Pickup cover height

[big kurka]

So off the wall question. Is there a tonal difference if a pickup cover is pushed down all they on to the pickup vs having the cover set like a 1/8” or so above the pickup?

 

[beaubrummels]

Depends on the cover material and what type of pickup. A metal cover changes the magnetic field, so it could make a difference.

 

[ehdwuld]

I cover the inside with tape and push em as far down as possible

it messes with me trying to figure out what the actual pickup height is when I have a random space in between

 

[GuitarStv]

Always push it down as far as possible (and usually a good idea to stick a layer of tape underneath too - less likelihood of it rattling and feeding back.

 

[big kurka]

The pickups are distortions with nickel silver metal base metal that plated black chrome. I mounted the cover so bottom edge of the cover was flush with the bottom of the p/u base plate. The pickups sound great BUT they sound like they seem to have a LOT more bottom end from what I thought I remembered. It’s been several years since I had them in a guitar so I don’t remember how they used to sound.

 

[beaubrummels]

If the cover is too high, it keeps the poles away from the strings, which changes the sound also. You could try raising the screw poles up near where the cover is and see if that changes the sound in the right direction for you.

 

[big kurka]

beaubrummels Yes, I adjusted the screws like I do on all my p/u's. the dome of the screw head is sticking above the cover kinda matching the curve of the strings.

The thing that is making question this is my memory. I thought I remember the distortion p/u's being kind of harsh / brittle and lacking lows (with out covers) and now with covers with and about a 1/8" gap between the cover and the p/u they sound thick with a good amount of lows and smoother sounding. Maybe I'm crazy.

 

[AlexR]

Certainly firmly down will lessen the amount of high pitched squealing

 

[ehdwuld]

Harsh and brittle sounds like a pickup that was too close

You may have discovered the secret sauce

My JB sounded horrible until i found the sweet spot
Under the strings
After that i just matched the neck output to it

If you roll the volume back a quarter turn
And ease them back up till that sounds sweet

Then diming the volume will give you a nice driven lead tone

Or at least that is my experience
With an audio tapered volume pot

Just saying

 

[beaubrummels]

beaubrummels Yes, I adjusted the screws like I do on all my p/u's. the dome of the screw head is sticking above the cover kinda matching the curve of the strings.

The thing that is making question this is my memory. I thought I remember the distortion p/u's being kind of harsh / brittle and lacking lows (with out covers) and now with covers with and about a 1/8" gap between the cover and the p/u they sound thick with a good amount of lows and smoother sounding. Maybe I'm crazy.

I think a cover could do that to a very small degree, and that cover raised above the bobbins could contribute to that effect. When I sink the screws down below the cover on a typical humbucker, I get a similar kind of result you are describing, for me it gets more scooped and has more apparent bass. Each piece of metal has an affect on the field above the pickup that the strings are vibrating in.

FWIW my Distortions are pretty even all the way across, they have bass/bottom end/chunk to them, but they are also quite brite, so that could make someone not perceive the bottom so much maybe. As always, depends on the guitar. Like in a bright basswood guitar, I'm sure the bottom end might be upstaged by all the top end.

 

[big kurka]

All I know what ever is happening with the p/u's it's working pretty awesome in my guitar. The guitar is a schecter solo6 hellraiser back from around 2009 and I tried a dozen different p/u's in and none of them sounded good to me. Like I said the p/u's sound fantastic and I don't plan on removing them from this guitar. Actually it kind of makes me want to buy a couple more sets and put covers on them the same way for some of my other guitars.

 

[Juanhanglo]

The extra height from the cover, if you use it to set the pickup height, is actually lowering the pickup from the strings, which will change the sound somewhat.

It sounds like a mix of this, and the cover canceling some of the highs.

 

[uOpt]

The cover carries Eddie Currents, which increase as you get close to the source of the magnetic field. So there will be some change.

In addition I bet that users of such pickups also turn out the pole screws some more, which is also a sound change in itself.