Pickup Cover Dilemma?

[The Ballzz]

Hey Folks,

Here's the problem I'm trying cure. I have a couple guitars that use Telecaster style bridge pickups in the neck and middle positions. Once I have the pickups adjusted high enough for the sound I like, the High E string and even sometimes the low E string ends up getting caught under the lip of the bobbin, when I pick/strum aggressively. There do not appear to be any covers, anywhere for these types pickups and taping around them is only a short term, temporary solution. I'd prefer them to be plastic, as on Strat style pickups, to avoid the tonal issues associated with metal covers.

I've looked into having some made via "3-D printing" (very expensive) and also vacuum forming, also pretty pricey, unless I set up to do them myself!

I'm hoping that I may find someone smarter and/or more creative than me who may see a solution that I'm simply missing!

Thanks Folks,
Gene

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

You could think about something to cover the rim of the bobbins right at the end; like the partial fairings on the Lace Futureliners:
https://www.amazon.com/Powered-Lace...1-6427431?ie=UTF8&refRID=11AF6EHGBVKHQ5B7K3MF

You might even be able to cut the ends off a plastic Strat pickup cover, cut out the top by the poles leaving just a "C' shape rim and the sidewall, then bend it to fit over the edge; not sure if that would work but it'd be cheap to try and might be worth experimenting with.

I seem to remember somebody having an answer for a similar problem but I don't recall what the solution was.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Vai just puts a piece of tape on the pickup....

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

I am still wondering how this is happening without a tremolo.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

this happens to me too, i havent found a good solution that also looks good. tape works but looks like crap

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

How about wrapping the coil with pickup tape?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

ive done that too and it works for a while but eventually the tape slips and you end up with the same issue. for me its usually uncovered neck buckers.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

What are you guys doing to get the strings under there? I have done it dumping the bar and getting my Dime on, but just strumming?

 

[PicoRiveraTele]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Hey Folks,

Here's the problem I'm trying cure. I have a couple guitars that use Telecaster style bridge pickups in the neck and middle positions. Once I have the pickups adjusted high enough for the sound I like, the High E string and even sometimes the low E string ends up getting caught under the lip of the bobbin, when I pick/strum aggressively. There do not appear to be any covers, anywhere for these types pickups and taping around them is only a short term, temporary solution. I'd prefer them to be plastic, as on Strat style pickups, to avoid the tonal issues associated with metal covers.

I've looked into having some made via "3-D printing" (very expensive) and also vacuum forming, also pretty pricey, unless I set up to do them myself!

I'm hoping that I may find someone smarter and/or more creative than me who may see a solution that I'm simply missing!

Thanks Folks,
Gene

Maybe you're thinking of conventional tape, but you can buy very wide cloth humbucker tape https://www.amazon.com/x100ft-Insul...3872815&sr=8-2&keywords=Pickup+Coil+Tape&th=1 I bet you could arrange some cloth tape in a way that both looks good and serves the purpose.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

That is pickup tape and a pretty good one at that. I like you can get it wider sizes as well.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Something like this but in plastic?
https://shop.rall-online.net/Strat-Pickup-Cover-open-German-silver-nickel

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

What are you guys doing to get the strings under there? I have done it dumping the bar and getting my Dime on, but just strumming?

pretty much yeah, just playing the damn thing. i am pretty heavy handed though.

Maybe you're thinking of conventional tape, but you can buy very wide cloth humbucker tape https://www.amazon.com/x100ft-Insul...3872815&sr=8-2&keywords=Pickup+Coil+Tape&th=1 I bet you could arrange some cloth tape in a way that both looks good and serves the purpose.

that is nice tape! i wasnt using that but more normal cloth pup tape. as i said, it works but i eventually slides off the top bobbin

Something like this but in plastic?
https://shop.rall-online.net/Strat-Pickup-Cover-open-German-silver-nickel

fitting a tele bridge pup is more the issue

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

If the action is low and the pickup is close, you can catch the high E without dive bombing.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

You could bend a little strip of metal- copper maybe. It wouldn't need to be very wide at all. Over the lip, down the side and glued to the flatwork. Or you might be able to anchor it with the pickup mounting screw, though I'd be a little concerned about vibration at volume.

 

[The Ballzz]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Really great comments, observations and suggestions, though none totally float my boat. I've decided to build a small vacuum forming setup and try making some covers out of black Polystyrene and ABS. I'll acquire both for experimentation, to see which "feels" best and gives the most appropriate "thickness" to avoid or minimize enlarging the pickup cutouts in the pick guard. If they work out well, I'll run off a few extra for anyone here who wants and/or needs them, for the price of materials. I'll keep you all posted on my progress. Keep an eye on this thread.

ive done that too and it works for a while but eventually the tape slips and you end up with the same issue. for me its usually uncovered neck buckers.

Jeremy,
I've had great luck over the years with "open" covers. Here's a pic of one I "opened" myself:



But more nicely made units are available from WD Music:

https://www.wdmusic.com/humbucker_pickup_covers.html

The benefits of the open covers are:

1) Allowing the uncovered pickup sound.
2) Keeping most of the "spooge" out of and protecting the pickup windings/bobbins.
3) Avoiding getting a string caught under the edge of the bobbin.
4) Helping to keep the pickup straight and from flopping around/rocking back and forth in the opening or pickup ring. Been using them like this for 30+ years and they work great for me!​

Just My $.02, And Merry Christmas To All!
Gene

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

I've never seen (or heard of) an open cover to fit a Telecaster bridge pickup. In fact, I don't remember ever seeing ANY cover for a Tele bridge pickup. That doesn't mean they don't exist. But it's got to be an extremely unusual part.

You might call Fender about this- they made the Triple Tele (which looks to be a pretty cool guitar) and perhaps you aren't the only one to have had this issue. Whether they have a fix for it is anybody's guess.

EDIT: One possibility would be to replace the neck pickup with a Lace Sensor- those are sealed... Not an ideal option but it's the only one I could think of so far.

 

[The Ballzz]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

All three pups are the Fender "No-Caster" units and sound amazing in all positions! With the volume knocked down to 8 1/2 or 9 it's very Strat-ish and all the way up it's like a Strat on steroids! And of course, bridge only pickup is "ALL" Tele!

Thanks Folks,
Gene

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Is the guitar a Triple Tele?

 

[The Ballzz]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Yes, it's a Triple Tele and I own two that I bought on an unmentionably killer blowout sale last year. They both sound and play fantastic, except for those tiny "vintage" style frets, that I am planning to replace with stainless 6105 frets on the one that I'll keep. I'm currently gearing up to put a Fender style wiggle stick in the one I like best and suspect that it as long as the wiggle stick doesn't kill the "Tele character" will end up being as close to a "one size fits all" guitar as I've ever had.

I've installed a 4-pole Super Switch to give me all the standard Strat positions/sounds, though have sacrificed the "middle only" position in favor of that being bridge & middle in series, which does a pretty authentic Les Paul bridge humbucker sound. Funny thing is that this particular unit (as well as a few others that folks at TDPRI bought) had a different pickup at the bridge position. It was labeled "58" and was a bit more bright, powerful and brash than the No-Caster pups. I contacted Fender to whine about it and they simply sent me another No-Caster, free of charge and was told to keep the "58." Well it turns out that the "58" is stellar in the middle position, so I now have an extra No-Caster pup on hand!

Sorry for the novel!

Merry Christmas To All!
Gene

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup Cover Dilemma?

Nice. I like the Triple Tele design. What kind of neck do they have- fat vintage style?