Nice video , as a diy amp builder I can tell you there are not many people that think logically about the guitar myths and debunk them. Bravo my friend, bravo .......
I've removed the reliced covers from my Wizz PAF loaded 59 replica LP a few times. I've noticed that it looks a lot better with them on. There for it sounds better with them on.
This all depends on the material used for the covers. On cheap pickups sometimes brass is being used, which causes serious distortions of the magnetic field and reduces the high frequency output content. Most manufacturers use nickel silver however, which has nearly no audible effect on the pickups ....
Thanks for the great video. General rule of thumb is the closer the pole pieces to the strings, the louder or more brilliant the tone will be. Paul Reed Smith has a few videos on the magnetic field properties, and how each pick up is actually a microphone to convey, or express the guitars natural voice.
I usually remove the cover on neck humbuckers that I've acquired. You get a little more treble response mostly due to the slug coils not being covered. On a neck humbucker the slug coils are also closer to the bridge in a traditional mounting which means that increasing their part of the pickups response will result in a brighter sound. The difference is not huge. But it is noticeable I believe. I haven't done a blind test though. The cover will add Eddy currents to the mix, so there theoretically should be some difference. Whether or not that difference is enough to be identified in a blind test is certainly debatable.
It seems like after removing the covers that most people would then bring the pickups closer to the strings, since you don't have the thickness of the metal cover added to the pick up height. Or, vice versa, if you add a metal cover to your pick ups then you would have to lower the pick up height. Long story short, no cover means the pickup is closer to the strings. This could definitely account for the idea that noncovered pickups equals a more raw, cutting tone.
I found this video because I noticed this thing too. However, raising polepieces usually gives a brighter tone, not a darker tone. However again, I'm wondering if in the shootout test which you can find on UA-cam (where uncovered pickups unarguably and always sound brighter) the polepieces were moved or not, and if the pickup height was "kept the same" in the sense that covered pickups were fatally always set lower. Still, a change in the magnetic field (like moving the polepieces does) might explain a tonal difference between covered and uncovered humbuckers anyway.
This may be a dumb question, so pardon my ignorance, Is the purpose the cover being soldered on to the humbucker just to be tight against the actual pickup? or is there anything actually happening with the sound, wave, vibration, etc of the pickup that will require the soldering of the cover?
Camilo Velandia It's just to make sure that there isn't a hunk of metal that's part of the pickup that may make intermittent ground with the metal baseplate of the pup. Soldering the cover to the baseplate just makes the cover + pup all one piece.
Very interesting video, much appreciated.The pole height difference makes a lot of sense to me.Have just subscribed and am looking forward to some more guitar related observations, Thanks again,
I always thought the covers were more for rejecting EM interference, the way the covers on Fender basses and the ashtray cover for the Tele were intended to be (the Strat ashtray cover was more about just covering the bridge for looks/feel). I'd be curious to see a test on whether covered pickups are quieter than the same pickup uncovered. I've never heard or read why Gibson did the pickup covers though.
From what I've heard and read on the subject, Gibson changed material for the covers during a few years and that had an effect on the sound. I'm not sure what metals were used for the different years, but let's say that the originals were made from nickel covered copper and they then changed to nickel and brass.
Could all be in my mind but I'm 99% sure that covered sounds muddled.. a little less clear to me. Didn't think about the pole pieces thing tho.. that's a good point
This might be an interesting experiment... Replace the chrome screws in the covered P/U with taller hex-head screws. That way you can get the threads all the way down through the windings but still have some screw head up above the surface of the cover. Might look kinda cool too.
Hello..after watching your video..i agree 100%..ive taken my covers off my 1974 les paul..and my R.D.Artist..not good idea on the R.D..with a moog synthesizer in it..it fed back worse with out covers..BUT...ive checked with ohm meters on both guitars and the Tone is a little different and brighter without covers. being with someone else playing my guitar theu a Marshall 800..it really stands out more with out the caps..More treble and cleaner..Thats my thoughts..byt again thanks for putting this on you tube and bringing it to other guitarist..
Yes. Slightly (very slightly) brighter more treble and mids with humbucker covers removed. Especially on clean amp settings. Its so slight with low output PAF types that you might not hear a difference at all. With long guitar patch cord and effects/overdrive really. But if you got PAF's with covers on. Try a tube amp set really clean with a short cable. And remove covers. You MAY hear a litle more treble and mids.
Great video. Well done. I really don't think covers affect the tone in a negative way. As a matter of fact I think covers look better and do not change the tone at all.
Hi, guitar guts, just wanted to ask you one question. Do you think the pickups sound better in your opinion with the pole screws screwed right down to the bobbin?
I've always wondered if covering the slug side with a narrow strip of copper shielding tape before installing the cover (vs. painter's tape) would make a tonal difference because you're essentially connecting all the slug pole pieces together & giving the underside the nickel cover something to really "connect" to. I guess an experiment is in order...
It's the pole pieces moving out of the magnetic field a little. Usually the magnets are mounted either on the bottom sides or underneath. So the pole pieces are either moving away from the magnet or having less of the metal poles alongside the magnets resulting in less magnetic field.
Although the metal cover does have some affect on the tone as well (you're putting a piece of metal in a magnetic field) but not as much as the pole pieces in relation to the magnet itself.
Thank you for this video. It brought me to adjust the height of the pickups on my Les Paul copy, which I found way too dull, and I did get them to sound better by lowering them. Now I like my guitar better.
