do covers change the sound?

[philywilly33]

hey i was wandering if the pickup covers change the sound of the pickup?

 

[ponch]

Re: do covers change the sound?

Sometimes it cuts off the high end

 

[philywilly33]

Re: do covers change the sound?

what do u mean?

 

[dr. ad]

Re: do covers change the sound?

do some searches.

 

[ponch]

Re: do covers change the sound?

They will sometimes sound "muffled"

 

[philywilly33]

Re: do covers change the sound?

oh ok

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: do covers change the sound?

I always heard that most modern covers are made of non-magnetic alloys that basically have no affect on the tone, other than making the pickup slightly taller and thus not being able to raise it as close to the strings...

That's the reason dudes took the covers off in the first place...to get the bridge pickup as close to the strings as they could...

 

[philywilly33]

Re: do covers change the sound?

so i can still have them?

 

[ACH91332]

Re: do covers change the sound?

Covers just mellow them out a tad. Personally I don't like covers. "To me" it seems to choke the pickup a bit. That's just me though. There are metal guys out there with covers who get every harmonic on the fretboard but for me it seems to be a hassle it just seems mellow and muffled. I also don't care for the look. I want everyone knowing I don't have stock pickups haha.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: do covers change the sound?

I always heard that most modern covers are made of non-magnetic alloys that basically have no affect on the tone,

NO humbucker covers have ever been made with magnetic alloys. If the covers were magnetic, they would act like a giant polepiece and the pickup would probably be even a bit louder and brighter (like the effect of the steel bridge on a Telecaster on the bridge pu).

Covers have always been brass, nickel silver, etc., in varying alloys. Some alloys mess with the "eddy currents" around the pu more than others and the result is shunting some of the top end to ground. Basically the more copper (brass is copper and tin) in the alloy, the greater the dulling effect.

 

[philywilly33]

Re: do covers change the sound?

yeha i will want people to know that i have seymore duncans

 

[ACH91332]

Re: do covers change the sound?

I don't use Duncans anymore really but I like the forums here but anyways. If a smooth tone is your thing then it might help steer you in the right direction but if you're bright and tight I'd stay away unless you don't mind putting covers on and then maybe having to take them off again if you don't like them.

 

[uOpt]

Re: do covers change the sound?

Same thread, my 2 cents there:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=173382

 

[ACH91332]

Re: do covers change the sound?

Same thread, my 2 cents there:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=173382

I literally was going to say the exact same thing by saying it would be the equivalent of using a 300k or 250k pot but was afraid it would seem like overkill so I went on not using that as an example.

I guess I wouldn't have looked so dumb if I said it. Oh well.. haha

 

[glassman]

Re: do covers change the sound?

I guess I have always looked at pickup covers kinda like hupcaps for pickups; they don't affect the sound so much as they affect the perception of potential performance.

 

[uOpt]

Re: do covers change the sound?

People also tend to have the screw poles higher when a cover is on (flush or just above the cover, not flush or above the bobbin).

Now, that has a very noticeable effect. Pickup lower, poles up changes things dramatically.

 

[philywilly33]

Re: do covers change the sound?

so ACH what pickups do u use now?