phat cat cover

[Supernautilus]

Hey guys, I got a few questions about removing the Phat Cat cover. I know it holds the pickup together. Would a topless cover like the one below still hold it together?

Also, if I read correctly, there's a ground wire soldered to the inside of the cover. What's that about? Can it be removed without damaging the coils? Could it be transferred safely to the baseplate?

zz0.oel0zmayv5kzz

 

[Clint 55]

Hell, you can tape the thing together without a cover. But the bobbin is all pointy, rectangular, and ugly, and then the pup isn't shielded anymore and lets more noise in. So I wouldn't recommend that thing. Yes, you can ground the baseplate / cover assembly wherever you want.

 

[Supernautilus]

Well I managed to get that cover off with no issues. I didn't see any ground wire connected to the cover. But there was one soldered to the base plate. So I didn't have to move it at all. While I was in there, I also put two A3 mags inside to try and drop the output a bit. Then I fitted the topless cover on and luckily it fit like a glove. I soldered it down and everything is solid. I think it looks pretty cool. Opened up the tone a bit too. I always thought this pup was a little dark with A2 and the nickel cover. I have it in a Tele with a JD bridge. Pretty nice combo.

Here is what it looks like:​



​

 

[Clint 55]

Well you proved me wrong, that does look cool. I'm sure the tone is affected also.

 

[Mincer]

I have to say, that does look cool.

 

[trevorus]

Im planning on doing exactly this on one of mine. Glad to know it turned out well!

 

[jeremy]

nice! and i like the fact it brightened things up a bit

 

[Supernautilus]

Follow up:

I was searching through the forums and found some posts about the "single magnet mod" for P90 style pickups. This intrigued me so I decided to try it. The A3 set was nice but a little flat sounding. I removed both and put in a single A5 magnet, bridge side. Big difference. Much more focused tone. Very much like a Strat, but a little thicker. Nice and punchy. But not too loud. It matches well with the JD, as far as output. I like it a lot. Just sharing in case anyone else is wondering what that sounds like.

 

[Supernautilus]

I was so happy with the modded Phat Cat neck that I decided to mod the bridge one (I had the set) and put it into this Offset Tele. The PC has double A5 mags. SM-1 in the neck. 500K pots. Sounds killer. Really chimey. I like it a lot.

 

[Mincer]

I was so happy with the modded Phat Cat neck that I decided to mod the bridge one (I had the set) and put it into this Offset Tele. The PC has double A5 mags. SM-1 in the neck. 500K pots. Sounds killer. Really chimey. I like it a lot.

That actually looks really cool.

 

[hamerfan]

Thanks for sharing this. I think i have an unloved PC neck in my pickup drawer.

 

[Supernautilus]

Thanks for sharing this. I think i have an unloved PC neck in my pickup drawer.

I’ve read that the PCs get lot of complaints. I never hated them. But they never really blew me away either.

I used to have set of Gibson P94s in an SG which I gave to a friend years ago. I remember them sounding really good. And that was probably the main reason I decided to try and mod these. With the open top cover and A5 mags, these PCs sound a lot better in my opinion. Bright and aggressive. I think this is the way they should come stock, but that’s just me.

 

[hamerfan]

I’ve read that the PCs get lot of complaints. I never hated them. But they never really blew me away either.

I used to have set of Gibson P94s in an SG which I gave to a friend years ago. I remember them sounding really good. And that was probably the main reason I decided to try and mod these. With the open top cover and A5 mags, these PCs sound a lot better in my opinion. Bright and aggressive. I think this is the way they should come stock, but that’s just me.

I have a certain restaint to A2 pickups, but i discovered that they shine in my Tokai ES guitar. My other concern are humbuckers in the neck position, while i love the p90s and stronger strat single coils in the neck. My next stop will be the PC in this ES guitar.