Keystone neck PUP: covered vs. uncovered?

[cwcowell]

Does anyone know if there are sonic differences between the covered and uncovered variants of Bill Lawrence's Keystone neck (Tele) pickup?

I'm wondering if the two versions are wound differently in order to keep the sonic characteristics consistent.

[boris bubbanov]

No differences I can detect.

Your main difference is, you have a separate ground lead on the Chrome Deposition one and you neither have nor need one on the non Deluxe version.

[cjburr]

boris, I was under the impression the cover was plastic.......a ground wire for a plastic cover ??

I know you have these pups and I don't, can you enlighten me ??

[Donnie55]

Yes there is a difference, the cover will give you a mid range tone that is not heard with out the cover. Purest will tell me to get outa town. But the difference is night and day.I do not prefer the covered neck pups. But thats just my opinion. Try it for yerself you will hear the difference. Then you decide what you like best. But I promise you one thing you WILL hear the difference.

[thejerk]

Originally Posted by Donnie55

I promise you one thing you WILL hear the difference.

Your comment sounds like it is in regard to most covered pickups vs uncovered...

The OP was specifically about the Keystones, which are specially designed (as I understand it) not to be different from the uncovered version (not the usual metal cover, and aftermarkets don't fit). In fact, they didn't offer covered ones for a long time because it monkeyed with tone, until they found a way to get a cover on without the change.

I haven't A/B'd covered and uncovered, BUT I can say my covered neck pickup is as clear and articulate as I can imagine, none of the muddiness usually associated with metal covers.

[JohnS]

I'm with thejerk. My covered one looks and sounds just fine.

[blimpo]

I'd go uncovered. The less between the strings and magnets the better.

[TexasTim]

Not trying to sidetrack this but I would like to know if anyone has removed the cover on a fender neck pickup? What effect did this have on the tone. It should brighten it up, correct? Was there a need to run a ground wire after removing it? Or is the ground wire there only to eliminate a ground loop because of the metal cover?
Tim

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by TexasTim

Not trying to sidetrack this but I would like to know if anyone has removed the cover on a fender neck pickup? What effect did this have on the tone. It should brighten it up, correct? Was there a need to run a ground wire after removing it? Or is the ground wire there only to eliminate a ground loop because of the metal cover?
Tim

Search under "Woodman" for a brief tutorial on how to melt the potting wax and ease a cover off of a Fender style neck pickup. There's a significant risk of losing the pickup, so be lucky and careful.

Once the metal (I think any metal however minimal) is off, then the ground lead can be dispensed with. So, yeah, the chrome deposited onto the plastic needs a ground lead, and a Fender neck pup without a cover (or a base plate) needs no ground lead.

[bennyb]

The neck pickup cover on a Keystone Deluxe is plastic, but looks metal. Kinda like plastic toilet handles that look metal.

I love the sound, but, I too, would like to see someone a/b a covered and uncovered versions.

It's weird- I wanted the traditional look of the covered neck pickup, but the sound of an uncovered one. But just knowing that it's actually plastic sorta messes with my mind. (Mojo, or whatever you'd wanna call it). That said, it looks good.

[kman900]

I'm with Donnie55 . . if you really manage to take off the cover of the deluxe Keystone neck pickup, it sure will be destroyed.

So you WILL hear a difference.