57/08's..covers on, covers off?

[Rhythmisking]

Sooooo..... I just got a set of 57/08's. I'm thinking of dropping them into my CU22 which, being an Artist pkg, is clearly the nicest and prettiest of all my PRS's, but it gets the least play time. Nothing wrong with it, maybe I'm just not a fan of the Dragon II's...not sure. I'm thinking this might add some magic.

The set I got has nickle covers. There's no effing way I'll be able to stand having nickle covers in a guitar with all gold hardware; WAY too OCD for that. So I'm thinking I take the covers off, and I could even switch the polepiece screws for the gold ones in the Dragons...although the slugs would still be silver...

But...

What do y'all think of 57/08's with covers off compared to on? What's the difference tone-wise? Any reason not to do this? I'm assuming they'd act like any other humbuckers with the covers off. A bit brighter, maybe a bit more edge...?

And yes, I know I could also swap the covers too, but I really want to do the work myself, and I'm not confident enough in my soldering skills with something that's as massive a heat sink as a pickup baseplate. I'm afraid of overheating it and damaging the pickup. Plus I think I'd kinda like the open coil look.

Another option would be just leave them nickel, and do a year of therapy so I could live with the dissimilar metals, but that seems too expensive.

Thoughts? I'm mostly curious about the tonal differences covers on vs. covers off.

 

[Gtrbldr]

Oof, toughy. But: gorgeous guitar, should get more air time, so good call chaninging the PUs.

Soundwise they should sound a little clearer without cover, something to consider.

Maybe you could visit a tech and do the cover swap for you. I understand the OCD colour component, and there is always that option. And mixed hardware (nickel slugs) is always an interesting look, so something I would not worry about. I for myself like the PUs covered, because (OCD) I hate gaps between the PUs rings and the PUs.

 

[Black Plaid]

I did the exact same thing, Artist 2006 Custom 22 stoptail.

I took the gold screws out of the old D2s and put them in the 57/08, looks pretty good.

I also swapped out the bridge for a Paul's guitar bridge with the brass inserts. Sounds great and reduces the gold quotient, giving it more of a hybrid hardware look.

Also changed the tuning keys for ebony ones, which I am generally a fan of.

 

[Gtrbldr]

I did the exact same thing, Artist 2006 Custom 22 stoptail.

I took the gold screws out of the old D2s and put them in the 57/08, looks pretty good.

I also swapped out the bridge for a Paul's guitar bridge with the brass inserts. Sounds great and reduces the gold quotient, giving it more of a hybrid hardware look.

Also changed the tuning keys for ebony ones, which I am generally a fan of.

Swapping the bridge is also an option indeed!

 

[Rhythmisking]

I did the exact same thing, Artist 2006 Custom 22 stoptail.

I took the gold screws out of the old D2s and put them in the 57/08, looks pretty good.

I also swapped out the bridge for a Paul's guitar bridge with the brass inserts. Sounds great and reduces the gold quotient, giving it more of a hybrid hardware look.

Also changed the tuning keys for ebony ones, which I am generally a fan of.

Do you have a pic of it?

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

On. Buy Squabbin ones if you want them off

 

[rcsrich]

I’d leave the covers be and swap the bridge/posts out to nickel/aluminum.

 

[Rhythmisking]

I’d leave the covers be and swap the bridge/posts out to nickel/aluminum.

... and tuners!

 

[Black Plaid]

Do you have a pic of it?

I do now!

 

[gush]

I did the exact same thing, Artist 2006 Custom 22 stoptail.

I took the gold screws out of the old D2s and put them in the 57/08, looks pretty good.

I also swapped out the bridge for a Paul's guitar bridge with the brass inserts. Sounds great and reduces the gold quotient, giving it more of a hybrid hardware look.

Also changed the tuning keys for ebony ones, which I am generally a fan of.

Did you notice a difference with the Paul's bridge?

I bought three of these bridges used last year and was going to put one on my McCarty. I have a sc250 bridge on it now but after putting LTs in it I'm afraid to change anything because it sounds so good.

 

[DISTORT6]

I do now!

That’s GOTTA be fun to play.

 

[RedGuitars]

Not sure I’ve seen uncovered 57/08’s.

 

[Black Plaid]

Did you notice a difference with the Paul's bridge?

It's ever so slightly less "ping-ey", the brass seems to tame the attack in a nice way.

 

[Black Plaid]

That’s GOTTA be fun to play.

It's my humbucking go-to guitar!

 

[László]

I do now!

What a gorgeous guitar!

 

[rcsrich]

I do now!

That is a gorgeous instrument…

 

[Oscarguitar]

Did the exact same with my Cherry CU22 with artist pack. Didn’t like the Dragon II so it stayed in its case. Changed to the 57/08 just took the gold pole pieces out of the DII and swapped them into the 57/08. It’s now my main gigging guitar, used all the time. I tend to play it rather than look at it and don’t look at the pick ups when I’m playing, so the nickel is not a problem. it sounds amazing now, after 40 or so outings (double if you include rehearsals) it’s picking up some gig ‘patina’ now and I love it all the more!

 

[Oscarguitar]

I forgot to say, try it with the covers on. The clarity compared to the DIi is night and day. Even our vocalist noticed the difference!!