The original Gibson PAF covers were very thin and the covers were nickel-silver and/or brushed stainless steel(on the very earliest ones). The early covers did not really have any effect on the pickup other than to shield it from stray eddy currents. Over time covers have gotten thicker and have been made out of the wrong materials(like nickel plated brass which kills the highs). But on any high-end pickups with original type covers(Throbak, etc) it shouldn't make any difference. But on lower line stuff like Epiphone's, etc it should improve the sound.
I have heard one theory that the covers help distribute the magnetic field, such that the two E strings get a better magnetic field. Also your viewers should be aware that upon removing existing covers that is there could be a mess of wax potting inside between the pickup and cover. And in replacing the cover some of the wax will fall off.
Does it make it less noisy or anything? I would imagine that raising the pole pieces increase the power and make it sound a bit muddier than humbuckers usually are. I wonder what the telecaster cover in the the rythm pickup does...
I bought a Xaviere guitar with GFS Crunchy Pat pickups - covered - and they were super dull. Pulled the covers and they were totally different. Loud, alive, bright...I've never experienced such a difference just by pulling covers. I should have checked those covers with a magnet to see if they were steel. It would make sense - cheap Chinese pickups, steel = cheap. FYI.
just added covers.. and sounded totally different. totally was about to try this exact thing for the same reason. Thanks. Definitely gonna screw them back down.
Theres a video inwhich GnR's guitar techs talk gear. Slash's tech says he removes some covers purely to help eliminate microphonic feedback. He claims the microphonic feedback can be caused by the Pup covers slighty vibrating against the Pup. But this may only be an issue when playing at huge volumes in stadium setups. Who knows? lol
That is great information you gave us here! I was wondering if there is any difference cause i love covered pickups! They are way-way cooler than uncovered so i am actually looking for pickup covers to cover my guitar pickups but i was afraid that i will mess up the wonderful warm sound i already got !! I thank you kindly for your video !
Cool video. I'm on the fence about pickups on my diy guitar. I've watched old videos of bands like The Cars and noticed Elliot Easton's red Les Paul has uncovered ones.
On the money. It's in the head if pups are more aggressive without covers. I've tried many .... it LOOKS more aggressive sure. My 10 cents worth is that with cover off and pole pieces screwed down BOTH coils have slugs closer to strings. Obvious? Sure but this closeness of both does make a difference. Voila.
Like the covers. Looks are more important than a little sound difference that you can eq out. Wood and Chrome baby! BTW, I need some covered Gibson pups for my SG. Have any? I need three. Its an SG3 faded model.
Man, you are right! Got Gibson LPC with pups without covers, but Black Beauty needs covers. Tried copper covers, sounded good but the voicing changed a bit . Screwed the polepieces as down as possible - i can´t hear any difference between with and without covers.
I think it would be a combination of all pole piece and cover settings. The pole pieces raised on either covered or non covered pickups would provide the same vibration absorption, as would the lower pole pieces act similar to each other in absorption response. The cover may affect the lower pole pieces to some degree versus non cover lower pole pieces, but probably not to an overly large degree. In other words, the height of the pole pieces would determine string vibration absorption more than say a cover would.
Jeffery Stanfield metal covers will have stray capacitance induced they will also conduct Eddy currents the result is an attenuated signal and frequency loss mostly in the higher band width.
I have to say that my years in this crazy guitar business , I have always known that the uncovered pups are better for sustain , and sometimes for tonal aspects .. But not very much ... I would not take off the covers because the cover needs to be grounded to the pup .. Not true ? I have a Epi Les Stud without the covers .. It sounds great .. Just that the neck is twisted -- so it is nothing but firewood ...
Louis Pascarelli Not so Louis, there's a video on UA-cam from Wills Guitars that will show you how to fix it. You need a metal straight edge, two clamps, wood pieces for protection, and a piece of cardboard. You rig it up and apply heat, I used a hair dryer and small pan of boiling water (careful). Leave clamped for an hour and you should end up with a straight neck. Make sure the truss rod is slack first and adjust it back after you've done the heat treatment.
Louis Pascarelli I think the trick is to exaggerate the bend in the direction you want it to go, when you release the clamps it will revert back to the bent state to some extent. I built a kit Les Paul. style guitar, I could see that there was a back bow in the neck which I thought would straighten out when the strings were on, but I was wrong. Couldn't play anything below the third fret! So I looked for solutions, some say to take frets out and plane the neck! That was beyond my skills. So I was glad to find Will's video, if you find it there's a 'lady' at the top and tail of it, and I thought I'd give it a go. The cardboard is used as a fulcrum where you want the bend corrected, mine. went from back bow to perfectly flat so I was able to complete my project which has turned out to be a decent guitar. Good luck with your Epi', Ian in UK.
You can fix it. It's a pretty extensive fix that requires taking off the finger board. But if the guitar is unplayable give it a try. Probably won't make it worse. Also you can replace the neck which is probably easier but them it assedics
I had uncovered 57 classic pickup on my les paul and wanted to set a cover because it looks better. But when I set a cover on I've noticed that I didn't like the sound as without it and removed it.
Thanks for posting this GG. Eric is a player. A great one. Jason Lollar is a great pickup maker. His flagship Imperials have covers. I love the sound. I think I'm going with Jason on this one.
I mean if there is any difference, you can always tweak the amps eq section to work well with certain type of pickup. It's good to have this in mind btw.
Totally agreed! I've always though that those who claims about warmer or brighter tone are those guys who are afraid to mess with their amps... But hat's exactly the reason why amps come with knobs lol!
