Difference covered or not?

[Danjel]

How is the sound of the pickup affected by a cover? Is there a difference between a covered Pearly Gates vs a non-covered Pearly Gates?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Difference covered or not?

You get a slightly warmer pickup. It cancels a bit of presence. Its not massive, but it is there. If you play with a ton of gain, you probably won't notice much.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Difference covered or not?

Does anybody know the detailed technical explanation of the effect? I recall Les Paul talking about being opposed to covers because of how it affected the magnetic field and such, and he pointed out how many of the early adopters of Les Pauls were ripping the covers off. I'm only finding general statements in my web searches, however. Anyone have links to more detailed articles handy?

 

[playas]

Re: Difference covered or not?

Here´s a link that is useful.
comparison

I´m going to try removing the covers from both pickups in my Hamer next time I change my strings so will report back after I get around to it.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Difference covered or not?

The difference is about the same effect as switching from 500 Kohm to 250 Kohm for the volume (not tone) pot.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Difference covered or not?

The diff's was big enough for Jimmy Page.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Difference covered or not?

Ive never heard a noticeable difference. Not one enough to make a night/day difference anyways

 

[Demanic]

Re: Difference covered or not?

It probably has something to do with eddy currents being induced in the metal cover. Or maybe not.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Difference covered or not?

. . . or maybe Jimmy Page just liked the look of it

 

[jmh151]

Re: Difference covered or not?

I put nickle covers over the pickups in my PRS- which are the 245- intended to be their take on a PAF. It gave the pickups a slightly mellowed, vintage tone, but it it something you can do with the presence control on your amp. I liked how they looked

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Difference covered or not?

The difference is about the same effect as switching from 500 Kohm to 250 Kohm for the volume (not tone) pot.

I agree with this. Very good approximation of the tonal effect.

I try to avoid covers whenever possible, but if I have to use them - like on a 335 or so - I'll compensate with pots and other tweaks.