What were the original mosrite pickups potted in?

[KRamone27]

I've heard many different stories about what they were potted in. I've heard that they were potted in laquer like the original 50's and 60's fender pickups, wax potted and epoxie potted. Also what are the advantages of the different potting techniques. I think the laquer give more of a glassy tone where as epoxie gives more of a thick metallic tone.

[Dennisthe Menace]

I've heard many different stories about what they were potted in. I've heard that they were potted in laquer like the original 50's and 60's fender pickups, wax potted and epoxie potted. Also what are the advantages of the different potting techniques. I think the laquer give more of a glassy tone where as epoxie gives more of a thick metallic tone.

Kevin, define "Original Mosrite Pickups"... Do you mean when Semie actually started
making his own pickups, or do you mean the Carvin's on the Original Mosrites?
p.s. I know, I can be such a PITA sometimes, can't I? (LOL) .

[KRamone27]

mainly the ones used on the ventures models

[Dennisthe Menace]

Well, since I'm using Mosrite Humbuckers, almost all of my original single coils
are out of the guitars, with the exception of my Combo. My '65 looks to have
the Epoxy Type on it, but my '63 has some strange stuff on it that looks as
though Semie might of used Black Tar!!!! ....well, it looks like it.....

[Dennisthe Menace]

I've heard many different stories about what they were potted in. I've heard that they were potted in laquer like the original 50's and 60's fender pickups, wax potted and epoxie potted. Also what are the advantages of the different potting techniques. I think the laquer give more of a glassy tone where as epoxie gives more of a thick metallic tone.

Hey Kev!
I found this, courtesy of Tymguitars.com. The only thing is, here, he is not very specific in the dates......i.e. The first Pic he says is from the 60s. Well yeah, but I think it might only be from '63 or '63-'64. As I had mentioned earlier, my '65 has got the goldish clear (amber?) color epoxy on the pick-ups.....but my '63 seems to match what he says is from the 60's......it still looks like black tar to me (LOL)

White bottoms with clear, red or black epoxy (60's)
Green bottoms (early '70's)
Some pick ups from 1973/74 have the date scratched/written into the bottom.
Tan bottoms (early/mid '70's) This looks like dental putty.
Clear bottoms 80's

[Bushers]

The '63 for sale on Ebay right now has some pics on the site that was linked of the pickups;



Might help??

[Dennisthe Menace]

Yep! My '63 looks just like that one, and the one from Tymguitars.com in which
he says is from the 60's. Again, not to be repetitious, but my '65 (and my later ones)
all seem to share the clear amber, or goldish type of epoxy. He also states that the
60's might of also come in clear or red. Unfortunately, I have never had the good
fortune to see the clear or the red epoxy type on the 60's pickups.....

[dubtrub]

Ask your question directly to Ed Elliot via pm. He's the man that would know as he has rewound many old original Mosrite pups. You may be better off sending him a pm as I don't think he visits all the forums on this website very often.

Regarding the Styrofoam and black or amber epoxy. That is not what the pups are potted in. That stuff is just the glue that holds the adjusting bar to the Styrofoam. The Styrofoam appears to only be a sealer to protect the coil windings.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Danny posted:

Regarding the Styrofoam and black or amber epoxy. That is not what the pups are potted in. That stuff is just the glue that holds the adjusting bar to the Styrofoam. The Styrofoam appears to only be a sealer to protect the coil windings.

....I bad I was thinking of what was used on the adjusting bar when the pickups were assembled...my mistake...

[Curtis Novak]

Hey all Happy New Year! Sorry for the long time no talk, I have just been hella busy, but a recent project brought back me around.
Anyway as some of you know I have had an interest in the Mosrite pickup for some time, just generally not the time to horse around with them. Over the years I have repaired a number of them, and from what I can see is as Danny said the the epoxy on the bottom is there to hold the works together only. They also epoxied between the bar magnets to hold them down, and the nuts in place the the pole piece screws thread through. The coils from what I can see are NOT potted at all, which is not that uncommon as Gibson and Gretsch and such never potted theirs either. Really Fender was the primary one that potted pickups. The thing is if you assemble a pickup well you do not need to pot them unless you are really overdriving them. Where most of your feedback comes from is from other ridged parts resonating and vibrating.
Here is some pictures of the guts and a rework of a knock off "Mosrite" pickup beside an original Mosrite the difference is SHOCKING to say the least they should NOT be aloud to sell them as such.
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/repairs/Mosrite-Rework/

Happy New Year,
curtis