Pickup Covers

[MarshallAbuser]

Just have a couple questions about pickup covers found on SG's/Les Pauls, etc.

What do they do? They are removable, right? Why would you want to remove them? How do you remove them? Are there just 'regular' looking pickups underneath the covers, such as a Duncan Distortion, etc.

Thanks!

[XSSIVE]

Re: Pickup Covers

what do they do?: make pickups look "better" or different

they are removable right? : yes you can remove them just unsolder them on the bottom heat them up with a hair dryer to melt the wax inside and pull off the cover then clean off the extra wax left behind on the top of the pickup.

why remove them?: so they look different

how do you remove them?: see above.

are they regular looking under the cover?: yes, but there is no telling what color(s) the bobbins are under the cover.

-Mike

[sully]

Re: Pickup Covers

nothing, from what i've seen.

yes.

because you don't want them on anymore. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

a few different ways; heat up the solder seal around them and carefully loosen them with thin screwdrivers or dull razor blades.

yes, in the ones that i've seen. they may be a little waxy, though, but no worries.

sully

[MarshallAbuser]

Re: Pickup Covers

cool. something that an amateur handyman/guitarist could do without messing anything up? Sounds like it, just double-checking. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[sully]

Re: Pickup Covers

yeah, just be careful.

[straycat]

Re: Pickup Covers

Just a tip before you unsolder the cover loosen the mounting screws on the baseplate so you have a small amount of space(air) so all the heat generated by the soldering iron does not damage the bobbins.

[siggy14]

Re: Pickup Covers

does anyone know if the pickup covers change the tone that much. I would assume it takes away some of the highs

[jgcable]

Re: Pickup Covers

No, they don't change the tone at all. Its strictly a cosmetic thing.
Some people claim an increase in highs with the covers on or an increase in volume with the covers off.
The pickups themselves don't change at all. Basically, when you take the covers off, you can raise the pickups a little closer to the strings. This is why there might be an increase in volume. Leaving the covers on forces them to be a little farther from the string which might decrease the level and therefore increase the clarity a tiny bit which is mistakenly identified as a brighter sound.

[DonP]

Re: Pickup Covers

They shield the pickup from hum and damage (in theory).

Yes.

To increase hum and chances for damage. In the days when this was the hot ticket, the thought was that the covers were killing the high end, and that without the cover, the pickup had more "sparkle".

Dremel moto tool, sharp Exacto knife, good soldering iron (like 50 watts). You want a good soldering iron so that you can be done with it quickly - less chance for damage. A low wattage iron will have to sit there and heat and heat and heat - much higher chance for damage.

Yes.

I highly recommend you get over to the lespaulforum. It's a great place just like this with tons of knowledge on Les Pauls and other Gibsons.