Best method for adding covers?

[misterwhizzy]

I figured if I'm going classic in tone, I might as well match with the looks.

What's the best place to buy covers, and does installation require anything more than taping over the slug coil, roughing up the baseplate, and applying a couple of solder blobs?

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

Do you need to tape the slugs? I think that's the first I've heard of it. They should already be grounded to the magnet, right?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

You can buy covers at dozens of places. SD sells them as well. You can spend $20 per to $100 per. SD standard spacing is 49.2mm, so don't buy 50mm or even wider covers.

As far as installation, I've always used a strip of plain ole masking/painters tape, just wide and long enough to cover the slug coil. Then raise the pole pieces so they'll go through the cover. Press it on firmly until the poles are through and it wont go any farther. You can use a clamp to hold it tightly in place while you tac the two solder joints.... then you're good to go. Sometimes there is a satisfying snap when you put a cover on, other times you get no snap. The main point is get it on as tightly as possible.

After you do it once you'll get it. And you can always cut the solder joint and try again if needed. You're trying to make sure there is no air gap between the cover and the slug coil. Plenty of guys will say the tape is not necessary, but it works for me and my covered pickups don't squeal.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

does installation require anything more than taping over the slug coil, roughing up the baseplate, and applying a couple of solder blobs?

Here's a good tutorial in how to correctly take off and put on covers in HB p'ups.

They also sell three excellent-sounding lines of p'up covers:

https://www.mojotone.com/guitar-parts/49-2mm-Humbucker_2#/

/Peter

 

[jmh151]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

I just put masking tape over the slug coil and slipped Duncan Nickle covers on my PRS pickups, no solder though solder is recommended. The covers will slightly soften your tone, make it a hair more vintage sounding , but can be corrected by raising the presence on your amp

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

I watched that video and was hoping the wax was unnecessary.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

I watched that video and was hoping the wax was unnecessary.

It is unnecesary... unless you play with a ton of gain.

/Peter

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

It is... unless you play with a ton of gain.

/Peter

Reading your comment is like reading “you can go to Disneyland tomorrow...as long as you promise not to ride anything”

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

WTH with the wax? First I've heard of this BS in 40 years of guitar service. Thumbs down on the video.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

The noise is vibration, so anything that prevents vibration will work. Wax, a dab of silicone or even double-sided tape (what I use).

Philidelphia Luthier has raw nickel covers (as well as plated) that I like best.

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/humbucker/

I clean the area to be soldered on the base plate with alcohol to remove any wax or contaminates. You will want to remove any plating from the area to be soldered on both the pickup and the cover, so light sanding may be needed. Add a strip of double sided tape over the center (slightly to slug side) and then press in the pickup. Some people like to use a C clamp to press in the pickup, but the tape holds well enough (wax or silicone will require holding until soldered or dry).

Then a light clamps to hold the side in place and solder.

I would recommend test fitting the cover dry first and with only the two E poles above the bobbin. Once the cover is in place, you can adjust the poles to your liking. Also, slightly bending the cover sides helps with fitment.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

The wax is completely unnecessary, especially with the tape over the slug coils. The double sided tape is a great idea too. Leave it to Ayrton to improve the process. Will, you'll see how easy it is and how well it works once you do one.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Best method for adding covers?

The wax is completely unnecessary, especially with the tape over the slug coils. The double sided tape is a great idea too. Leave it to Ayrton to improve the process. Will, you'll see how easy it is and how well it works once you do one.

Thanks, Jeff. I'll get those covers ordered.