No, they don't. It's a myth based on the fact that a metallic shield can "filter out" high frequencies - but the high frequencies they affect are RF, not audio frequencies, which are much lower.
Great video! Sound demo or not,for the ones that complain about no sound demo are just too lazy to see for themselves. Plus, a sound demo coming through a cellphone or laptops speakers wouldn't of did any justice. Some people....
Thanks for that, mate... I'm planning on trying this with a couple of my guitars in the near future, so I'll hopefully be able to share some feedback with you (".)
It's purely an aesthetics thing. I have listened to more than a couple of these covers/no covers demos and the tonal difference is negligible. It all comes down to either which of your guitar heroes you're trying to emulate or just which you find more visually appealing. I will not wat h another one of these comparisons.
Hey Ben this is who you think it is lol. I just wanted to say I am now subscribed and that I know nothing about electric guitars and look forward to your new videos and yes I am your nephew lol.
I did have to remove my pick up covers on my 1977-78 Les Paul after a while as the covers in my particular case, caused unwanted feedback, once unsoldered and removed unwanted feedback was gone. Which was a shame a for me as I preferred the look the LP with covered pickups particularly as it is a tobacco sunburst body and I am assuming, chrome or nickel (not sure which) looked nicer than the exposed black plastic bobbins.
When you place the covers again, try with three little silicone drops on the slug side right between the polepieces, even on the screw side in the corners where keep hidden by the cover, that usualy works very well. Cheers!
@@TheForce_Productions Thank you for the info. I appreciate that I shall keep it in mind. I have about 5 months ago purchased two Gibson 57s pickups as replacements. (I am a bit slack, as yet I haven't put them in & the original are still in the LP) With the originals in 1993 I stupidly thought I could reheat the wax in the pickups thinking there was maybe a gap in the pickups causing the feedback. Much to my dismay and embarrassment for being so silly and not doing enough inquiry. Due to using too much heat I partly warped the plastic bobbins to the point where I couldn't put the metal covers back on if I had wanted to. Fortunately I had not done enough damage, for the pickups not to have worked. I was however cursing myself for being so silly and short-sighted. I learned a valuable lesson, don't fiddle with things you don't know enough about, or have no experience with, without at least doing some research first. Or of course talking or taking it to an experienced guitar/instrument luthier. mmm-OOPs.
@@christopherclarke3022 Don't be so rude to yourself, as you said nobody born knowing everything, at least now you have a funny story about LP pups to share to friends! 😉 Take care with new ones and hopefuly you install them very soon! Very good luck!
Nickel Silver covers certainly make a difference. A closed loop around the coils will create eddy currents, eddy currents lower the resonant frequency which makes the pickup sound darker. Ger yourself an LCR meter. Measure the L and Q then get yourself an oscilloscope and measure the resonant frequency. You'll see that there is quite a difference depending upon the cover materiel but even the best NS covers will effect the sound noticeably. Don't forget... In most cases the cover has been a big part of the PAF sound for 60 years. Cheers.
It is actually quite obvious in tele neck pickups. When the cover is removed, they sound brighter and more "strat-like", with a cover, they get a dark chunkiness they are known for.
Bravo. The myth debunked. If you screw pole pieces down you can get more attack by getting both coils closer to the guitar, but less clarity. It increases the output (voltage?) when you play.
If you like the way your guitar looks and feels, you will find that you like the sound of it better, you might even play better. I dont think the presence of the cover itself affects the tone.
Watching some ofnthe comparisons out there, I can definitely hear a difference, but honestly, it's not enough of one to make me take the time to take the covers off.
The reason Seth Lover chose nickle silver covers is because they didn't change the tone. And the reason for the covers is to shield them from electrical interference. And YES the height of the pole pieces makes a difference. The string is in a magnetic field, the cover is non magnetic, it does nothing to disrupt the field. So much guitar mumbo jumbo on the internet. Someone talks out their ass and it gets repeated over and over and people who don't know any different believe it, soon it taken as truth. Like top wrapping a bridge making it "slinkier". Ah, same scale, same string gauge, SAME tension or your out of tune....DUH!
@@chansomanmusic "the maximum possible height of the pickups is reduced with the covers" This is the only point I take issue with. Anyone who puts their pickup to the "maximum possible height" while still not touching the strings when top-fretting doesn't know dick about tone (as I once didn't). You gain output and lose tone, tone from the pickup to string ratio, tone from the string to body woods, tone is lost.
Most of those impressed by Clapton don't know anything about guitar. And his playing is largely recycled cliches -- which impress those, again, who don't know anything about guitar. A REAL guitarist is Jeff Beck.
So you’re telling me that the great guitarist that were inspired by Clapton and decided to start playing guitar because of EC doesn’t know anything about guitar? John Mayer which most know as a very technically inclined musician of this era at times almost exactly emulates Clapton’s style. Also Clapton can make 3 notes have much better feel than a lot of guitarist can do with 10.
Iv taken a few covers off n the past ,, talkin 70s guitars . Thot the covered sounded lil dull n muddy ,, without were lil brighter more articulate . Thats just my milage .
One more comment. I noticed your pickup heights are fairly high out of the plastic shroud. Because you run them so close to the string wave, small changes don't matter, the intensity of the string wave dominates the sound. Lower your pickups into the well, like many LP players do, then you WILL hear a difference. If your taking the PU height specs from Gibson just remember, those specs applied with sluggish shitty amps back in the 50's.
Everyone wants to believe their guitar heros and how they do things is the best way to do things. I say trial and error is the best teacher, but to each his own ear.
