What kind of Monster Pickup is this in my Teisco?

Tommy Martin Young · From: Sacramento-California, USA

1960's Model P from a dealer in Hiroshima. Most microphonic thing I have ever heard (not feedback) just picks up everything and takes blocking to a whole new level because every facet of the lap steel is hot. Not a good time player.

Went to open it all up and found the vol/tone cavity sealed - will Xact'o open. Pulled (awesome) pickup cover off and found this thing - a pickup on top of a big chunk of metal. Anyone know what it is? Rewind or drop new one in? ( I have sworn no allegiance to the preservation of this because as-is it will NEVER get played other than to show people what "Microphonic" means)

Thanks in advance!

_________________
The One & Lonely Tommy Young

"Now is the time for drinking;
now the time to beat the earth with unfettered foot."
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65-8 B.C.)

Bill Sinclair · From: Waynesboro, PA, USA

The big chunk of metal is actually the magnet and is part of the same piece that pokes up inside the coils. Here's some pictures of my old Teisco 7 when I had it apart. I'll provide a little more detail tomorrow when I have time to describe it.

Tommy Martin Young · From: Sacramento-California, USA

Thanks Bill - was yours also microphonic? ( being a feature not a bug?)
_________________
The One & Lonely Tommy Young

"Now is the time for drinking;
now the time to beat the earth with unfettered foot."
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65-8 B.C.)

Tommy Martin Young · From: Sacramento-California, USA

[quote="Bill Sinclair"]The big chunk of metal is actually the magnet and is part of the same piece that pokes up inside the coils. Here's some pictures of my old Teisco 7 when I had it apart. I'll provide a little more detail tomorrow when I have time to describe it.

Any chance this may be able to be solved by wax potting? Or I'd even be open to have it rewound since Jerry Sentell is down the street from me and he's always done awesome work!
_________________
The One & Lonely Tommy Young

"Now is the time for drinking;
now the time to beat the earth with unfettered foot."
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65-8 B.C.)

Bill Sinclair · From: Waynesboro, PA, USA

Yes, mine had the microphonic feature as well. Smile

You may have noticed that your pickup actually has two windings stacked on top of each other (wired in series). One of mine was open so I just eliminated that winding and wired it up with just the one good coil. Sounded surprisingly good with just half the windings. Wax potting would probably help but you may just want to take the pickup (including the big block 'o magnet) to Jerry and let him work his magic. That or just install a modern pickup that will fit under that magnificent pickup cover. Here is a link to when I reluctantly sold "Astro Boy":
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=343969&highlight=teisco

Chris Clem · From: California, USA

Yes potting the pickups will dramatically help with micro-phonics. I did lots of them when I had my shop. Thru the years some manufacturers seemed to (forget)to pot them. I think all pickups should be potted. It doesn't change the sound of them at all.

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