| Since you asked...
In my view, there are two practical benefits to the pickup 'ashtray' besides appearance: 1) it keeps my hands and fingers off the pickup, which seems like a good idea in general and 2) it's a good thing to rest your hand and fingers on.
It helps the basses I have it on produce a very consistent sound, because I only pluck just below it, between it and the bridge, making for a very mixable, controllable sound.
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Edward G., Baltimore, MD
'The more you know, the less you need.'
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