WHAT THE FUCK?! I have Epiphone les paul custom pro, while the neck pickup is nice, the bridge was horrible. I backed off the screws and the bridge pickup is fucking amazing better than the front. I still cannot believe it (and I rizen the pickup to match what it was before). I was not sure if i want to sell the guitar or change the pickups... Fuck that now the guitar is sounding raw and with one step down tunning it is a blues/rock machine. When I will be bored with neck pickup I will do that to it as well! Thank you!
metal covers act as a shield, they do affect the tone. try adding more shielding and see what happens. moving the pole pieces further out of the coils makes a difference too, it reduces the current generated just like shielding does. try removing the pole pieces completely and see how much tone you get, none, so if anything you proved that covers do make a difference but your ears are not sensitive enough to be able to hear it. Its a bit like speaking directly into a microphone and then putting something between you and the mic, not only will there be a volume difference, various frequencies will be affected
The design of the pickup cover suggests that a cover will attenuate the slug coil while emphasizing the screw coil. In the bridge this may be desirable but in the neck it will result in a darker sounding pickup .. Which is why I always laugh when I see people removing the bridge cover and not the neck .. just because Jimmy Page does .. and literally no other reason.
Ok, have you ever think about why JP does it on certain Les Pauls? Or you just laugh at people because they do it and you think they do it just for "the looks", and just because JP does it and not because there is a reason behind it? You can see JP removing the pickup cover from his bridge pickup way back in the "RAH concert" in January 9th, 1970! (I don't know if even earlier than this). At this point makes me think he was looking for a more open/aggressive/sharped sound on the bridge pickup while maintaining the classic covered humbucker sound of a Les Paul just because he liked the sound of his neck pickup just like it was originally (covered) but wanted "more expression" on his bridge pickup that's hypothesis number 1. The 2nd one and I believe is the reason behind this dilemma is because a covered neck pickup and an uncovered bridge pickup in conjunction on the middle position would have an specific characteristic sound, and I believe JP plays fairly enough on the middle position, hypothesis number 2. I personally do this covered/uncovered thing, and I think there's a characteristic sound in the middle position which I personally find inspiring for composing and live playing. And have you ever think about why if JP wants that "darker sounding pickup" sound when in the neck and middle position to contrast the brighter sound of his amp EQ settings? JP it's well known for using a "Marshall 1959 SLP 100W" head and he uses the "high treble" input channel on this amp, and also uses the "presence" knob which adds a little more of treble to the overall sound. We're talking Jimmy Page here, call me "fan boy"', but there's an undeniable truth that JP is one of the finest compositors/studio musicians/guitar players/producers around the globe ever. So maybe next time instead of laughing at people just because you think they do something just for "the looks", maybe you could wonder if there's an specific reason behind; I just gave you like 2+ reasons to your "just because Jimmy Page does .. and literally no other reason."
I've never removed the covers but like you I have guitars with same pups and none of them sound the same. Ps burst always sound better than any painted guitar. Haha
Nice video , as a diy amp builder I can tell you there are not many people that think logically about the guitar myths and debunk them. Bravo my friend, bravo .......
@@chansomanmusic does it also say that all Gibson are inspected before they leave the factory for quality assurance? 🤣🤣
I've removed the reliced covers from my Wizz PAF loaded 59 replica LP a few times. I've noticed that it looks a lot better with them on. There for it sounds better with them on.
That explains why my red lp sounds better than my black lp.
Well...that blows the myth out of the water about black guitars always sounding better!
brad bolin
Now I find out☹
+brad bolin
black guitars sound better *only* in metal genres (^____^)
Terry Williams
This video definitely deserves a second part with a detailed sound test. Nice one, thanks.
Yes changed my white pickup covers to red. Now I play twice as fast, just like when I bought a red car. "It's true....all of it."
Rich F... oops I commented before I read your comment (".)
It’s true, when I switched to an sg I could play through the fires and the flames at twice the speed of the record
Yes, Rich F. but the real question here is do you get more speeding tickets when you play the red pickups?
The only thing missing to this video is a sound demo. Otherwise, thank you for sharing your experience :)
Yannick P, . A sound demo wouldn't of made any difference, it's one of those things that's so subtle you gotta do for yourselve
Echo effects
This all depends on the material used for the covers. On cheap pickups sometimes brass is being used, which causes serious distortions of the magnetic field and reduces the high frequency output content. Most manufacturers use nickel silver however, which has nearly no audible effect on the pickups ....
Thanks for the great video. General rule of thumb is the closer the pole pieces to the strings, the louder or more brilliant the tone will be. Paul Reed Smith has a few videos on the magnetic field properties, and how each pick up is actually a microphone to convey, or express the guitars natural voice.
I usually remove the cover on neck humbuckers that I've acquired. You get a little more treble response mostly due to the slug coils not being covered. On a neck humbucker the slug coils are also closer to the bridge in a traditional mounting which means that increasing their part of the pickups response will result in a brighter sound. The difference is not huge. But it is noticeable I believe. I haven't done a blind test though. The cover will add Eddy currents to the mix, so there theoretically should be some difference. Whether or not that difference is enough to be identified in a blind test is certainly debatable.
Try a blind test, anytime funny thing:-) I tested this way my friends, a bit snobbish gutarists, with MIJ and US made Strat. Guess the result!;-)
They do filter some treble. I have removed covers off covered pick ups and they definitely had more treble response than with them.
