Need covers...

[markintime]

to go over the zebras on this 30th Anniversary SE CU 24. I am thinking of keeping the light colored pup rings and pup switch tip just because they seem to match with the fret board binding. I did add a black trem tip, but may change that depending on any opinions offered regarding that.

But right now, I'm hoping for suggestions on nickel covers. I think they might look better with the look of the tremolo, but I'm not opposed to chrome covers.

Thoughts, anyone? And yes, tonight I'm a little tired and lazy to search through the threads that I know others have posted on this subject. So all suggestions will be very much appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

 

[bodia]

I seem to recall a thread where someone said they got their covers from Philadelphia Luthier. You may want to check their site out.

 

[markintime]

Ah yes, that name rings a bell. Thanks, bodia! Will look now.

Uh, forgot to ask, what spacing on the SE's neck and bridge?

 

[bodia]

You're welcome

 

[SGWorks]

Philadelphia Luthier Tools is the best. You can get the raw nickel and do the brushed look of the 57/08s with some 1000 grit sandpaper. You'll need a 52mm and a 50mm.

http://www.philadelphialuthiertools...ckup-cover-non-plated-raw-nickel-silver-52mm/

http://www.philadelphialuthiertools...ckup-cover-non-plated-raw-nickel-silver-50mm/

 

[markintime]

Thanks, SGWorks. I had just found some other forum thread that posted those very sizes, though they were discussing the SE 245's on a Bernie Marsden.

Philadelphia Luthiers has so much good to choose from, it's got me trying to make up my mind if I don't want to go with the Smoked Black Nickel covers. But then I'd have to find black pup rings, 'cause theirs are tapered and mine are flat. But that would come pretty close to jiving with the ebony fret board. Oh well, maybe I'd just better go with the raw nickel ones. Less work that way...

 

[DogPhishHead]

get the raw nickel covers and a green Scotch Brite pad. Clean the oil off the covers with some alcohol, place the pad on a flat, carpeted surface (to keep it from sliding). Then pull the cover towards you in short, slow motions. Turn the cover to check the progress after every 5 strokes to see your progress - repeat on all sides, final wipe with alcohol on cotton cloth. It took about 5 minutes per cover when I did this for my SE Zach Myers.

 

[László]

If you're entirely happy with the tone of the stock pickups, carefully consider whether the covered look is worth the inevitable change in tone.

 

[markintime]

If you're entirely happy with the tone of the stock pickups, carefully consider whether the covered look is worth the inevitable change in tone.

Excellent point, Les. Fortunately the covers are not that expensive, and it's not that hard to undo. But I'm thinking with the maple/ebony neck that the covers just might work perfectly tone-wise for the blues. Definitely a much easier and less expensive mod than replacing the zebras altogether, unlessssss 85/15's become available.... auuggghhh!

 

[bricel24]

I bought my covers from GC, they sell a set for $12. I also did a brushed look.

 

[dogrocketp]

I have covers on order from Philadelphia Luthiers tools. I`ll let you know how they fit, and what I think about how they change the sound. They`re going on an SE 245.

 

[markintime]

I have covers on order from Philadelphia Luthiers tools. I`ll let you know how they fit, and what I think about how they change the sound. They`re going on an SE 245.

Cool, I am all ears!

 

[cjmwrx]

One important note, if you do put covers on your pickups, and you play high gain, or boost a high gain signal you will get feedback if you do not have the pickups re-wax potted.

I put covers on all of my guitars, and was getting terrible Micro-phonic feed back on both my Marshall DSL at the rehearsal room, and my Mesa Express+ at shows, when my EP booster was on. I could not figure out what they hell it was because the pickups were already Wax potted before the covers went on (DiMarzio ToneZone and Duncan JB in the neck). It was driving my NUTS.

Then I bought a Factory covered Duncan JB direct from Duncan. Went to rehearsal, no feedback at all. Back at home, I have a sauce pot full of melted Wax (I just melted a small Beeswax candle with a regular candle) so I threw it on the stove, and pulled the PUPs from all of my other guitars and had wax potting party one night with me and my other guitars. The next few rehearsals I brought each guitar, and the feedback was gone.

You can also just put a piece of rubber or something between the cover and the PUP to keep the cover from vibrating against the PUP. However, I think wax potting everything together is a better approach.

A couple of notes about DIY wax potting:

1. It is recommended to use a mix of Bees Wax with standard wax. However, regular wax from candles works just fine.

2. DO NOT do this on a gas stove, and if you use an electric stove or hot plate be EXTREMELY careful. You can start a fire.

3. Keep the heat VERY low. Just high enough to melt the wax. When you are done turn the heat off (I left the heat on once and wound up with a nice smokey feel in the house)

4. Let the pickup sit in the wax until all of the bubbles come out. Pull out the pickup and let it cool. Do it again. (I cover the screws on the front with gaffing tape so the wax does not flow out the front of the cover).

5. Wipe the excess wax off the pickups while they are still warm. If they cool with the wax on, it's a ***** to get the wax off when the are cool.

 

[dogrocketp]

I just switched the covers on a P90 SE, using butyrate, which is what they used in the 50`s. The difference is huge, the P90`s are much nastier with more treble. That`s what I was after. I played with a bass player who has exceptional hearing. He heard the difference immediately. Formerly, the pickups were very tame with little character. It`s hard to believe all I did was change the covers. The butyrate covers are much, much thinner and when dropped from 3 inches onto a hard surface have a much higher pitch than the originals. I also put raw nickel covers on my SE245, but have not yet had a chance to gig with them. That`ll be in another week.

 

[dogrocketp]

Cool, I am all ears!

I`ve now got about 4 gig hours on my SE 245 with pickup covers. I believe it has taken a very small amount of brightness off the top end, and smoothed out the middle. The bass hasn`t changed as much as I expected. They`ll stay on, because I wanted to diminish the highs slightly, and they`ve done that. I use the 245 for theatre music, the blues, and r`n`b. The blend is slightly better with other instruments, so it did what I wanted.

 

[JustRob]

I`ve now got about 4 gig hours on my SE 245 with pickup covers. I believe it has taken a very small amount of brightness off the top end, and smoothed out the middle. The bass hasn`t changed as much as I expected. They`ll stay on, because I wanted to diminish the highs slightly, and they`ve done that. I use the 245 for theatre music, the blues, and r`n`b. The blend is slightly better with other instruments, so it did what I wanted.

I think I've come to prefer covered pickups myself...

Got any pics with the covers?

 

[dogrocketp]

Sorry, Rob. I`m a Luddite with a camera and 3rd party picture hosting. PM your email. I can send a photo that way.

 

[TroyBaer]

I seem to recall a thread where someone said they got their covers from Philadelphia Luthier.

That may've been me -- I put nickel covers from PLS on the stock PUs on my SE Cu24. You'll need a 50mm cover for the neck PU and a 52mm cover for the bridge PU.