Neck Pickup Without Cover, Less Bass?

[vikki]

Does removing the metal cover from a tele neck pickup reduce bass response?
Vikki(uk)

[spankdplank]

It doesn't so much reduce bass as it increases treble and snap. The pickup sounds brighter and less muffled, so your perception may seem like less bass.

[vikki]

Thanks....
I think thats about what i was hoping to hear. Does anyone know if you can get a plastic pickup cover to fit a tele neck pu once the metal cover is off?
Regards
Vikki(uk)

[woodman]

haven't heard of any plastic covers, but i just run mine nekkid (no cover). it brought my neck pickup to life. however: it's not as simple as just prying the cover off. it's a tricky operation ... here's some good advice i got from Strung Thru when i took mine off:

I carefully bend the 2 tabs opposite the side where the leads are attached with needle nose pliers until they clear the bobbin. Then, using desoldering braid, I remove the solder that grounds the 3rd tab. Carefully bend tab 3 straight so it will pass through the slot in the bobbin. Once the tabs are straightened, carefully pry the cover from the bobbin with a jeweler's screwdriver using small increments at various places. The idea is not to get the cover to bind at an angle. Be careful not to let the flat work come loose. With a little TLC and patience, the cover will ease off.
I started doing this on stock pickups that I planned to replace anyway. After removing the covers, I found that I didn't need to replace the pickups after all. The improvement was that dramatic. Frankly, I can't believe so many people resort to buying expensive replacements (many still with a cover?) without trying this first.

PS You might want to practice on a "throwaway" pickup first (if you have one).

it's easy to ruin a pickup this way, so go slow!

[boris bubbanov]

I may have to try this on one of the 'Upgrade' Highway One pickups I've been beating up on.

W0odman, is there generally any potting in there to be concerned about?

Much Obliged.

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by vikki

Thanks....
I think thats about what i was hoping to hear. Does anyone know if you can get a plastic pickup cover to fit a tele neck pu once the metal cover is off?
Regards
Vikki(uk)

Chris Kinman's Telecaster neck pickups feature a plastic cover that can seemingly be purchased separately, with a finish that looks like chromium plating. Whether it'll fit over standard pickup bobbins I don't know, as it may be thicker than the usual metal cover. Here's what his website has to say:

"Cover for Tele neck pickup:

My special cover is 100% invisible to magnetism and alternating electro-magnetic fields, unlike a conventional metal cover. That's part of the secret of why the pickups sound so great.

These special covers are not quite as resistant to scratching as a metal cover but under normal conditions last many years. In any case they are easily replaceable and can be ordered direct from Kinman from anywhere in the world. Simply contact me."

The website is www.kinman.com.

[woodman]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I may have to try this on one of the 'Upgrade' Highway One pickups I've been beating up on.

Woodman, is there generally any potting in there to be concerned about?

Much Obliged.

mine was a Don Mare 2324, not much wax involved. but pickups are generally potted before the cover goes on, so i doubt if it'd be an issue.

one thing i forgot to mention is that after it's off, you should wrap the coils all the way out to the edge of the flatwork with cloth (ribbon) tape to protect the windings and keep your top E string from hanging up underneath the edge.

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by woodman

...you should wrap the coils all the way out to the edge of the flatwork with cloth (ribbon) tape to protect the windings and keep your top E string from hanging up underneath the edge.

Yeah, this happens to me on the odd occasion with my GFS Fatbody. Lowering it helps but compromises the output. I'll have to try taping it as suggested.

[yegbert]

For removing a pickup cover, in addition to the good tips from woodman...

I'd try snipping the wire and remnants of solder from the cover using a small pair of dikes (diagonal cutting pliers); rather than using a soldering iron or gun.

I'd have a heat gun or soldering iron/gun handy, ready to apply a minimum amount of heat to the cover, in case you find it doesn't come off with a little careful prying.

If I was (re)installing a metal cover, I'd ground the cover via a wire separate from either of the two leads. I'd solder this ground wire to the cover before installing the cover on the pickup.

You can very easily convert a functional pickup into a non-funtional one, by applying enough heat to those delicate windings (soldering or heat gun). An alternative method is to grasp and squeeze it firmly, applying pressure in particular to the surface of the lower flatware in the area where the coil end extends to connect to the leads. Sometimes you can get a shipping service do this conversion for you.