Pickup Covers

[Skarekrough]

Hi there....

I have a set of Duncan APH-2's that were given to me for a project.

They are uncovered and I would like to add covers to them.

I've gone through my stash of random covers and not found anything that fits correctly. I've picked up a few cheap ones off of Amazon that the poles don't line up on.

I'm seeing Duncan-branded covers for more than $40, which seems a little ridiculous for small pieces of bent metal with some holes.

Is there any other maker that is known to be the right size and have the poles line up right?

 

[Seashore]

You need to measure the pole spacing in mm and order the right one. I've gotten covers from Mojotone, Philadelphia Luthier, and Solo Music and they're all good quality. Should be around $8-10 each.

 

[ehdwuld]

Depending on the project these look cool

https://a.co/d/1Q0qzmj

 

[Skarekrough]

Depending on the project these look cool

https://a.co/d/1Q0qzmj

Cool looking, yes.....but I need more traditional.

....and besides, I already have two sets of pickup covers from Amazon that don't fit.

 

[ehdwuld]

The screw head covers most of the hole

Remove the screws
Install covers
Reinsert screws

I was thinking the busy top would hide the misaligned screw holes

i think the ones on Amazon are 50 and 52
while SD spacing is 49 and 52.6

Yeah see posts below

 

[ehdwuld]

https://www.philadelphialuthiertool...ncan-standard-spacing-humbucker-pickup-cover/

 

[ehdwuld]

https://www.philadelphialuthiertool...kup-covers/trembucker-humbucker-pickup-cover/

 

[freefrog]

It's possible to find cheap covers correctly spaced for Duncan's but I'd take in account their thickness and materials.

Thick chromed brass can generate strong eddy currents and alter the tone noticeably, as much as a permanently lowered tone pot. I've a couple of covers like that on the shelf, with a sticker saying "bad" (except for lab experiments)...

Engraved or grid-like covers don't avoid this potential issue: as soon as a cover forms a closed loop around a pickup, it generates eddy currents. It's not always a problem (I've used this trick to soften the sound of Strat single coils) but it's something that I keep in mind.

Now, most covers are reasonably thin and make eddy currents not much noticeable. And "raw" covers without brass are considered as magnetically transparent.

FWIW.

 

[switchman]

The ones ehdwuld​ posted from Philadelphia Luthier are the best if not only option. I've installed dozens of them for as long as they've been sold. There the only place who makes (or has made for them) the exact 49mm and 52.6mm spacings. The common 49.2mm fits on a 49mm Duncan but it has a little gap on the E polepieces.

This is a good guide. Without tape, the cover can vibrate against the slug tops at high gain. I've heard other winders say just masking tape the cover doesn't have to be attached but . You need industrial super thin double-sided tape and not everybody has that...Phila. Luthier has rolls for under $20. The only think I do different from this guide is to raise the polepieces a couple of turns so the heads are out of the bobbin after adding the tape. Makes it easier to snap the cover in place without skewing before it grabs the tape.

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/easy-breezy-beautiful-covered-humbuckers

 

[GibSG]

Open covers can look awesome, here on my SG Special,

 

[Securb]

I have found both cheap after-market and Gibson OEM that fit Duncan pickups with no problems; the key is measuring the spacing properly.

 

[ehdwuld]

I like the trim rings as well

There was one place that cut some Pearliod pick guard materal to fill in the opening

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Depending on the project these look cool

https://a.co/d/1Q0qzmj

Those are beautiful. Unfortunately for us they're brass - very tone-deadening.
As we all know, it's a common issue with the cheaper Chinese covers.

 

[Artie]

Open covers can look awesome, here on my SG Special . . .

That really sets that off. Nice.

And it would be cool if Duncan sold their covers. Especially the new ones. They do, after all, sell T-shirts, keychains, screwdrivers, hats, etc.

 

[switchman]

Open covers can look awesome, here on my SG Special,

I really like the contrasting chrome open covers on guitars like this with black pickguards and pickups and chrome hardware. Gives a cool visual pop. That SG looks great.