It seems like after removing the covers that most people would then bring the pickups closer to the strings, since you don't have the thickness of the metal cover added to the pick up height. Or, vice versa, if you add a metal cover to your pick ups then you would have to lower the pick up height. Long story short, no cover means the pickup is closer to the strings. This could definitely account for the idea that noncovered pickups equals a more raw, cutting tone.
Great video! Has really got me thinking about pickup adjustment and setup for tone! Cheers!
I found this video because I noticed this thing too. However, raising polepieces usually gives a brighter tone, not a darker tone. However again, I'm wondering if in the shootout test which you can find on UA-cam (where uncovered pickups unarguably and always sound brighter) the polepieces were moved or not, and if the pickup height was "kept the same" in the sense that covered pickups were fatally always set lower. Still, a change in the magnetic field (like moving the polepieces does) might explain a tonal difference between covered and uncovered humbuckers anyway.
This may be a dumb question, so pardon my ignorance, Is the purpose the cover being soldered on to the humbucker just to be tight against the actual pickup? or is there anything actually happening with the sound, wave, vibration, etc of the pickup that will require the soldering of the cover?
Camilo Velandia It's just to make sure that there isn't a hunk of metal that's part of the pickup that may make intermittent ground with the metal baseplate of the pup. Soldering the cover to the baseplate just makes the cover + pup all one piece.
Very interesting video, much appreciated.The pole height difference makes a lot of sense to me.Have just subscribed and am looking forward to some more guitar related observations, Thanks again,
I always thought the covers were more for rejecting EM interference, the way the covers on Fender basses and the ashtray cover for the Tele were intended to be (the Strat ashtray cover was more about just covering the bridge for looks/feel). I'd be curious to see a test on whether covered pickups are quieter than the same pickup uncovered. I've never heard or read why Gibson did the pickup covers though.
That's true, and nobody tells about it, but uncovered pickups are much more noisy. Specially the bridge ones.
From what I've heard and read on the subject, Gibson changed material for the covers during a few years and that had an effect on the sound. I'm not sure what metals were used for the different years, but let's say that the originals were made from nickel covered copper and they then changed to nickel and brass.
Yes! I agree with you. That’s been my experience as well. Seems like the balance between the screws and slugs would affect the tone too.
why take the time to do this video and not include a sound comparison for everyone to decide for themselves?
Could all be in my mind but I'm 99% sure that covered sounds muddled.. a little less clear to me. Didn't think about the pole pieces thing tho.. that's a good point
This might be an interesting experiment... Replace the chrome screws in the covered P/U with taller hex-head screws. That way you can get the threads all the way down through the windings but still have some screw head up above the surface of the cover. Might look kinda cool too.
Hello..after watching your video..i agree 100%..ive taken my covers off my 1974 les paul..and my R.D.Artist..not good idea on the R.D..with a moog synthesizer in it..it fed back worse with out covers..BUT...ive checked with ohm meters on both guitars and the Tone is a little different and brighter without covers. being with someone else playing my guitar theu a Marshall 800..it really stands out more with out the caps..More treble and cleaner..Thats my thoughts..byt again thanks for putting this on you tube and bringing it to other guitarist..
Yes. Slightly (very slightly) brighter more treble and mids with humbucker covers removed. Especially on clean amp settings. Its so slight with low output PAF types that you might not hear a difference at all. With long guitar patch cord and effects/overdrive really. But if you got PAF's with covers on. Try a tube amp set really clean with a short cable. And remove covers. You MAY hear a litle more treble and mids.
Great video. Well done. I really don't think covers affect the tone in a negative way. As a matter of fact I think covers look better and do not change the tone at all.
Hi, guitar guts, just wanted to ask you one question. Do you think the pickups sound better in your opinion with the pole screws screwed right down to the bobbin?
I've always wondered if covering the slug side with a narrow strip of copper shielding tape before installing the cover (vs. painter's tape) would make a tonal difference because you're essentially connecting all the slug pole pieces together & giving the underside the nickel cover something to really "connect" to. I guess an experiment is in order...
Did you ever try it?
It's the pole pieces moving out of the magnetic field a little. Usually the magnets are mounted either on the bottom sides or underneath. So the pole pieces are either moving away from the magnet or having less of the metal poles alongside the magnets resulting in less magnetic field.
Although the metal cover does have some affect on the tone as well (you're putting a piece of metal in a magnetic field) but not as much as the pole pieces in relation to the magnet itself.
Are they solid nickel or plated brass?? Nickel is one of the few non ferrous metals that are magnetic
Yes, it has to do with the pole pieces in reference to the string. The cover is cosmetic and protective to some degree. Great Video
If you're doing A/B with pickups you should really only use one guitar. But yeah other wise good testing, it makes sense.
Thank you for this video. It brought me to adjust the height of the pickups on my Les Paul copy, which I found way too dull, and I did get them to sound better by lowering them. Now I like my guitar better.
Most metal pickup covers are not made of nickel, but rather an alloy called nickel silver or German silver, usually with chrome plating.
The original Gibson PAF covers were very thin and the covers were nickel-silver and/or brushed stainless steel(on the very earliest ones). The early covers did not really have any effect on the pickup other than to shield it from stray eddy currents. Over time covers have gotten thicker and have been made out of the wrong materials(like nickel plated brass which kills the highs). But on any high-end pickups with original type covers(Throbak, etc) it shouldn't make any difference. But on lower line stuff like Epiphone's, etc it should improve the sound.
