Do Pickup Covers Reduce Single Coil Hum?

[ADWolpert]

Like most people who play Jazz Basses (I've got a '62 Reissue), I took those cumbersome metal pickup covers off a long time ago. But would putting them back on help reduce single coil hum? I've got those covers stored in the case somewhere hard to reach, so before I dig them up, I'd love to know if you guys think it's worth doing.

TIA

Alan

[PazzoBasso]

I can't say for certain if there would be a noticeable reduction in hum, but there would certainly be some reduced playability.

Some folks can work around the jazz covers, but I can't seem to (even on my ric).

[jaywa]

I don't think they do anything for hum, but they sure do look cool.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by jaywa

I don't think they do anything for hum, but they sure do look cool.

Yes, this is basically it! Personally I leave the "ashtray" on just for looks but take the other pickup cover off because it really gets in my way when I play even though it does look cool.

The covers DO change the pickup tone slightly, but nothing huge. And also the covers are MUCH too thin to really shield any single coil hum. They'd have to be MUCH thicker to act as a magnetic shield. So they are basically for looks.

[jaywa]

Now that being said... I love my P-Bass with the pickup cover on but if I had a J-Bass I don't think I'd leave both the bridge cover and the pickup cover on. That configuration really limits what you can do technique-wise. I'd lose the bridge cover and keep the top one a la Marcus Miller.

[walterw]

short answer? not even a little.