#1
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Humbucker-cover or not?
Can someone teach me why many classic HBs are covered and some are not? Does this change their sound? Seems to this electo-naive person that it would “blend” the individual magnet poles. Is their a functional reason, or is it just cosmetics... Always wondered about that...
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Dave F ************* Martins Guilds Gibsons A few others 2020 macbook pro i5 8GB Scarlett 18i20 Reaper 7 |
#2
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I've never done so, so I'm as curious as you if it's a placebo and they are really just cosmetics.
Many people that remove the covers would say the pickups responses changed. |
#3
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Hey Dave, I have both covered and uncovered, and uncovered zebra. I prefer the aesthetics of zebra pickups, where one bobbin is black and the other is white/cream colored. Most people I know prefer the look of a covered humbucker.
As far as tonal differences, you'll probably hear that the uncovered pickup may be a little brighter, possibly a little more aggressive (that's not a bad thing). Here's a pic of my Gibson SGJ with zebra pickups to help illustrate a zebra pickup. |
#4
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Quote:
Love the look of that SG with zebra pickups!
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Gibson ES-335 Studio 2016; Furch OM34sr 2015; Fender MiJ Geddy Lee Jazz bass, 2009; Taylor 414CE 2005; Guild D35 NT 1976; Fender MIM Classic 60s Tele 2008; Fender US Standard Strat 1992; G&L ASAT classic hollowbody 2005; Ibanez RG350MDX 2010(?); Ibanez Musician fretless, 1980s; Seymour Duncan Tube 84-40; Vox AC4TV; Ex-pat Brit in Sweden
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#5
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The mythos is that removing the cover increases treble and output just a pinch. After fifty years of playing the thing is, I've never encountered anyone in person whose tone was extraordinary simply because he took off his covers. A friend and I had nearly identical same-year guitars. His had removed covers, mine still had/has the covers. Mine sounded sweeter. I've never done it, not once. I have bought a guitar that came that way stock. I didn't keep it. Pickups were to harsh. Just my experience.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#6
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Nice SG, Dru! That is a nice look.
Bob, Im leaning towards your thoughts as well. If I may add, my thoughts are partly formed based on the many telecasters Ive owned or played. Granted, bridge/neck location and mounting base are probably the real determinants of tonal differences, but find it interesting that Leo thought to cover the neck pup, and it is supposed to have the more rythmic, smooth sound. Like I said, im just curious...I dont believe theres any major difference, and that playing technique probably trumps any slight difference. But thats all just my hunch. Interesting to hear others’ thoughts
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Dave F ************* Martins Guilds Gibsons A few others 2020 macbook pro i5 8GB Scarlett 18i20 Reaper 7 |
#7
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I took the gold covers off of my 1972 Les Paul around 1975 because I thought it looked cooler then. I put them back on about a year later - mainly so I didn’t lose them.
I never noticed a difference in the sound either way.
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Coupla Martins, coupla Gibsons, a few Taylors, and an Alvarez. "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind." Twelfth Doctor |
#8
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I think there is a slight difference in tone - but if I have learned anything over the years, most differences in tone are very slight - we as the player might notice them, but the audience seldom does. And, you will only really hear the differences played clean. Any overdrive and you won't notice the difference at all.
Personally, i like the look of covered humbuckers. However, I do confess that I like the zebra pickups. |
#9
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Long ago I took the covers off my 335's PUs. I did not hear any difference. You can do absolutely anything to a guitar and someone will hear a difference.
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I don't have a bunch of guitars because they all sound just like me. 1984 Carvin LB-40 bass 1986 Carvin DC-125 two humbucker 1996 Taylor 412 La Patrie Concert 2012 American Standard Telecaster 1981 Carvin DC 100 Harley Benton LP JR DC Bushman Delta Frost & Suzuki harmonicas Artley flute Six-plus decade old vocal apparatus |
#10
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Although I like the uncovered look, I've never bought a guitar because the pickups were covered or uncovered. I've also never taken a cover off or put one on. I have replaced plenty of pickups though.
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#11
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People have already talked about the theoretical slight sound differences. The other factor is that you can wear off corners of the pickup bobbins with close pickup height and aggressive picking, even even possible damage some windings.
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----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses.... |
#12
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I've removed pickup covers from humbucking pickups, and I did get more high end out of the pickup, but I didn't like it, so I put the covers back on. It's not a myth, just a subtle change.
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#13
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Haha, I didn't know that people took them off. I think I'll just leave mine on. I'm pretty sure there are many more things I can do right now to make me sound better. But if I ever get so danged good that I just can't, I'll try it.
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Please don't take me too seriously, I don't. Taylor GS Mini Mahogany. Guild D-20 Gretsch Streamliner Morgan Monroe MNB-1w https://www.minnesotabluegrass.org/ |
#14
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Interesting story on zebra pickups. At some point in '59 / '60, Gibson's pickup bobbin color changed from black to cream due to a shortage of the black color/material to make the bobbin. No one knew because the pickups were covered. Some people decided to take off their covers and behold, there were pickups with black, white, and black/white (zebra) pickup bobbins.
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#15
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I'm a firm believer in the if it aint broke, don't fix it plan of attack
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