Jazz pickup covers on a P

[Bass_masta16]

I was thinking of what I could do to my P while my Ric is on its way, so I thought I would get some of those pickup covers (ashtrays? Is that what they're called?). And I thought "how come I never see the Jazz ones on a P bass, then after some thought I realized that if you play near the bridge, then you wouldn't have access, but I don't.. So I was wondering, has anyone done this?
I heard that having them on does something to your tone, but this might not be true. But if it is, would having both of them on do something drastic to your tone?

Thanks
Bass Masta

[lonote]

The Jazz bridge cover is big enough to cover both the bridge and the bridge pickup. The P bridge cover covers only the bridge itself. They are cosmetic only and have 0 effect on tone. I'm sure somebody has tried what you're suggesting...the question is, "why?"

[Bass_masta16]

I don't know.. I think it will look cool.. Well, I have them on the way and we'll see how it turns out


Maybe someone that has done this has a picture?

[Sub5ound]

I bought a set of covers for my 50's P bass and they gave me a J pup cover. I only discovered this when I went to see how it would fit over the pup. The split coil is not entirely obscured by the cover so it looked a little stupid/out of place.

[Widdershins]

The bridge covers DO do something to your tone as long as you have both parts, and by both parts I mean the metal cover and the strip of foam to mute the strings.

[Diogenes]

I have a jazz bridge ashtray on my P Bass but only to cover up damage. It doesn't really interfere with my playing too much although I am prevented from playing higher register false harmonics which, luckily, isn't too frequent.

[Bass_masta16]

Originally Posted by Widdershins

The bridge covers DO do something to your tone as long as you have both parts, and by both parts I mean the metal cover and the strip of foam to mute the strings.

Foam to mute the strings? Whaaaaattt?
Can someone explain?

[bassadicct]

The foam gives you that thumpy pbass sound that makes the pbass ... well a pbass!

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Bass_masta16

Foam to mute the strings? Whaaaaattt?
Can someone explain?

You must not be very familiar with the history of the P and J bass - no problem.

For the first 10+ years of its production, the P-bass (at least) came with a bridge cover and a pickup cover. Inside the bridge cover was a strip of dense foam (about like weatherstripping foam) which pressed slightly on the strings, providing a mute. This prevented notes from ringing on, and led to the distinct individual note style you hear on a lot of early recordings.

OTOH, many players didn't like the foam and removed it...so it's not on all recordings from that period.

Remember, at the time Leo invented the P-bass, it was intended to be a more portable replacement for an upright bass, so the sound he intended it to make was that of an upright bass plucked. Uprights don't sustain notes very long when plucked.

I don't know when this practice stopped, but my '63 P had the foam inside the bridge cover, and I still have it.