One of the design criteria that BL uses, is the avoidance of metal parts in and around the pickup. He, (Bill Lawrence), cites "avoidance of eddy currents" as the reason. And, he is quite correct. Anytime you have metal, in close proximity to a magnetic field, and you generate a current through that magnetic field, you induce a voltage, and thus a current, on that nearby metal. The amount of voltage, and subsequent current, that you induce into something like a base plate, is wasted power.
Does that affect the tone of the pup? Absolutely. Is it bad? Thats a grey area. Its part of the "character" of the pickups sound. Its like . . . which is better, old American big-block, muscle cars, or new Ferraris. Ask John Force, or Michael Schumaker, and you'll get different answers. They're both fast.
Don't get me wrong. I'm
not saying that SD's are crude American muscle, and BL's are svelt German luxo-pups. I'm just saying, to each their own. A big block goes better into a Barracuda than it does a Porsche. A flat-12 goes better into a boxer than it does a Chevelle.
I'm babbling again . . . aren't I? :laugh2:
You get my point . . . I think. They're all good - in the right application.