Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

[roseyp]

Hi,

Newbie and 1st post so go easy !!

I have an Epi Les Paul that i am going to upgrade with the Hot Rod set (SH-2 and SH-4). The current pickups are the covered type and I want to retain this look, but, has anyone had any experiences of comparing the set both covered and uncovered ??

If uncovered are better in tone, then i will use them and tuff on retaining the look

I am playing mainly 80's / 90's rock (GnR, iron maiden, sabbath etc), nothing metal like slayer, slipknot etc.

I have the SH-4 (jeff beck) in my Ibanez RG and it sounds really good.

I have also read that the pearly gate / duncan custom is another good combo

open to any advice

Thanks

Roseyp

 

[metlking]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

As far as covers go, it depends on who you ask. Some will say there is absolutely no difference in tone between an uncovered and a covered pickup, providing the cover is installed correctly, blah, blah, blah.....Some (myself included) can hear the difference, however minimal it may be. Uncovered seems to add a little more presence. The tone is a little more "alive" in my opinion. I prefer uncovered pickups usually but have them gold covered in my Les Paul Customs, just for the traditional look. My standard is uncovered and zebra! There's been many threads that discuss this issue.....

Welcome to the forum by the way!

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

Covers don't make any difference to the tone IMO. Get a covered set if you like the look.

You don't play metal, you say?

Look up "heavy metal" in the dictionary, this photo's beside the entry:

 

[Mark Le Comte]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

Hi, welcome to the forum.

The JB will sound different in a RG to how they sound in les paul. JB in a superstrat is very 80s glam metal. I say take the les paul in a more late 70s/early 80s hard rock direction. I would go for a Dimarzio Paf and Super Distortion set (Super D is not a hard as the name makes it sound), or if you want to stay with Duncans a 59/Custom set. IMHO, covers are primarily a matter of aesthetics. A few people will be able to hear a difference, and even then opinion on which is better is pretty split.

 

[roseyp]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

Covers don't make any difference to the tone IMO. Get a covered set if you like the look.

You don't play metal, you say?

Look up "heavy metal" in the dictionary, this photo's beside the entry:

like it !!!!

What i meant was that i dont play stuff like slipknot, slayer, megadeath etc so did not want to confuse the issue and perhaps get a wrong alternative pickup suggestion with the description "rock" or "metal" !!

I like the covered look to be honest as its in contrast to the ibanez rg that has has open pups, in my other guitar. Some people say it alters the tone, others not.

Thanks for the reply though, really appreciate it

Roseyp

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

I have an Epi Les Paul that i am going to upgrade with the Hot Rod set (SH-2 and SH-4). The current pickups are the covered type and I want to retain this look

Don't worry, just order the covered ones. In a blind test most people won't be able to hear the difference!

HTH,

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

very often, people will say they hear a difference between the covered and uncovered ones, usually because they raise the adjustable screws to match the height of the covers resulting in a brighter sound overall.

 

[roseyp]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

There is £35 or approx $65 price difference between the covered and uncovered Hot Rod set. Also been looking at 59n and Custom combo or Peraly Gates set......decisions decisions !!!!!

Nice to be in this situation, as most things will sound better than the stock epiphone pups!!

Thanks for all the advice and pointers on this topic

Roseyp

 

[blueman335]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

There is £35 or approx $65 price difference between the covered and uncovered Hot Rod set. Also been looking at 59n and Custom combo or Peraly Gates set......decisions decisions !!!!!

Nice to be in this situation, as most things will sound better than the stock epiphone pups!!

Thanks for all the advice and pointers on this topic

Roseyp

Or you can try to find a set of covers separately that fits. I always put covers on my HB's, new or used. Covers look so much better. Yes there a slight difference in tone, but what helps one PU may not help the other; necks could use a bit more treble, whereas bridges don't. Besides, covers give more shielding & noise reduction.

 

[sympatico]

Re: Hot Rodded set upgrade - covered or not??

Hey roseyp,
left you a PM