What can I expect from an open top cover?
- Thread starter DracoAran
- Start date
Re: What can I expect from an open top cover?
Hmm, no one?. GFS Loudmouths....or the filtertron whatchamacallits?....
Perhaps less subtle than the base plate in a tele bridge pickup....but still enough to create a more focused field, with a slight increase in power and mids?.
Hmm, no one?. GFS Loudmouths....or the filtertron whatchamacallits?....
Perhaps less subtle than the base plate in a tele bridge pickup....but still enough to create a more focused field, with a slight increase in power and mids?.
Re: What can I expect from an open top cover?
I had them on a Gibson CS Non-Reverse Firebird with Burstbuckers. The only thing they did IMO was to prevent the pickups from getting as close to the strings as I wanted them. I had these covers removed and there was NO change in tone, no increased hum or any other negative issues for that matter, whatsoever.
I had them on a Gibson CS Non-Reverse Firebird with Burstbuckers. The only thing they did IMO was to prevent the pickups from getting as close to the strings as I wanted them. I had these covers removed and there was NO change in tone, no increased hum or any other negative issues for that matter, whatsoever.
Re: What can I expect from an open top cover?
Guru, just go to http://www.guitarjonesusa.com and look under pickup parts.
Martian, I was expecting something like "there's a very subtle change in tone", but I guess that just proves that the biggest change that (full) covers provide, comes from the added distance to the strings.
I was thinking that Gretsch and Rick pickups with the partial covers owed some of their tone to a change in the field.
Guru, just go to http://www.guitarjonesusa.com and look under pickup parts.
Martian, I was expecting something like "there's a very subtle change in tone", but I guess that just proves that the biggest change that (full) covers provide, comes from the added distance to the strings.
I was thinking that Gretsch and Rick pickups with the partial covers owed some of their tone to a change in the field.
scottish
WeirdScienceologist
Re: What can I expect from an open top cover?
i think the biggest change full covers has comes from fact that they cover the bobbins.....this will affect the magnetic field. usually the result is a slightly, and i emphasize slightly, warmer tone in my exp. some people describe pups with no covers as being more open and airy, but personally i like the sound with covers better
i think the biggest change full covers has comes from fact that they cover the bobbins.....this will affect the magnetic field. usually the result is a slightly, and i emphasize slightly, warmer tone in my exp. some people describe pups with no covers as being more open and airy, but personally i like the sound with covers better
Pete Galati
New member
Re: What can I expect from an open top cover?
My guess is that they'll shield the coils a little bit, and lower your noise floor a hair.
To me though, electric guitars make enough noise when you use gain, that efforts to make them quieter are sort of a wasted. I don't think they're worth any shielding they'll provide, but if you like the look, go for it. They shouldn't cause the feedback problems some people have with covered pickups.
Pete
My guess is that they'll shield the coils a little bit, and lower your noise floor a hair.
To me though, electric guitars make enough noise when you use gain, that efforts to make them quieter are sort of a wasted. I don't think they're worth any shielding they'll provide, but if you like the look, go for it. They shouldn't cause the feedback problems some people have with covered pickups.
Pete
Re: What can I expect from an open top cover?
We all know the debate of shifting frequency responses and noise levels when it comes to covered vs. uncovered pickups can be argued forever. I'll also concede that if a subject pickup was put on scopes and meters with the cover on and off, there would be different readings. Notwithstanding, and speaking from my experiences, I find that with well made pickups, especially humbuckers, its the distance of the pickups to the strings as the predominant factor to the naked ear, not the benefits or, for the sake of this argument, the drawbacks of a cover. The way I figure it, if one guitar is set up exactly the same through the same amp with covers on the pickups and alternately without, played by the same person playing the same tune, the average listener can't tell the difference sight unseen. Naturally, this would be in a "non-clinical" environment. Besides, there are SO many other elements in a guitar/amp chain which account for shifting frequency responses and noise levels where the pickup, covered or uncovered, is not the culprit.
We all know the debate of shifting frequency responses and noise levels when it comes to covered vs. uncovered pickups can be argued forever. I'll also concede that if a subject pickup was put on scopes and meters with the cover on and off, there would be different readings. Notwithstanding, and speaking from my experiences, I find that with well made pickups, especially humbuckers, its the distance of the pickups to the strings as the predominant factor to the naked ear, not the benefits or, for the sake of this argument, the drawbacks of a cover. The way I figure it, if one guitar is set up exactly the same through the same amp with covers on the pickups and alternately without, played by the same person playing the same tune, the average listener can't tell the difference sight unseen. Naturally, this would be in a "non-clinical" environment. Besides, there are SO many other elements in a guitar/amp chain which account for shifting frequency responses and noise levels where the pickup, covered or uncovered, is not the culprit.