Wax potting is done for several reasons. It reduces unwanted mechanical vibration within the pickups components like screws, metal spacers, magnets etc. Another important reason is to keep the moisture from penetrating the coil and reduces moisture that could eventually cause the poles to rust on single coil pickups. Single coil pickups after time have a problem with Inner coil pole corrosion (ICPC). Waxing helps keep the insulation protected and if there ever was coil damage, it can be easily repaired. When using varnishes or epoxy potting solutions it usually mean the coils can never be successfully repaired without extreme damage to the coil or bobbin.

The term potting most likely came about because pots were used as in making candles when they were dipped in and out. The pickups are usually wax dipped in an open pot containing hot wax. (Do not try to do this without proper procedures! Extreme Danger!) Gibson style pickups like the P-90, Humbucker and Melody Makers originally didn’t have wax potted coils. The pickups had a higher DC resistance and lower resonant frequency than the Fender Telecaster or Stratocaster style pickup. Also the Gibson coil was insulated from the pole pieces by means of a fabricated or molded bobbin. The Fender pickup has the magnet wire wound directly to the rod pole pieces. The amplification used in the 40s through the early 60s was not as loud as amplifiers used today and pickups didn’t seem to feedback as much then as compared to today with the use of pre-amps and overdrives.