question on my side after visiting some forums : would cavity shielding help solving this kind of issue ?

[louis cyfer]

Oui c'est clair. Lorsque tu n'es pas pro, il y a de fortes chances pour qu'ils traitent ton souci vraiment trop à la légère, et pour un prix max.

Sorry to all english speaking G&Lists here

Last question on my side after visiting some forums : would cavity shielding help solving this kind of issue ?

no

[Miles Smiles]

Last question on my side after visiting some forums : would cavity shielding help solving this kind of issue ?

No, your feedback problem is an acoustical one, shielding would help at electrical problems, which you seem not to have.

Could you record that noises and for comparison also the sound of the neck pickup, without changes on the amp and your and the guitars position?

[cedz]

I only get this noise with bridge position (and middle position of course), and with my fender tele and same amp or pedal settings, no issue.

It's more than a noise or strong feedback, it'as a real "hiss", I mean something directly squealing when I select the bridge position, as soon as I have a drive pedal with a lot of overdrive. THe kind of ultra bright squeal that can kill your ears in one second.

OK so next action for me : try to put wax or double sided tape between bridge and body. Reglue again the poles. And if still squealing, I'll drop a Fralin/Lollar pickup that would balance well with the seth lover...

Thanks all for your advices. If you ever tried a replacement pickup of other brands that was suiting well with the seth lover, please let me know

Nice forum here

[Boogie Bill]

I took just enough French in high school and college to realize...

...I can't speak or read French! LOL!

Bill

[KenC]

I mean something directly squealing when I select the bridge position, as soon as I have a drive pedal with a lot of overdrive.

It's only happening with an overdrive pedal turned on? How does it sound straight into the amp?

Ken

[sirmyghin]

I mean something directly squealing when I select the bridge position, as soon as I have a drive pedal with a lot of overdrive.

It's only happening with an overdrive pedal turned on? How does it sound straight into the amp?

Ken

On this note, have you tried lowering the tone on your OD? That can cause some squealing if too high

[cedz]

To KenC or Sirmyghin

It also does it straight in the amp (Orange, Fender, whatever), as soon as I push the gain, at high volume. Tone set at mid curve.

[KenC]

To KenC or Sirmyghin

It also does it straight in the amp (Orange, Fender, whatever), as soon as I push the gain, at high volume. Tone set at mid curve.

Keep in mind that MFDs probably have a much hotter signal than your Fender. I'm mainly a bass player, so I'm not the best source of advice on high gain situations with guitars. It seems to me like the signal chain and/or amp is part of the problem, though. You may just need to adjust the pickup height or amp settings. Hopefully somebody more familiar with high-gain playing will chime in.

Ken

[louis cyfer]

To KenC or Sirmyghin

It also does it straight in the amp (Orange, Fender, whatever), as soon as I push the gain, at high volume. Tone set at mid curve.

Keep in mind that MFDs probably have a much hotter signal than your Fender. I'm mainly a bass player, so I'm not the best source of advice on high gain situations with guitars. It seems to me like the signal chain and/or amp is part of the problem, though. You may just need to adjust the pickup height or amp settings. Hopefully somebody more familiar with high-gain playing will chime in.

Ken

the amp or the signal chain is not the problem. the higher gain just exposes the microphonic problem sooner. the microphonic squeal is easily identified from the high gain feedback.

[cedz]

It's clearly the MFD or the bridge, because I have this guitar for 10 years now, and never had any issue until few months ago. I exactly know (and testing various amp, various pedals, double testing with other guitar) that it's not only a feedback problem...

And I'm just talking about overdrive, not high gain

[cedz]

Dear all

It took a long time, but I found a solution!

After seing 2 "guitars garages" to try to repair it, I went to see a guy who's producing boutique handmade pickups here in Paris. He first tried to help me set the pickup, for free (waxpotting it again, putting isolation between the copper and the pick up base), but no success.

So I bought him a new bridge pickup (Hepcat Tele55, meant to represent the classic but hot vintage tele pickup from the year 55 he had) and... Apart from stopping the "squeal" issue, it just improved the tone of the Asat so much that I couldn't believe it. Hotter pickup, with more presence and depth. Amazing with the crunch of my Orange AD15 amp. I also liked the MFD, but I'm rediscovering my axe with this one.

So the whole process was expensive (2 reparations for nothing + 1 new pickup), but successful.

The only thing is that now I know how boutique pickups can be amazing, I'm considering changing the Seth Lover HB, which looks dark and dead in comparison. The guy advised me to keep the 250/250K pot, and that he could make me a modified HB with a brighter and more opened sound (the same way Keith Richards was always changing his HB on its tele).

I'll keep you posted.

[Ahryn]

Neat solution and I'm glad it worked out for you.

I wonder what happened to the MFD that it caused this problem?

A pickup autopsy would be interesting, but that's just me.

Oh no, now you have found how good boutique Pickups can sound! At lest it sounds like you can get hooked up with a good humbucker.

I don't know much about pickup changes and what not but I reckon that now you're making the guitar more of your own and an extension of yourself so that's very cool.

[louis cyfer]

Neat solution and I'm glad it worked out for you.

I wonder what happened to the MFD that it caused this problem?

A pickup autopsy would be interesting, but that's just me.

Oh no, now you have found how good boutique Pickups can sound! At lest it sounds like you can get hooked up with a good humbucker.

I don't know much about pickup changes and what not but I reckon that now you're making the guitar more of your own and an extension of yourself so that's very cool.

my bb bridge mfd became hopelessly microphonic also. i put the fralin sp43 in instead. the bare knuckle p90 is a much better match than the seth lover. i would highly recommend a p90 instead of a humbucker for the neck. or even the fralin twangmaster or p92.

[cedz]

Thanks for the advice Louis, I'll have a look at this option, and balance it with the modified "suiting with 250K pots" custom HB the guy from Hepcat is ready to make for me. 140 bucks, but if it's as great as his bridge single coil, I'm ready to take the risk !