Nickel/Chrome pickups

S

scatman

New member
Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on what the difference in tone is between using just a standard humbucker and when it is the same humbucker, but in a nickel casing.

I'm thinking about putting the SH-2 in my neck pickup and it is offered in a nickel casing for just a little more. I also might put the SH-4 in the bridge and was considering the nickels for that as well...

My guitar is an ESP ltd Horizon, which has a mahogany body with a flamed maple top.

http://www.jemsite.com/compare-guit...r-duncan-sh-2n-jazz-model-pickup-nickel-neck/

Any suggestions?
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

It softens the tone slightly, a little less top end and a softer attack. It's not a lot by any means, but it's definitely there. It also makes for a quieter pup, as the cover acts as a shield as well.

All my bucker guitars have covers.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

Covers warm up the tone. A lot of guys criticize certain pickups for being to bright but won't put covers on those pickups even though that would likely solve the problem they are having with excess brightness.

All Gibson paf humbuckers came with covers. Guys like Clapton and Jeff Beck started removing them in the middle 60's to get more presence and drive out of the pickup for rock music.

If a humbucker is to bright and sizzley put a cover on it.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

Gibson first put them on there to kill some of the RF interference. They act as a shield when connected into the ground of the guitar.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

I think chrome has less effect than nickel but gold has more than nickel and chrome. Or I could be wrong.

I would have covered mine but I like the tone uncovered too **** much to want to change anything.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

El CHupacabra said:
I think chrome has less effect than nickel but gold has more than nickel and chrome. Or I could be wrong.

I would have covered mine but I like the tone uncovered too **** much to want to change anything.
Click to expand...

It's about capacitance. A cover does act as a shield and help make the pickup quieter, but when you add a cover some highs are lost due to an increase in the capacitance of the pickup.

Nickel/silver plated with a very thin nickel plating is the best material for a cover. Chrome plated brass is not.

Duncan covers are made from nickel/silver (which comes in a roll and is then stamped into the shape of a cover) and then plated with nickel. That's the way all 50's Gibson pafs were made.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

lemonman said:
it softens the tone slightly, a little less top end and a softer attack. It's not a lot by any means, but it's definitely there. It also makes for a quieter pup, as the cover acts as a shield as well.

All my bucker guitars have covers.
Click to expand...

+1.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

Lewguitar said:
Covers warm up the tone. A lot of guys criticize certain pickups for being to bright but won't put covers on those pickups even though that would likely solve the problem they are having with excess brightness.
Click to expand...
My ceramic pickups (ibanez stock) sound to trebly. Would it help to put covers?. Or would it be better to swap off the magnets? Thanks.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

crguti said:
My ceramic pickups (ibanez stock) sound to trebly. Would it help to put covers?. Or would it be better to swap off the magnets? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Without seeing the guitar and knowing what pickups you have, I coudn't say. I'm not an Ibanez guy. Putting a cover on would help. Swapping magnets might be a fun learning experience. Or it could be the set up of your guitar or your amp. But depending on the quality of the pickup you might want to just replace them with something a lot better - might give you the biggest improvement.

But covers are just $10 or so. You might want to just slip a pair of covers on, see if you like it, and if you do, then install them properly.
 
Re: Nickel/Chrome pickups

I will put chrome covers in QM1 and QM2 pickups (Ibanez stock with ceramic magnets).
I will post my results.
 
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