Steven Lafferty
New Member
Was thinking about putting covers over the 85/15s PU's on my SE Custom 24. But, I've heard that they lose some of the bite. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Humbucker Covers
- Thread starter Steven Lafferty
- Start date
I covered mine with the nickel (or whatever it is) from Philadelphia Luthiers and didn't notice one bit of difference in any way tone wise...it just looks better now.
I've been taking the covers off my pickups, for several years.
It really does depend on how much gain you play with. gain and compression make it less noticeable.
clean, Mild crunch, to moderate distortion is highly noticeable more wiry pick attack, more clear string attack, more string dynamics, clear definition of the strings. Less muddy barre chords. with no cover.
However you're going the wrong way, to install you would most likely need to additionally do wax potting.
You will have a small space between the cover and the slug coils and you will get potentially get microphonics and feedback.
a lot of the boutique PAF guys will offer you to wax pot your boutique pickup if you are purchasing their premium quality pickup covers.
it's much easier to take covers off than it is to re-install them.
in the early 60s Jimmy page and Eric Clapton removed the humbucker covers for better picking dynamics.
it's personal to fit your playing style, but it is a very subtle but noticeable effect. it softens the magnetic field slightly.
It really does depend on how much gain you play with. gain and compression make it less noticeable.
clean, Mild crunch, to moderate distortion is highly noticeable more wiry pick attack, more clear string attack, more string dynamics, clear definition of the strings. Less muddy barre chords. with no cover.
However you're going the wrong way, to install you would most likely need to additionally do wax potting.
You will have a small space between the cover and the slug coils and you will get potentially get microphonics and feedback.
a lot of the boutique PAF guys will offer you to wax pot your boutique pickup if you are purchasing their premium quality pickup covers.
it's much easier to take covers off than it is to re-install them.
in the early 60s Jimmy page and Eric Clapton removed the humbucker covers for better picking dynamics.
it's personal to fit your playing style, but it is a very subtle but noticeable effect. it softens the magnetic field slightly.
Steven Lafferty
New Member
Thanks everyone for you kind help
docteurseb
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2018
- Messages
- 1,063
Installing covers and wax potting is easy if you follow these (without it I would have done lots of mistakes):
I installed smoked black covers from Philadelphia Luthier Tools onto Gibson Burstbucker pickups and it went very well.
I scraped a candle and used a hairdryer to melt the wax, the only trick was not to send the wax flying:
I installed smoked black covers from Philadelphia Luthier Tools onto Gibson Burstbucker pickups and it went very well.
I scraped a candle and used a hairdryer to melt the wax, the only trick was not to send the wax flying:
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