Astro2k Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Hi I like the way a guitar looks with pickup covers on it, and thinking bout getting some but was wondering if they change your sound or decrease your output of your pickups? anyone added pickup covers and noticed a difference? I have High output pickups Mother buckers 21k out put. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb guitars Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Hi I like the way a guitar looks with pickup covers on it, and thinking bout getting some but was wondering if they change your sound or decrease your output of your pickups? anyone added pickup covers and noticed a difference? I have High output pickups Mother buckers 21k out put. Thanks i have found that plastic pup covers change the sound. some guitarists say that normal "metal" covers don't change your sound, and some say they do. they aren't expensive to buy, so get em and try.... sound advice cause it rhymned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 i have found that plastic pup covers change the sound. some guitarists say that normal "metal" covers don't change your sound, and some say they do. That is the first time ever that I hear somebody claiming that plastic covers change the sound of the pickup. Usually people say the opposite. I have not A/B-tested with/without plastic covers but I have a hard time understanding how a plastic cover could affect the sound. If you keep the pole-pice-to-string distance the sound shouldn’t be affected at all. On the other hand, metal covers do change the sound. The cover shields the coil. That affects the sound. In metal covers there will appear so called eddy currents that affect the sound. The metal cover have been claimed to act like a capacitor and change the sound. A metal cover will generally attenuate the highs a bit. Not much but noticeable for most people. That was the reason for Jeff Beck to remove the covers on his LP way back. And everybody liked the way he sounded so everybody followed. A bad thing they couldn’t get his fingers too… It is also possible to use a semi-enclosed cover like this: http://www.guitarjonesusa.com/catalog/prod...products_id=455 Or the Gretsch style covers in the middle of this page: http://www.axesrus.com/axepupcovs.htm Not the same look, but you might like it. And they will not affect the sound as much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sulzer Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I agree with Peter. There is no reason why plastic covers should affect the sound. The effect of metal cover is pretty small. The effect would be from eddy currents. The capacitative effect is very small, maybe like changing the length of the guitar cable a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 Different metal covers can be different too. The most transparent is pure nickel, many cheep ones are chromed copper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 This is one of those cases of "infantessimal change measurable through scientific instruments only" vs. "desired aesthetic effect." In other words, the change would be so incredibly puny that you should just pick whichever you prefer the look of. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenggg Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 I'm agree in metal cover or metal plate have effect with sound of guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro2k Posted October 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 Thanks for your help I think I'll go with the plastic covers just do to the cheaper price Thanks This forum rocks for newbie guitarist like my self. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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