Pickup Covers, Do they effect tone? Options

[Mith]

What are peoples opinions on pickup covers. Do people think they effect guitar tone? if they do in what ways do you think diffrent covers effect tone? For exsample the diffrence between metal covers and plastic covers

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[Ben Higgins]

I personally haven't experienced the same pickups with and without covers so have never been able to make a comparison. But the general consensus with people seems to be that covers do make a bit of difference. Like slightly dulling off the very top end, removing a bit of juice.

Let's get some more answers on this... do covers reduce noise ? Is there a good reason for covers apart from aesthetics ?

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[Darius Wave]

Plastic covers don't affect the tone as much as metal. Metal covers are used as a shield. They do affect the treble response of the pickup (cut a bit of treble). But all those things vary on the pickup type and it doesn't mean that metal covers make the the tone dark and muddy. It's just a small but feltable amount of treble You can notice while comparing the same pickup with and without the cover.

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[Mith]

I guess if you have a naturally brighter guitar a metal cover on ur pickup might be what your after to smooth it all out a little but if you have a dark muddy guitar taking the covers off might open it up a little.

Just curious since I'm work in a engineering field and I'm already building a guitar in october and making my own pickups I'm thinking about making others for the rest of my guitars so they all have me own little personal flavor to them all.

and apparently nickel ones won't effect anything being non ferrous as well

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[klasaine]

This ...

Plastic covers don't affect the tone as much as metal. Metal covers are used as a shield. They do affect the treble response of the pickup (cut a bit of treble). But all those things vary on the pickup type and it doesn't mean that metal covers make the the tone dark and muddy. It's just a small but feltable amount of treble You can notice while comparing the same pickup with and without the cover.

Some folks hear a dramatic difference, some don't. There's so many other factors involved. Amount of (amp/pedal) gain for one thing not to mention your guitar cables and your pick and string choices.

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This post has been edited by klasaine: Jul 18 2014, 04:08 PM

[Todd Simpson]

It can help take some of the sizzle off of pickups that may be a pinch bright/harsh, but it could smooth out pups that are already smooth. One way to test is to take whatever material you are considering and pass it in front of your pups under the strings over the pups to see the impact. Also, if there are holes in the covers for the pole pieces that has a pinch of impact too

But long story short, it's mostly cosmetic imho. I love the way a spiff pair of covers look which is why I got a pair from VONHOTCH to go on my HomeWrecker Punishers!

What are peoples opinions on pickup covers. Do people think they effect guitar tone? if they do in what ways do you think diffrent covers effect tone? For exsample the diffrence between metal covers and plastic covers

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