I have heard one theory that the covers help distribute the magnetic field, such that the two E strings get a better magnetic field. Also your viewers should be aware that upon removing existing covers that is there could be a mess of wax potting inside between the pickup and cover. And in replacing the cover some of the wax will fall off.
Does it make it less noisy or anything? I would imagine that raising the pole pieces increase the power and make it sound a bit muddier than humbuckers usually are. I wonder what the telecaster cover in the the rythm pickup does...
The metal of the pickups has a bearing. Some metals do more to the magnetic field than others, even if they aren't magnetic.
I wonder what would it sound like if I got metal covers for my strats and wax potted and soldered the covers on them?
I bought a Xaviere guitar with GFS Crunchy Pat pickups - covered - and they were super dull. Pulled the covers and they were totally different. Loud, alive, bright...I've never experienced such a difference just by pulling covers. I should have checked those covers with a magnet to see if they were steel. It would make sense - cheap Chinese pickups, steel = cheap. FYI.
just added covers.. and sounded totally different. totally was about to try this exact thing for the same reason. Thanks. Definitely gonna screw them back down.
if it changes the tone just add some more on your amp or via an external EQ. I don't understand why people fuss about this, its so ridiculous.
Theres a video inwhich GnR's guitar techs talk gear. Slash's tech says he removes some covers purely to help eliminate microphonic feedback. He claims the microphonic feedback can be caused by the Pup covers slighty vibrating against the Pup. But this may only be an issue when playing at huge volumes in stadium setups. Who knows? lol
That is great information you gave us here! I was wondering if there is any difference cause i love covered pickups! They are way-way cooler than uncovered so i am actually looking for pickup covers to cover my guitar pickups but i was afraid that i will mess up the wonderful warm sound i already got !! I thank you kindly for your video !
I kept waiting for the magnet to catch your screwdriver. I have no idea but it was like a little game for me.
Cool video. I'm on the fence about pickups on my diy guitar. I've watched old videos of bands like The Cars and noticed Elliot Easton's red Les Paul has uncovered ones.
On the money. It's in the head if pups are more aggressive without covers. I've tried many .... it LOOKS more aggressive sure. My 10 cents worth is that with cover off and pole pieces screwed down BOTH coils have slugs closer to strings. Obvious? Sure but this closeness of both does make a difference.
Voila.
Like the covers. Looks are more important than a little sound difference that you can eq out. Wood and Chrome baby! BTW, I need some covered Gibson pups for my SG. Have any? I need three. Its an SG3 faded model.
Man, you are right! Got Gibson LPC with pups without covers, but Black Beauty needs covers. Tried copper covers, sounded good but the voicing changed a bit . Screwed the polepieces as down as possible - i can´t hear any difference between with and without covers.
A true scientist. Thanks for the information.
I think it would be a combination of all pole piece and cover settings. The pole pieces raised on either covered or non covered pickups would provide the same vibration absorption, as would the lower pole pieces act similar to each other in absorption response. The cover may affect the lower pole pieces to some degree versus non cover lower pole pieces, but probably not to an overly large degree. In other words, the height of the pole pieces would determine string vibration absorption more than say a cover would.
Jeffery Stanfield metal covers will have stray capacitance induced they will also conduct Eddy currents the result is an attenuated signal and frequency loss mostly in the higher band width.
I put chrome covers over '57 Classics on a Gibson Les Paul Classic. Sounds more mellow but i like it. Really did it for aesthetics.
Hi, I have unbox my guitar that I have brought newly from China, I found that my second humbucker was kinda lose...How can I fix it?
Your conclusion makes perfect sense to me. BTW, Les Pauls (and SG's) look much better with the covers on IMO.
I have to say that my years in this crazy guitar business , I have always known that the uncovered pups are better for sustain , and sometimes for tonal aspects .. But not very much ... I would not take off the covers because the cover needs to be grounded to the pup .. Not true ? I have a Epi Les Stud without the covers .. It sounds great .. Just that the neck is twisted -- so it is nothing but firewood ...
Louis Pascarelli Not so Louis, there's a video on UA-cam from Wills Guitars that will show you how to fix it. You need a metal straight edge, two clamps, wood pieces for protection, and a piece of cardboard. You rig it up and apply heat, I used a hair dryer and small pan of boiling water (careful). Leave clamped for an hour and you should end up with a straight neck. Make sure the truss rod is slack first and adjust it back after you've done the heat treatment.
But won't the neck revert back to its original position ? Going to give this a try ... Just need to see how this genius sets it all up ... Thanks...
Louis Pascarelli I think the trick is to exaggerate the bend in the direction you want it to go, when you release the clamps it will revert back to the bent state to some extent. I built a kit Les Paul. style guitar, I could see that there was a back bow in the neck which I thought would straighten out when the strings were on, but I was wrong. Couldn't play anything below the third fret! So I looked for solutions, some say to take frets out and plane the neck! That was beyond my skills. So I was glad to find Will's video, if you find it there's a 'lady' at the top and tail of it, and I thought I'd give it a go.
The cardboard is used as a fulcrum where you want the bend corrected, mine. went from back bow to perfectly flat so I was able to complete my project which has turned out to be a decent guitar. Good luck with your Epi', Ian in UK.
You can fix it. It's a pretty extensive fix that requires taking off the finger board. But if the guitar is unplayable give it a try. Probably won't make it worse. Also you can replace the neck which is probably easier but them it assedics
@@jamjar20049 Will is an out and out legend... (".)
I had uncovered 57 classic pickup on my les paul and wanted to set a cover because it looks better. But when I set a cover on I've noticed that I didn't like the sound as without it and removed it.
