Quick Tip: How to Install and Remove a Humbucker Cover
Installing and removing a humbucker cover is a pretty simple process, if you know what you’re doing. In this video, Tyler at the shop shows the complete process from start to finish, how to properly install a Humbucker Cover. Furthermore, we show you how to remove a humbucker cover safely and easily.
Tools Needed:
- Humbucker Cover (Inside lightly waxed)
- Masking Tape
- Sandpaper (coarse grit)
- Solder
- High Heat Soldering Pencil
- Hair Dryer / Heat Gun
Tools Needed For Removing A Humbucker Cover:
- Razor Blade With Masking Tape Wrapped Around It: (See below)
Steps:
10 Minutes 10 minutes
How to Install and Remove A Humbucker Cover
- Apply Masking Tape to the Slugs of your Humbucker.
This step helps reduce vibration and microphonics when installing the humbucker cover.
- Sand the Inside Edges of the Humbucker Cover
Use sandpaper to sand the inside edges of the humbucker cover. This will remove the plating and allow solder to flow and grab the metal of the cover. If you don’t do this step, solder will not stick to the humbucker cover.
- Pre-Tin Sanded Edges
Pre-tin the humbucker cover on the edges you sanded with a high quality solder. You only need a tiny bit.
- Install Cover and Solder Cover On
Apply the humbucker cover, and use the soldering pencil to flow new solder on to the inside edge of the humbucker cover and the baseplate.
- Re-flow Wax To Stop Microphonics
Use a heat gun or hair dryer to heat the face of the humbucker cover and flow the wax. This will prevent microphonics.
That’s basically it! It’s pretty simple to install or remove a humbucker cover when you know what to do. Follow these steps for a fool-proof installing and removing process.
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Dear Tyler, what kind of masking tape do you recommend, textil or plastic base? If I have a full cover without holes for the screws of the humucker do I install the same method (do I need use masking tape for the slugs side of the humbucker and wax only for the screw side of the humbucker)? Thanx a lot!
Thanks for the article Tyler. One question- what type of wax do you recommend and how do you apply the wax to the inside of the cover?
Hey Tom, we recommend Paraffin wax.
why is this process nesicary instead of just fitting the cover over the pickiup like single coils?
The cover is metal so it needs grounding as well as metal dampening, or else the cover will generate buzz and be microphonic.
Nice. Thanks.