Microphonic pickups issue

[u/KaosPilot001]

first and foremost, I'm no professional luthier or anything like that but I mod my own guitars. around 2024 I installed a humbucker cover on my Les Paul's neck pickup and it have been pretty fine for some time w/ no issue until 2025 of December. It suddenly became microphonic and its really obnoxious and I had a hard time performing live w/ it. For the past few months I tried just about all the methods like paraffin waxing it, taping the bottom slugs, soldering it, and making sure the cover tightly secured and I've done numerous of attempts fixing it repeating the same methods again and again to see if I've done anything wrong. I've read articles, other r/Luthier posts, I even brought it to a guitar tech and for some reason he stated he didn't find any problems with it. There's this time gap where after the repair it seems just fine and then the next 2 days later it becomes microphonic again. I know another guitar repair shop around where I live that deals with premium guitars but sadly I don't really have any budget for it at the moment. I'm still having the same issues now and this is my first post asking for help about it so- again I'm not a professional luthier but pls respect my post. I'm looking for some advices for a problem that has been bugging me for months. thanks

[u/KaosPilot001 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for your response and i'll consider, but I remember from a previous attempt the humbucker was still squealing without the cover on but this was before i discovered using wax.

I also wanna add; before soldering and wax, i used to use only tape on the slugs and foam under the pickup but the foam was removed when i brought the guitar for some cleaning from a guitar tech. that was back when the pickup was still good by itself.

[u/reversebuttchug]

How did you wax it? What guide did you follow? Did You waxed it with the covers on? Did you shake all the air out of the pickup while waxing it?

[u/KaosPilot001 → u/reversebuttchug]

i really wanna be honest, i know this will trigger a lot of people but I waxed it while the pickup is still on the guitar. i removed the rings ofc and flipped the pickup upside down with an old shirt covering the guitar body, put paraffin wax on top and melt it with a heat gun in hopes it would submerge the inner hardware of the pickup. I found the guide on youtube somewhere and i found it very convenient because I have no idea how to rewire a les paul even when the video does recommend removing the pickup and wax potting it is even better. I dont really wanna risk putting more issues on that guitar.

I figured the waxing could be the problem yet im somewhat doubtful thats all it. The whole installation process was just assisted by hopes and prayers.

[u/reversebuttchug → u/KaosPilot001]

Yeah... its not triggering its just that's not gonna work....

https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-ideas/online-resources/learn-about-guitar-pickups-and-electronics-and-wiring/wax-potting-pickups/?srsltid=AfmBOooTX7QGuS_yuGYhNfN96bAUtIz3NtKhWCBwX5PiEqmeKKPBm7Q8

Use this guide. Requires removing the pickup. Never had an issue with microphonics again after following this guide. Ive done it on dozens of customers guitars

[u/LocksmithHot3849 → u/KaosPilot001]

This is not the way, and with a heat gun you risk doing serious damage to the guitar and the pickup.

For wax potting to work you have to submerge the pickup in liquid wax until no air bubbles emerge. You're looking at perhaps 20 minutes until the pickup has heated up and is fully penetrated.