difficult to play with bridge/pickup covers?

[bencwalker]

I have been contemplating buying pickup and bridge covers for my jazz bass for the longest time- I just called my local shop and found out they have some in stock. I play probably 70% pickstyle and 30% fingerstyle, and I'm not much of a slapper.

My question is, will the addition of these covers make playing bass pickstyle overly difficult? I'm assuming I could rest my hand on the bridge cover and pick the strings from there. Can anyone who plays a bass with bridge covers on help me out here? Thanks

[Ric5]

covers will restrict access to your strings and may even block off access to sweet spots.

[uethanian]

Originally Posted by Ric5

covers will restrict access to your strings and may even block off access to sweet spots.

it's okay though, they will make you look THAT much sexier

[MarkTAW]

The Jazz Bass bridge cover also covers the bridge pickup, which does block off a ton of tonal options. The neck pickup cover just covers the neck pickup. I usually play directly over the pickups, or just off to the side, so this was out for my Jazz. Additionally, there's no where to rest your thumb for reference when playing on the E string.

I leave the ashtray (bridge cover) on my P bass, though, because it's stuffed with foam & helps get more of that old school sound.

[bassforce]

I find a "sweet spot" on my Pbass just above the pickup. With this strings, on this cab and amp the bass sounds best played above the pickup. I think Jazz Basses have this spot between pickups, so ahstrays don't mess a lot.

I think you won't be able to play "covered" Jazz Bass with a pick, P-bass should be much easier, but forget about palm muting.

[Jazz Ad]

I hate playing with covers. To me they feel like somebody put a hatchet near my fingers. I move my hands around a lot and they get caught everytime.
I also find dumb to restrict access to the strings.

[gregmerrill]

Boy I love the looks but I need access to all areas so I go without them.

[John Wentzien]

They call it an "ashtray" for a reason.
They were the first thing taken off when you bought a Fender...and were actually used as ashtrays in the rehearsal studio.

[nysbob]

They are the chastity belts of fender basses...rics too.

Even if I played exclusively with a pick, I'd remove them immediately in order to get down to business.

You can put them on for the photo shoot.

[selowitch]

Some people claim the pup covers affect the acoustic sound of the strings (and thus, by extension, the amplified sound as well), but I find this claim to be fairly dubious.

They do look cool, though. I could see leaving the bridge cover on a Jazz because I seldom play in that area unless I'm using a pick.

[p-time bass guy]

I constantly use the bridge cover to rest my hand when playing my Jazz with a pick. It feels GREAT. DO IT ! Plus I think gives a great 'vintage' look. i put on the ashtray but screwed up and placed it too close to the bridge cover by about 1/4 inch and does get in my way, so i removed it. using the pickup as a thumb rest is fine. resting the hand on the bridge is wonderful. like being on vacation

[MarkTAW]

Originally Posted by bassforce

I find a "sweet spot" on my Pbass just above the pickup. With this strings, on this cab and amp the bass sounds best played above the pickup. I think Jazz Basses have this spot between pickups, so ahstrays don't mess a lot.

I think you won't be able to play "covered" Jazz Bass with a pick, P-bass should be much easier, but forget about palm muting.

There's not a lot of space between the two covers for your fingers. Jazz Bass pickup covers are just silly unless you ONLY play by the neck (finger or pick style).

Originally Posted by selowitch

Some people claim the pup covers affect the acoustic sound of the strings (and thus, by extension, the amplified sound as well), but I find this claim to be fairly dubious.

They do look cool, though. I could see leaving the bridge cover on a Jazz because I seldom play in that area unless I'm using a pick.

Pickup covers don't affect the sound, except by preventing your finger from playing above the pickups (and thereby affecting the tone created by your fingers).

However a bridge cover will affect the sound IF it's stuffed with foam to deaden the strings. That's why my P bass has an ashtray - for the foam. It's all about the sound & foam does affect the tone. Pickup covers do not.

[John Bigboote]

Jeez, I just put covers on my '57 RI P bass today. Looks AWESOME! I play 95% fingerstyle, and it really mucks with my playing -- will take some getting used to... or off it goes. I'd think that it wouldn't hurt your pick playing a bit; actually makes a groovy palm rest for pick and slap (ask MM!).

-jb

[Slax]

My Jazz (SX) came with covers. I tried playing with them and just couldn't get used to it. (I previously had the cover on my Ric when I bought it, ended up taking that off too). I thought on the Jazz it was just way too much in my way to be worth it.

I followed this by just trying the neck pickup cover and leaving the ashtray off and it still didn't work for me.

I'd say, if you're into the look, give it a try. Try to work around it's limitations and if that doesn't work, take them off and return them. The covers on a Jazz are WAY bigger than on a P so expect even less room to work with.

[bencwalker]

Thanks for all the input, guys. Went to the shop today to get the covers installed, but it turns out the bridge on my Squier Classic Vibe Jazz is too large too fit underneath the bridge cover. MAJOR bummer because those things make a bass look so darn good. But feel free to continue the discussion, I'm getting lots of interesting information.

[stflbn]

Personally I prefer playing above or just in front/behind pickups. So no covers for me.


.

[Nashrakh]

On my P-Bass, the sweet spot for me was at the neck, so covers don't really mess up the tones I want. I covered the lack of a thumbrest with a ramp to give my fingers some guidance.

[MarkTAW]

Originally Posted by bencwalker

Thanks for all the input, guys. Went to the shop today to get the covers installed, but it turns out the bridge on my Squier Classic Vibe Jazz is too large too fit underneath the bridge cover. MAJOR bummer because those things make a bass look so darn good. But feel free to continue the discussion, I'm getting lots of interesting information.

Can't you swap the plate for one of the more traditional bent plate ones? Those kinds of bridges are pretty cheap... I'm surprised the guys at the shop didn't just sell you one.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

Can't you swap the plate for one of the more traditional bent plate ones? Those kinds of bridges are pretty cheap... I'm surprised the guys at the shop didn't just sell you one.

My thought exactly. A Wilkinson or a standard Fender bridge should do the trick.

[All_¥our_Bass]

While they look cool, I hate those things from a playing perspective.
Especially since I like being able to pick/pluck in all the areas between the end of the neck and where the strings meet the bridge.