Thanks for posting this GG. Eric is a player. A great one. Jason Lollar is a great pickup maker. His flagship Imperials have covers. I love the sound. I think I'm going with Jason on this one.
To put cover on, can i just put wax or do i need to solder it?
Dude is this a real nickel covers or it`s a chrome plated brass covers ?
I mean if there is any difference, you can always tweak the amps eq section to work well with certain type of pickup. It's good to have this in mind btw.
Totally agreed! I've always though that those who claims about warmer or brighter tone are those guys who are afraid to mess with their amps... But hat's exactly the reason why amps come with knobs lol!
No, they don't. It's a myth based on the fact that a metallic shield can "filter out" high frequencies - but the high frequencies they affect are RF, not audio frequencies, which are much lower.
GREAT NEWS! .... I bought my Gibson Les Paul last week and the Sunburst definitely looks better with the covers on.
Great video! Sound demo or not,for the ones that complain about no sound demo are just too lazy to see for themselves. Plus, a sound demo coming through a cellphone or laptops speakers wouldn't of did any justice.
Some people....
Yea, they almost sound the same on youtube, so whats the point of a sound demo anyway
Thanks for that, mate... I'm planning on trying this with a couple of my guitars in the near future, so I'll hopefully be able to share some feedback with you (".)
It's purely an aesthetics thing. I have listened to more than a couple of these covers/no covers demos and the tonal difference is negligible. It all comes down to either which of your guitar heroes you're trying to emulate or just which you find more visually appealing. I will not wat h another one of these comparisons.
Hey Ben this is who you think it is lol. I just wanted to say I am now subscribed and that I know nothing about electric guitars and look forward to your new videos and yes I am your nephew lol.
welp, without sound samples this proves nothing
I did have to remove my pick up covers on my 1977-78 Les Paul after a while as the covers in my particular case, caused unwanted feedback, once unsoldered and removed unwanted feedback was gone.
Which was a shame a for me as I preferred the look the LP with covered pickups particularly as it is a tobacco sunburst body and I am assuming, chrome or nickel (not sure which) looked nicer than the exposed black plastic bobbins.
When you place the covers again, try with three little silicone drops on the slug side right between the polepieces, even on the screw side in the corners where keep hidden by the cover, that usualy works very well. Cheers!
@@TheForce_Productions Thank you for the info. I appreciate that I shall keep it in mind.
I have about 5 months ago purchased two Gibson 57s pickups as replacements. (I am a bit slack, as yet I haven't put them in & the original are still in the LP) With the originals in 1993 I stupidly thought I could reheat the wax in the pickups thinking there was maybe a gap in the pickups causing the feedback.
Much to my dismay and embarrassment for being so silly and not doing enough inquiry. Due to using too much heat I partly warped the plastic bobbins to the point where I couldn't put the metal covers back on if I had wanted to.
Fortunately I had not done enough damage, for the pickups not to have worked. I was however cursing myself for being so silly and short-sighted.
I learned a valuable lesson, don't fiddle with things you don't know enough about, or have no experience with, without at least doing some research first. Or of course talking or taking it to an experienced guitar/instrument luthier. mmm-OOPs.
@@christopherclarke3022 Don't be so rude to yourself, as you said nobody born knowing everything, at least now you have a funny story about LP pups to share to friends! 😉 Take care with new ones and hopefuly you install them very soon! Very good luck!
Nickel Silver covers certainly make a difference. A closed loop around the coils will create eddy currents, eddy currents lower the resonant frequency which makes the pickup sound darker. Ger yourself an LCR meter. Measure the L and Q then get yourself an oscilloscope and measure the resonant frequency. You'll see that there is quite a difference depending upon the cover materiel but even the best NS covers will effect the sound noticeably.
Don't forget... In most cases the cover has been a big part of the PAF sound for 60 years.
Cheers.
It is actually quite obvious in tele neck pickups. When the cover is removed, they sound brighter and more "strat-like", with a cover, they get a dark chunkiness they are known for.
I think the uncovered looks WAY better. Wether its sounds any different or not is irrelevant to me. I just like the looks of the zebras way better.
Bravo. The myth debunked. If you screw pole pieces down you can get more attack by getting both coils closer to the guitar, but less clarity. It increases the output (voltage?) when you play.
i bet you that even eric clapton himself never tought of it this way !! very nice analysis.
If you like the way your guitar looks and feels, you will find that you like the sound of it better, you might even play better. I dont think the presence of the cover itself affects the tone.
Watching some ofnthe comparisons out there, I can definitely hear a difference, but honestly, it's not enough of one to make me take the time to take the covers off.
It's been my experience that covers add a touch of warmth and girth.
I've got a Dimarzio Super Distortion with a gold cover and 12 adjustable pole pieces. I haven't tried it without the gold cover.
Great content, you sir earned a sub!
The reason Seth Lover chose nickle silver covers is because they didn't change the tone. And the reason for the covers is to shield them from electrical interference. And YES the height of the pole pieces makes a difference. The string is in a magnetic field, the cover is non magnetic, it does nothing to disrupt the field. So much guitar mumbo jumbo on the internet. Someone talks out their ass and it gets repeated over and over and people who don't know any different believe it, soon it taken as truth. Like top wrapping a bridge making it "slinkier". Ah, same scale, same string gauge, SAME tension or your out of tune....DUH!
