NOSPD! - Motor City Pickups HellBaby - Remove covers or not?

[firejack]

New Old-Stock Pickup Day. Finally!

So a good buddy of mine finally relented and sold me some of his old Motor City Pickups he's had laying around in storage unused. There's two HellBaby bridge models, and one 2nd Degree Black Belt Neck model. The HellBaby/2nd Degree Black Belt pair feature black covers with black screws. I was going to have the covers removed, but now I'm not so sure because they actually look kinda cool in my Schecter superstrat.

And the other HellBaby bridge is just standard black bobbins. It will be going in my detuned Ibanez RG657.

I'm also waiting on a Solution bridge that I ordered direct from Wade for my other detuned Ibanez, a tuxedo RG550.

As soon as they are soldered in, I'll post some clips.

 

[Beyond Black]

Normally I dislike pickup covers, but in this case they look great. I’d leave them.

 

[Zado]

Looks super dope. How do you like the guitar so far?

 

[GregM]

I'd leave the covers too!

 

[Detroit1973]

How Much do covers Really effect the Tone?

 

[firejack]

Normally I dislike pickup covers, but in this case they look great. I’d leave them.

Yeah my thoughts exactly. Cheers BB.

Looks super dope. How do you like the guitar so far?

Cheer Zado. It's a killer sounding guitar; one of my favourites tonally. The neck plays fairly well, just not quite as sleek as my Ibanez RG's. But then when it comes to sleek, there's not many guitars that compete with my Japanese RG's. That's subjective of course. I like my necks slim and wide with medium-low string action.

I'd leave the covers too!

Cheers Greg.

How Much do covers Really effect the Tone?

Can't say for sure myself. But when I have asked for a covered pickup from winders like Wade Westbrook of Motor City and Jim Wagner of Wagner pickups, they specifically state that they will wind the pickup slightly brighter to compensate for the addition of the pickup cover.

 

[fearhk213]

Covers all the way. Those look awesome with that guitar.

 

[jeff5]

That looks killer, I wouldn't mess with it.

What's the Hellbaby like?

 

[LP Freak]

Pickups usually sound brighter if you remove the covers.

 

[thenine]

I don't normally like covers but on the black setup I'd definitely keep them. That looks really cool like that!

 

[skullfxr]

I dig it. I have never tried any of their stuff someday I will get around to it.

I am also in the keep the covers crew.

 

[Findthetone1]

Definitely keep the covers. They look perfect on that guitar!

 

[firejack]

Thanks all for the replies. I'm definitely going to keep the black covers.

What's the Hellbaby like?

I've never owned a HellBaby bridge before so I can't tell you. I'll report back as soon as I have them soldered in though.
I was going to order a HellBaby back when Wade was still making them but I just missed the cutoff date. And I've been curious about them ever since. When I learned that my friend had a couple sitting in his spare parts drawer, I couldn't resist. Been hounding him for ages to sell them to me.

How Much do covers Really effect the Tone?

Btw just thought I'd clarify... my concerns are purely cosmetic. It's nothing to do with the tone. Just the cosmetics. Ideally I wanted to have plain black bobbins on this guitar, but my friend only had the one HellBaby with plain black bobbins. And that one has to go in my Ibanez RG657MSK guitar. After seeing these black covered pickups in the Schecter, I've changed my mind about these covers. They suit the guitar really well.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Dibs! ?

 

[firejack]

Dibs! ?

Ha! Done deal. If I don't bond with them, they're yours. Special mates-rates all the way from down under.

 

[jabps]

Pickups usually sound brighter if you remove the covers.

Yep, they do to my ears.

This is one area where you'll get varying opinions but to me, I've never really liked covers on my bridge pickup and they are a little brighter. Plus if not potted correctly they'll go microphonic. Dealing with a covered bridge pickup in my LP Custom that is that way. Going to try and have it fixed as I like the stock look on that guitar however if not, I'll just remove the cover. Most of my non strat style guitars are covered neck, open bridge.

As for the guitar posted by the OP, I'd prefer non covered on that guitar but - those look pretty cool.

 

[thisguy]

That black guitar is HOT!!!

Definitely keep the covers!