Pickups? Covered vs Uncoverd.. Do they still dound the same?

[Moshaholic]

I was looking at swapping out the Burst Bucker 1's in my VOS's 1960 for a Classic 57+ and Classic 57 as I'm totaly digging the sound of those in my new Sam Ash exclusive 1960 Classic Les Paul I just got...

When I go back and play the Burstbucker1's, they are great sounding and have mojo tone but are a little mellow compared to the Classic 57+ and just don't bring the party as hard IMO...

I was wondering what the "URBAN LEGEND" was on this topic as I can get the Classic 57's in either nickel or black open coils...

I'm thinking it totaly makes no diff whatsover

but ya... who knows???

My Black 1960 VOS has nickel covered pups and I was thinking about keeping the look the same, but would easily salp in double black open coils like my new 1960 Les Paul came with...

MF is haveing a blow out on these too right now...

Thanks

G.

 

[romanianreaper]

I was just wondering about that myself recently. I have heard that uncovered sound "warmer" and more open. I would like to compare two identical guitars with a covered and uncovered and see if there is a difference. I actually like the look of uncovered better but my Aldrich is covered.

 

[Moshaholic]

I was just wondering about that myself recently. I have heard that uncovered sound "warmer" and more open. I would like to compare two identical guitars with a covered and uncovered and see if there is a difference. I actually like the look of uncovered better but my Aldrich is covered.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Glad to see that I'm not the only person to think about this?

Anybody else?

G.

 

[TheMagicEight]

I recently put pickup covers on my WCR Godwood and Darkburst loaded in my R9. It makes a difference. To me, the uncovered pickups are a little louder with more treble. The covers take some of that away and sing better. There's also less string noise with the pickup covers on - a huge plus for me. I definitely prefer my pickups with covers for the tone, but people hear things differently. If you're unsure, try them both ways. It's not so subtle that you won't notice.

 

[glpg80]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=86820&p=1022318

 

[thunda]

back in the 70's everybody was taking the covers off to get a higher output with more treble.

 

[Ventura]

Ya, it's a personal thing for sure, and yes, it does make a difference in the tone. Whether this is a good difference or not so good difference is entirely up to the player.

As per getting more output from the pups, there is something to be said about this and naked or raw pups (uncovered). However, with a lot of contemporary pup designs, they take this into account. I have all my Lesters with covers on - and I like them - but I have other axes where the covers are off.

Personal preference and for your ears only.

V.

 

[stephen sawall]

Yes

 

[Moshaholic]

Wow!

Plenty of food for thought here guys... cool stuff for sure.

Even thouhg I clearly understand that a burstbucker is not a classic 57+, this is kind of what I'm hearing... and maybe why I like the classic 57's over the burst buckers

The burstbucker guitar with covers has tone but is mellow where the uncovered classic 57+ is a bit more in your face and brighter... but to me it's a better "brighter" as bright is not always a bad thing... It like the other guitar with covered pups has a bit of a blanket over it, warmer yes but not rocking to my ears... Again I know these ar two diff pups and you really cant make this comparison for the most part... but the covers might be mellowing out the burstbuckers as well...

Well, see as I endeded up ordering the uncoverd Classic 57+ and Classic 57 because I love they way they sound in my new Les Paul so much, so why take a chance I'm thinking here...

G.

 

[Ventura]

Wow!

Plenty of food for thought here guys... cool stuff for sure.

Even thouhg I clearly understand that a burstbucker is not a classic 57+, this is kind of what I'm hearing... and maybe why I like the classic 57's over the burst buckers

The burstbucker guitar with covers has tone but is mellow where the uncovered classic 57+ is a bit more in your face and brighter... but to me it's a better "brighter" as bright is not always a bad thing... It like the other guitar with covered pups has a bit of a blanket over it, warmer yes but not rocking to my ears... Again I know these ar two diff pups and you really cant make this comparison for the most part... but the covers might be mellowing out the burstbuckers as well...

Well, see as I endeded up ordering the uncoverd Classic 57+ and Classic 57 because I love they way they sound in my new Les Paul so much, so why take a chance I'm thinking here...

G.

Interesting you bring these two pups in particular up - the Burstbuckers and the '57s. I have both, and the 57's are AWESOME pups. The BB1, BB2 and BBPro are all a bit different and deserve a crack at being uncovered as well as covered. But the 57???? They NAILED it right the first time covered is fine....

Peace,
V.

 

[RockStarNick]

Covers do make a difference for sure. I find that covers mellow out the tone a bit, and add some "clank" to the sound.

 

[Les Zombie]

I have the 57 in a lp custom and its a nice sounding pu and i have bb1 & 2 in my R9 and i like them but my fav is the bb3, the bb3 has more treble and is a hotter pu and i think its the best of all the bb i have played and owned.

 

[Moshaholic]

I have the 57 in a lp custom and its a nice sounding pu and i have bb1 & 2 in my R9 and i like them but my fav is the bb3, the bb3 has more treble and is a hotter pu and i think its the best of all the bb i have played and owned.

The 57 uncoverd (if we want to get all guitarded here, lol) is totaly doing for me... BOING!

G.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Alnico V magnets for me. I've played on every current Gibson pickup, and by a mile, my favorite is the 498T. The rest sound weaker to me, lacking midrange with too much treble.

 

[Moshaholic]

Alnico V magnets for me. I've played on every current Gibson pickup, and by a mile, my favorite is the 498T. The rest sound weaker to me, lacking midrange with too much treble.

I love that pickup as well!

Was my fave for ages back in the day...

 

[Inca Roads]

Here's how I went.
I think the Burstbucker has a bit more Bite
to it since I removed the cover.
But again, different strokes for different folks.