Running Strat pickups without covers?

[uOpt]

Did anyone ever kill a Strat pickup by running without covers?

I had a string stuck under it a couple times but no coil damage.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

I wouldn't do it, because it would be just my luck to tear one up.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

I do sometimes drive without a seat belt but I'd never play my Strat without pickup covers.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

DO NOT DO IT!

I ran my Strat without covers and got my high "E" string caught under my middle pup several times. The last time it got caught it cut the coil wire...killed the pup...dead.

Now I've got covers on 100% of the time.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

If you do, tape 'em up good.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

My pups were taped, but the string hits like a knife-edged hammer while playing. Tape won't protect it.

There is a very profound reason Strat pups come with covers on. Man, keep the covers on!!!

Or be prepared for the eventual inevitable consequences.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

You people are ganging up to challenge me into running without covers, I know what's going on.

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

DO NOT DO IT!

I ran my Strat without covers and got my high "E" string caught under my middle pup several times. The last time it got caught it cut the coil wire...killed the pup...dead.

Now I've got covers on 100% of the time.

I did that with SSL-4 Quarter Pounds a few times. You can't get them with covers, so you just have to live life on the edge.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

Because the Quarter Pounder uses such wide rod magnets, space for the coil wire is at a premium. So they had to make them with flatwork (the two black flat pieces that the rod magnets are glued to to make a bobbin) that was too big to fit under a Strat cover. Fortunately they are designed for the bridge position where it's a lot harder to get the string to move far enough to get it stuck under the lip of the top flange. Use them in the neck or middle position at your own risk...

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

Because the Quarter Pounder uses such wide rod magnets, space for the coil wire is at a premium. So they had to make them with flatwork (the two black flat pieces that the rod magnets are glued to to make a bobbin) that was too big to fit under a Strat cover. Fortunately they are designed for the bridge position where it's a lot harder to get the string to move far enough to get it stuck under the lip of the top flange. Use them in the neck or middle position at your own risk...

The existence of a neck model says otherwise.

But also if you want to the the Ritchie Blackmore thing with new hardware you have to use a neck SSL-4.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

The existence of a neck model says otherwise.

I wasn't aware of a Jag QP, I was thinking only of Strat and Tele models. There is no Strat neck (or middle) QP per se though some will use the tapped version for middle or neck. There is a Tele QP neck but it doesn't use the large rods (it's just too small) and it has a traditional cover.

So allow me to amend my statement to say:

1) Use the Jag Quarter Pounder neck (and a tapped QP Strat in neck or middle positions) at your own risk. Or, far better yet:

2) Improve your picking technique to where you can still hit the strings as hard as you want WITHOUT digging in so deep that the excursion of the high E gets it caught under the lip of the top flange of your uncovered neck pu.

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

I wasn't aware of a Jag QP, I was thinking only of Strat and Tele models. There is no Strat neck (or middle) QP per se though some will use the tapped version for middle or neck. There is a Tele QP neck but it doesn't use the large rods (it's just too small) and it has a traditional cover.

So allow me to amend my statement to say:

1) Use the Jag Quarter Pounder neck (and a tapped QP Strat in neck or middle positions) at your own risk. Or, far better yet:

2) Improve your picking technique to where you can still hit the strings as hard as you want WITHOUT digging in so deep that the excursion of the high E gets it caught under the lip of the top flange of your uncovered neck pu.

Using a tapped SSL-4 in a primary capacity would be kinda ugh, that's a ton of magnet for a little coil. The attack is sharp and the overall tone is brittle. I have both a loaded Strat and Tele with SSL-4s.

Regarding #2, if you're a lead guitarist and that's your only job, no problem, but if you're not looking down at your guitar and you're trying to do vocals too, that's a tall order.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

But also if you want to the the Ritchie Blackmore thing with new hardware you have to use a neck SSL-4.

Blackmore never used SSL-4s. Those were Schecters and they had covers.

But good point on the Quarter pounder. I had one in the middle position for years and didn't kill it.

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

Blackmore never used SSL-4s. Those were Schecters and they had covers.

yes, but http://www.fender.com/series/artist...scalloped-rosewood-fingerboard-olympic-white/

 

[uOpt]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

yes, but http://www.fender.com/series/artist...scalloped-rosewood-fingerboard-olympic-white/

So what? Another bull**** signature model with the wrong everythings in there.

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

So what? Another bull**** signature model with the wrong everythings in there.

No, it's just as close as they can get with "off the shelf" parts.

More to the point, Fender is selling a guitar with a snag happy pickup in the neck.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

Regarding #2, if you're a lead guitarist and that's your only job, no problem, but if you're not looking down at your guitar and you're trying to do vocals too, that's a tall order.

It shouldn't be. I've done lead guitar, rhythm guitar simultaneously with vocals in clubs for many years and never had this problem. Your picking technique shouldn't change just because you're not looking at the pick. You can do it, just takes a little extra time in the shed.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

I'd just lower the pickups and wail away. Never got a string caught in a single coil flatwork, unlike a Detonator polepiece.

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

It shouldn't be. I've done lead guitar, rhythm guitar simultaneously with vocals in clubs for many years and never had this problem. Your picking technique shouldn't change just because you're not looking at the pick. You can do it, just takes a little extra time in the shed.

Have you actually used an uncovered Strat pickup in the neck and performed with that Strat in a live capacity, or are you just speculating as to what other people should experience?

 

[DreX]

Re: Running Strat pickups without covers?

I'd just lower the pickups and wail away. Never got a string caught in a single coil flatwork, unlike a Detonator polepiece.

The SSL-4 is flat (usually) so it's tempting to set it higher up. Lowering it would fix the problem, but it's never fun to compromise sound on account of practical matters.