Pickup covers

Brevamusic · Post by **Brevamusic** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:03 pm

Hello all, I've heard many different opinions about this but I was just wondering if you guys think that pickup covers make a difference in tone on any particular pickup? Are they just for aesthetic value?

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:20 am

Jim from WCR would know this definitively, but I think covers mute the highs "just slightly", but I dont think its necessarily in a negative way. I've heard actual PAF's both ways: with and without covers, and I prefer them WITH covers. Maybe its just the vintage mojo that goes with the covers, but I like 'em better that way.
You didnt say what kind of HB you were talking about, whether that was a PAF or a high output distortion pup, but I think the same theories apply. A distortion pup would benefit more from exposed coils than a PAF though. I think the effect would tend to be more pronounced.
As far as repro PAF's go, it seems everybody wants to "improve" them over the originals somehow, removing covers, changing something in the construction, etc:
"Hey!! These PAF's are overwound for that mega-ultra-nuclear PAF tone"...
"Hey!! WE use titanium baseplates for even MORE of that REAL PAF tone!!"
"Hey!! We use chewing gum between the coils 'cause a piece fell out of Duanes mouth into the coils once, and you know how great HIS tone was"...

IMO, as far as PAF's are concerned, there is very little room for creative license in design... if you want a PAF, build it like a PAF. Variations off the original design result in variations off the original sound. Makes sense.

Its all personal preference, but for me, I prefer covers, especially because I dont really use any pickups stronger than about 10k on a DVM, plus to me, covers just look cooler than exposed coils!!

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:42 am

+1 on Jim and the other pick up guru's to answer the question but I have heard in the past that it does not make a difference.

It all started when we saw the pic of Clapton Blues Breakers era with a Paul with covers removed. THAT had to be the secret of that Hideaway tone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zrpqi2TNnE

Brevamusic · Post by **Brevamusic** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:57 am

That was quite informative fillmore! I wasn't actually talking about any one particular pickup, I was just curious about the covers is all. For the record though, I'm playing with the Duncan JB/Jazz set in my humbucking guitars. As of right now they are exposed and I really like the way they sound. Thanks for answering the question!

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:39 pm

Brevamusic wrote:For the record though, I'm playing with the Duncan JB/Jazz set in my humbucking guitars. As of right now they are exposed and I really like the way they sound.

If you DO decide to go with covers, make sure to "pot" the covers to the coils. A little bead of household clear silicone across both coils, between the "D" and "G" poles will do it, before applying the covers and then soldering them on.

Got that tip from Jim at WCR, and it works great to keep those microphonic gremlins away!!

Post by **Smit** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:36 pm

Brevamusic wrote: If you DO decide to go with covers, make sure to "pot" the covers to the coils. A little bead of household clear silicone across both coils, between the "D" and "G" poles will do it, before applying the covers and then soldering them on.

Got that tip from Jim at WCR, and it works great to keep those microphonic gremlins away!!

Another way to isolate cover vibration is to take a 1/2" piece of that padded foam double sided tape and stick it inside dead center of the face of the cover. Don't peel off the exposed side because it will stick to the bobbins and is a b*tch to remove(Gibson did that to the 80's Bill Lawrence "The Original" HB pickups and those covers are hard to get off). That padded tape between the cover and bobbins will help with some of the vibration issues that cause unwanted feedback and will allow the cover to be easily removed.