Pickup Covers... Do they change the tone?

cassie · #1 01-11-2004, 10:59 AM

I'm thinking about popping some new pups in my guitar and at that time putting some black pickup covers on her. But I heard that the covers muffle the tone. Is this true and does it drastically change the tone?

JESTER700 · #2 01-11-2004, 12:46 PM

There's no concensus. Many say you can hear a difference. I think that with a *plastic* one, *as long as the polepieces are as high as they were before*, there is no audible difference.

steve · #3 01-11-2004, 05:08 PM

I agree with the above.

cassie; what types of pickups are these? If it's single coils with regular covers, it won't change a thing. If it's metal covers of some type, that can change the sound.
Mainly, it's a matter of whether or not it will change the positioning of the pickup relative to the strings.

sniperfrommars1 · #4 01-11-2004, 05:16 PM

Ill say this the pickups are simply quieter with the pickup covers on. The thing has to by laws of physics at least sheild from interference a little bit better. I think with the covers off they seem quite a bit more focused than they typically would though. Since im sure the magnets pickups the nickel plating on some covers. Ive found on my les paul type guitars I like the neck pickup with the cover still on. Seems a little different. Probably just imagination though. It does look better though :>

JESTER700 · #5 01-11-2004, 05:43 PM

Metal ones do alter the magnetic field slightly, so they may affect the sound.

Plastic ones do not affect the field, and IMO those who can hear the difference are hearing the difference in pup height between cover on & cover off. The cover has thickness, so if the distance to the string is the same after installing, then the actual polepieces are slightly further away.

cassie · #6 01-11-2004, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve

I agree with the above.

cassie; what types of pickups are these? If it's single coils with regular covers, it won't change a thing. If it's metal covers of some type, that can change the sound.
Mainly, it's a matter of whether or not it will change the positioning of the pickup relative to the strings.

They're humbuckers with single-coil splitting. I was gonna slap some plastic black covers on there. From what everybody says it looks like the sound won't be changed, so yepi! lol I'll be going for it! Thanks guys!

steve · #7 01-12-2004, 02:11 AM

Do you mean the ultra-thin type of covers, like Bobbin Toppers? Or something thicker? I ask because, as outlined above, if you have to reposition the pickups lower at all to allow for the thickness of the plastic over top of the pole-piece face of the coils, then /that/ will, of course, affect the sound. If your plastic covers are thin and you're not forced to lower the pickups, you won't change the sound.

cassie · #8 01-12-2004, 11:22 AM

Nah, not the bobbin toppers. I wanted to cover the whole pup. I'm not even sure what kind of covers I can get. I just wanted a flat black plastic one without the pole-piece-hole cut-outs. Pretty sure like you said the buckers will have to be adjusted, that's why I was figuring on doing it when I changed out the pickups. I'd just let my tech do it though. They're pretty good guys, they own and work at the Guitar Factory (in orlando), build custom guitars and do set ups n'stuff. So I have no problem letting them touch my axe.

What kind of covers should I be looking at, brand/maker, I'd like some thin ones like you mentioned, the less plastic the better.

EnigmaUV7 · #9 01-14-2004, 01:07 PM

If you get metal covers, you will have a slight change in tone. In my experience and many others, you lose a little treble response, and end up with a smoother sound. The covers are great for neck position, but I like blistering top end for the bridge, meaning open coils with nothing holding them back. For metal, I wouldn't use any covers at all.