Covered VS. Uncovered

[bobkat_30]

Is it okay to remove the covers from Humbucker pickups ? ? ?

I not only like the look of Open Coil Humbuckers, but I have also heard that there are some tonal benefits from uncovered pick-ups as well. I have a three pick up Les Paul Classic with open coil humbuckers and I absolutely love the sound (and look). I have the opportunity to purchase another Les Paul with Covered Humbuckers. Can I merely remove the covers or am I going to have to change out the pick-ups? Thoughts ? ? ? ?

[Raptor]

You can remove the covers yourself. You will need to unsolder the covers to do it, and you have to be careful not to damage the bobbins as you remove them. If they are wax potted you may have to clean them up a bit too, again you need to be careful of the bobbin windings. A shop should remove them for a pretty minimal fee if you are not sure about doing it yourself. Mostly covered vs uncovered is aesthetic. There is a very slight difference in tone, but honestly most people won't hear it, or be able to tell you if a guitar has covered or uncovered pickups by listening to a sound clip. Of course, almost everyone who does it will tell you there is a difference, but I think that most of it is psychological. Very few people would say "I did this to my guitar, and it sounds worse/the same". At the end of it all, if you like them uncovered, then remove the covers, just don't expect any mind blowing tone epiphany from it.

[bobkat_30]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate your input.

[spitball]

I noticed that the solder was broken on the bridge pickup of my '67 ES-335, so I removed the cover for a while. I didn't notice much difference in tone, so I put it back because I prefer the covered look, on that guitar at least.

[Gibson CS]

i notced a VERY SLIGHT diference in tone when i changed pickups one time

there is a (again) VERY SLIGHT brightness when the pickup is uncovered

 

no big deal, but i could hear a difference

[BB Flor]

I can't take credit for the following article excerpt - I found it on everythingSG.com and is taken from an article called "Mahogany Rush" from Guitar & Bass Magazine, February 2006. The article has a comparison of the SG Standard with covered 490/498 humbuckers and the SG Special, with uncovered 490/490 humbuckers:

 

Lots of vintage Gibsons have lost their original pickup covers, because back in the days when amp distortion was harder to achieve it was commonly believed that removing the covers increased output. In fact removing the covers decreases capacitance, so it's more likely to create the 'illusion' of loudness by lifting the high frequencies. Pickup covers aside the Standard and the Special are essentially the same, so this was a great chance to test the theory – and by and large it seems to be correct. The Special feels and sounds rawer than the Standard with a lot more aggression and cut; the Standard sounds smooth and refined, with a sweeter top end and warmer mids.