Bridge/Pickup covers

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Searchfinger
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2010/08/02 18:00:36 (permalink)

Bridge/Pickup covers

What are they for?  Aesthetics?

I'm asking this because I'm shopping for a bass guitar and came across some with them on.  I haven't played a bass with pickup/bridge cover but I really think they would just make my playing worse as they hinder the instruments playability (muting, plucking near the pickups, slap... ).

Why would you want one or both on your guitar or bass?  Do they improve the tone or something? There must be a good reason for them to be there.
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    ohhey
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/03 22:58:51 (permalink)
    Searchfinger


    What are they for?  Aesthetics?

    I'm asking this because I'm shopping for a bass guitar and came across some with them on.  I haven't played a bass with pickup/bridge cover but I really think they would just make my playing worse as they hinder the instruments playability (muting, plucking near the pickups, slap... ).

    Why would you want one or both on your guitar or bass?  Do they improve the tone or something? There must be a good reason for them to be there.


    I think it was to shield the pickup and reduce hum. Then again, it might have been just to add some chrome.. in the 50s and 60s everything needed chrome. LOL !

    Frank Coffey - Songwriter
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=790131
    #2
    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 00:05:25 (permalink)
    They are flux capacitors :-)

    They don't shield real well because they have big openings.

    Almost all of them are removable.


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    millzy
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 02:51:51 (permalink)
    I always wondered that too. The first bass I ever saved up and bought when I was a teenager was a Fender Jazz copy and it had the covers on it. I hated them and took them off!

    BTW I think my avatar is in love with yours!

    Millzy

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    Searchfinger
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 04:15:55 (permalink)
    I think it was to shield the pickup and reduce hum. Then again, it might have been just to add some chrome.. in the 50s and 60s everything needed chrome. LOL !


    That makes sense as those were 50 something reissue basses I saw and they do look vintage with those on..
    #5
    Searchfinger
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 04:26:53 (permalink)

    Almost all of them are removable.



    At least I still have the option .


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    Searchfinger
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 04:28:00 (permalink)
    BTW I think my avatar is in love with yours!



    meoowwww!!!
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    Bonzos Ghost
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 19:20:43 (permalink)
    They're ashtrays - At least that the only thing I've ever seen them used for.

    People generally take them off so you can palm/mute the strings.

    I think they came about like the big fins on the old Caddies of that era. The looked cool, but served no real purpose.
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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/04 19:26:42 (permalink)
    no one got the "flux" capacitor joke?

    hint: check out a Ric Bass horseshoe


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    fireberd
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/05 06:56:14 (permalink)
    They were basically for looks.  Everyone I knew, "back in the old days", took the cover off of their Telecaster (and they were good ashtrays).

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    ohhey
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    Re:Bridge/Pickup covers 2010/08/05 13:01:56 (permalink)
    fireberd


    They were basically for looks.  Everyone I knew, "back in the old days", took the cover off of their Telecaster (and they were good ashtrays).


    Smoking must have been a really big deal back then, the guitars and cars come with an ashtray.

    Frank Coffey - Songwriter
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=790131
    #11
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