@@chansomanmusic "the maximum possible height of the pickups is reduced with the covers"
This is the only point I take issue with. Anyone who puts their pickup to the "maximum possible height" while still not touching the strings when top-fretting doesn't know dick about tone (as I once didn't). You gain output and lose tone, tone from the pickup to string ratio, tone from the string to body woods, tone is lost.
I think it is subjective but I think this could be explored more.
If I ever did notice a difference I couldn’t pinpoint it, or duplicate it. Therefore, I don’t think there is a difference either.
Most of those impressed by Clapton don't know anything about guitar. And his playing is largely recycled cliches -- which impress those, again, who don't know anything about guitar. A REAL guitarist is Jeff Beck.
So you’re telling me that the great guitarist that were inspired by Clapton and decided to start playing guitar because of EC doesn’t know anything about guitar? John Mayer which most know as a very technically inclined musician of this era at times almost exactly emulates Clapton’s style. Also Clapton can make 3 notes have much better feel than a lot of guitarist can do with 10.
Excellent video
Interesting. Thanks for uploading \m/
So no examples, just your hearsay. Other videos with examples sound different. Please upload sounds tests!
Iv taken a few covers off n the past ,, talkin 70s guitars . Thot the covered sounded lil dull n muddy ,, without were lil brighter more articulate . Thats just my milage .
One more comment. I noticed your pickup heights are fairly high out of the plastic shroud. Because you run them so close to the string wave, small changes don't matter, the intensity of the string wave dominates the sound. Lower your pickups into the well, like many LP players do, then you WILL hear a difference. If your taking the PU height specs from Gibson just remember, those specs applied with sluggish shitty amps back in the 50's.
Everyone wants to believe their guitar heros and how they do things is the best way to do things.
I say trial and error is the best teacher, but to each his own ear.
WHAT THE FUCK?! I have Epiphone les paul custom pro, while the neck pickup is nice, the bridge was horrible. I backed off the screws and the bridge pickup is fucking amazing better than the front. I still cannot believe it (and I rizen the pickup to match what it was before). I was not sure if i want to sell the guitar or change the pickups... Fuck that now the guitar is sounding raw and with one step down tunning it is a blues/rock machine. When I will be bored with neck pickup I will do that to it as well! Thank you!
I like it better removed. Slash was the guitarist that inspired me to get a Les Paul. With uncovered pickups.
really helps, tnx guitar guts
metal covers act as a shield, they do affect the tone. try adding more shielding and see what happens. moving the pole pieces further out of the coils makes a difference too, it reduces the current generated just like shielding does. try removing the pole pieces completely and see how much tone you get, none, so if anything you proved that covers do make a difference but your ears are not sensitive enough to be able to hear it. Its a bit like speaking directly into a microphone and then putting something between you and the mic, not only will there be a volume difference, various frequencies will be affected
It’s all based on how you want your guitar to look like.
I wax potted and covered an open T top on my 78 paul yesterday. It sounds better. No ifs ands or buts about it.
Those aren't nickel plated pickup covers. They're chrome.
Chrome plate is chromium and nickel
@precinct I've seen nickel covers. They're duller and have a richer look. These are standard fare.
The design of the pickup cover suggests that a cover will attenuate the slug coil while emphasizing the screw coil.
In the bridge this may be desirable but in the neck it will result in a darker sounding pickup ..
Which is why I always laugh when I see people removing the bridge cover and not the neck .. just because Jimmy Page does .. and literally no other reason.
Ok, have you ever think about why JP does it on certain Les Pauls? Or you just laugh at people because they do it and you think they do it just for "the looks", and just because JP does it and not because there is a reason behind it?
You can see JP removing the pickup cover from his bridge pickup way back in the "RAH concert" in January 9th, 1970! (I don't know if even earlier than this). At this point makes me think he was looking for a more open/aggressive/sharped sound on the bridge pickup while maintaining the classic covered humbucker sound of a Les Paul just because he liked the sound of his neck pickup just like it was originally (covered) but wanted "more expression" on his bridge pickup that's hypothesis number 1.
The 2nd one and I believe is the reason behind this dilemma is because a covered neck pickup and an uncovered bridge pickup in conjunction on the middle position would have an specific characteristic sound, and I believe JP plays fairly enough on the middle position, hypothesis number 2.
I personally do this covered/uncovered thing, and I think there's a characteristic sound in the middle position which I personally find inspiring for composing and live playing.
And have you ever think about why if JP wants that "darker sounding pickup" sound when in the neck and middle position to contrast the brighter sound of his amp EQ settings? JP it's well known for using a "Marshall 1959 SLP 100W" head and he uses the "high treble" input channel on this amp, and also uses the "presence" knob which adds a little more of treble to the overall sound.
We're talking Jimmy Page here, call me "fan boy"', but there's an undeniable truth that JP is one of the finest compositors/studio musicians/guitar players/producers around the globe ever.
So maybe next time instead of laughing at people just because you think they do something just for "the looks", maybe you could wonder if there's an specific reason behind; I just gave you like 2+ reasons to your "just because Jimmy Page does .. and literally no other reason."
Spot on analysis and conclusions - a long held annoying myth that really should have been laid to bed years ago. Good stuff.
Thanks man!
Clapton ain't God. You made a great point a sound sample would be great.
I've never removed the covers but like you I have guitars with same pups and none of them sound the same. Ps burst always sound better than any painted guitar. Haha
that's genius. thanks!
no difference
Beautiful Les Pauls
Hmm... I have a wine red Les Paul Studio with gold pickup covers. This might explain why it sounds a bit dark and dampened.