Pickup Covers

[mikethecoug]

What is the purpose of having a pickup cover(a la marcus miller, rickenbackers etc)?

[EADG]

Looks.

[Sablate McNuff]

^Yep. Nothing more than aesthetics, although I'd assume that if you put them over pickups that have poles showing, it would help protect them from rusting over time.

[EADG]

^Yep. Nothing more than aesthetics, although I'd assume that if you put them over pickups that have poles showing, it would help protect them from rusting over time.


Don't know if this actually works, but you can just put clear nail polish on any pole pieces to protect them anyway. It is removable and doesn't affect your tone.

[Sablate McNuff]

Don't know if this actually works, but you can just put clear nail polish on any pole pieces to protect them anyway. It is removable and doesn't affect your tone.

I'd assume that any clear enamel would work. I was just throwing out something else a cover could do for you.

[Polyamarous]

I thought it was to prevent you playing directly over the pickup, thus reducing if not completely elimination the risk the string coming into contact with the pole piece, which makes a harsh popping sound.

[EADG]

I thought it was to prevent you playing directly over the pickup, thus reducing if not completely elimination the risk the string coming into contact with the pole piece, which makes a harsh popping sound.


That is one reason, but I don't have covers and I very rarely do that. It comes with practice.

[o b s]

Didn't they used to be used originally to reduce background noise that early pickups would amplify? Even if this was the case it wouldn't matter anyway since modern pickups wouldn't pick those noises up now.

[Akira]

Didn't they used to be used originally to reduce background noise that early pickups would amplify? Even if this was the case it wouldn't matter anyway since modern pickups wouldn't pick those noises up now.

I know ashtrays were originally for grounding, not sure about pickup covers.

[EADG]

Didn't they used to be used originally to reduce background noise that early pickups would amplify? Even if this was the case it wouldn't matter anyway since modern pickups wouldn't pick those noises up now.


Yes, I believe so, but it doesn't matter anymore.

[o b s]

I have an oooooold fretless P style bass with screwholes where pickup/bridge covers and a thumbrest used to be, i'm thinking of putting some more on to complete the look

[PainKiller8191]

I have a love-hate relationship with my pickup cover...on one hand, it completely limits me as far as tonal possibilities because I can't play anywhere (I move around according to what I'm playing and the sound I'm looking for ATM), but on the other hand it makes slapping so much more comfortable, as I rest my wrist on it

other than those two points, it's mainly for that vintage look

[Son of Magni]

Don't know if this actually works, but you can just put clear nail polish on any pole pieces to protect them anyway. It is removable and doesn't affect your tone.

Or if you have black pickups a lot of people will put black plastic electrical tape over them

[NavyBass]

If you're talking about the chrome covers that went over the pickups and bridges on 50's, 60's and 70's Fender basses, there were 3 reasons for this.

All these reasons are according to what Leo Fender Quoted;

1. Shielded the pickups from stray noise: They used to have a ground wire running to the cover.
2. Protected the pickup from damage
3. Acted as a hand rest: Originally, Fender had concieved the bass to be played with the thumb, not like slap style, but plucked with the thumb. Since the hand would have to go over the strings, the cover would provide a place to rest the hand and prevent the hand from accidentally muting the strings.

[Yamahabassist]

If you're talking about the chrome covers that went over the pickups and bridges on 50's, 60's and 70's Fender basses, there were 3 reasons for this.

All these reasons are according to what Leo Fender Quoted;

1. Shielded the pickups from stray noise: They used to have a ground wire running to the cover.
2. Protected the pickup from damage
3. Acted as a hand rest: Originally, Fender had concieved the bass to be played with the thumb, not like slap style, but plucked with the thumb. Since the hand would have to go over the strings, the cover would provide a place to rest the hand and prevent the hand from accidentally muting the strings.


Forgot to mention the Rickenbackers.

On the first Ric Basses, that cover was actually the magnet. Ric fealt that by completely surrounding the strings with the magnet, it would make for better sound. That's where the term Horse-shoe Magnet came from when refering to older Ric Basses.