Chrome vs. Nickel covers

[Travis]

Does anyone have a pic of the two side by side? Here's the deal, right now I've got a zebra APH-1 in the bridge of my Hamer Speical FM (Aztec Gold) with a chrome covered Seth at the neck (it was a combination of neccessity, but damn it sounds sweet). The 10k PAF pickup has me intrigued, but if it's going to have a nickel cover, I want to know how it'll look with the Seth at the neck. If I get the 10k should I start looking for another nickel covered pickup for the neck? Or will it not look too terrible?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

Does anyone have a pic of the two side by side? Here's the deal, right now I've got a zebra APH-1 in the bridge of my Hamer Speical FM (Aztec Gold) with a chrome covered Seth at the neck (it was a combination of neccessity, but damn it sounds sweet). The 10k PAF pickup has me intrigued, but if it's going to have a nickel cover, I want to know how it'll look with the Seth at the neck. If I get the 10k should I start looking for another nickel covered pickup for the neck? Or will it not look too terrible?

I think Dimarzio sells chrome and nickel and Duncan only sells the nickel covers?

I can't remember if the covered Dimarzio Fred I have in my Gibson SG is chrome or nickel though?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

They look almost identical when new and shiny, but after playing your guitar for a few months, the nickel cover will start to haze, and the chrome one won't.

You'd be best off by putting a 'Duncan nickel cover wanted' ad in the Trader section, and swapping them.

The hard part is getting the cover off. It's easiest to do it with a dremel tool and round saw blade. It's nearly impossible to do by using a soldering iron, since they use tough industrial solder for covers.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

They look almost identical when new and shiny, but after playing your guitar for a few months, the nickel cover will start to haze, and the chrome one won't.

You'd be best off by putting a 'Duncan nickel cover wanted' ad in the Trader section, and swapping them.

The hard part is getting the cover off. It's easiest to do it with a dremel tool and round saw blade. It's nearly impossible to do by using a soldering iron, since they use tough industrial solder for covers.

That solder part is so true. I tried using a 15 watt iron and it just wouldn't work. Thank goodness my dad left me an old 100 watt soldering gun and that one did the trick.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

That solder part is so true. I tried using a 15 watt iron and it just wouldn't work. Thank goodness my dad left me an old 100 watt soldering gun and that one did the trick.

Yeah you need at least a good 40 to 50 watt iron to get a nice shiny puddle of solder,plus you need to scratch the cover and the plate surfaces to get a good place for the solder to stick to..

 

[Travis]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

I think Dimarzio sells chrome and nickel and Duncan only sells the nickel covers? QUOTE]

Yep, I was just looking around at the specs on the Duncan page. It appears that they only list nickel and gold. I wonder why I was thinking it was a chrome cover? Oh well, looks like the 10k PAF will look right with the Seth. Now, I wonder how it will sound....???....???

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

I think Dimarzio sells chrome and nickel and Duncan only sells the nickel covers? QUOTE]

Yep, I was just looking around at the specs on the Duncan page. It appears that they only list nickel and gold. I wonder why I was thinking it was a chrome cover? Oh well, looks like the 10k PAF will look right with the Seth. Now, I wonder how it will sound....???....???

I knew Duncan didn't sell a chrome cover,but I'm pretty sure Dimarzio does..

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

Good news: Duncan does indeed sell chrome covered pickups.


Bad news: The only way to get one is to order it from the Custom Shop $$$$ :smack:

I had a custom wound C5 and '59n with chrome covers. They cost over $160 each (but were wound by MJ herself). I sold the C5 and still have the '59.


And what Gearjoneser said is true. Nickel & chrome look almost the same when new. Chrome is a bit more silver looking, and nickel has a very slight yellow tint in comparasin. But they are almost identical and no one would really notice unless they really looked carefully.

But nickel will oxidize and start to "haze" and get cloudy looking and dull (especially where your hand rests if you are talking bridge pickup), whereas chrome will look the same as day one forever (if it is a good durable chrome).

The best bet is to match the hardware on your geetar. I prefer chrome personally. But I have mix-matched pickups in guitars (one chrome, one nickel) and it doesn't bother me (many manufactureres only use nickel). For all intensive purposes it looks the same, especially from the audience.

Peace. :smokin:


PS: DiMarzio does offer chrome as a stock option. I have always been surprised that Duncan didn't: - especially considering that MANY Duncan users are replacing pickups in Gibson instruments, half of which come with chrome hardware. Most DiMarzio guys are replacing pickups in Ibanez axes (and the like) which tend to come with open coil pickups.

Of course I am generalizing, but you know what I mean....

 

[big_black]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

Chrome will look hazy too. Just don't clean it.

I like nickel for the tarnish.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Chrome vs. Nickel covers

I am more interested in how to speed up the aging. I was thinking soaking in vinegar or or any a bit acidic might do the trick.