explosed pole peices VS covered

bassey_magee · #1 03-01-2009, 07:13 PM

Is there any difference in sound or is it just for looks?

Because I'm considering getting a covered style pickup for my stingray, as i have a tendancy to rust pickup poles badly.

lavmonga · #2 03-01-2009, 07:19 PM

I've actually wondered the same thing. Posting here now to check back later.

allexcosta · #3 03-01-2009, 07:24 PM

To me exposed poles have more gain...

Stealth · #4 03-02-2009, 03:57 AM

Depends on what's under the hood - if you have closed pole-pieces it's nearly the same as open pole-pieces, as the plastic cover makes no effect. However, sometimes the closed cover hides a blade pole, which works different.

Projectile · #5 03-02-2009, 04:03 AM

Rust gives the bass more character. Leave it.

kyral210 · #6 03-02-2009, 04:09 AM

I was once told that exposed pickups (as opposed to metal covered pickups) have more of a 'rock' sound to them. This could be because the metal covers interfear with the detection of the string movement, givign a more mellow sound. In that case plastic covers like EMG's and Soapbars wouldn't make a different other than giving a 1mm cap on top of the poles, so you would probably set your pickups 1mm further away then you would without covers.

In short, the guy might have been pulling my leg, and I doubt there is a massive difference. I play EMG's which are covered and they rock like a mother****er!!!

RyreInc · #7 03-03-2009, 04:13 PM

Plastic and wood are non-magnetic, therefore they have no affect. Any sonic difference comes from the additional distance between the pole pieces and the strings.

joeyl · #8 03-03-2009, 04:14 PM

exposed ungrounded polepieces can hum when touched, you don't have that problem with covered ones

mrufino1 · #9 03-03-2009, 08:22 PM

I just got a stingray a few weeks ago and I have found my bass (only took 20 years!), but the polepieces "clanking" with the strings was a problem for me, and they were very rusted (the bass is not new, I know the previous owner and his sweat can be rough on instruments- music man has mentioned that this is a problem for some people). I solved the issue by covering the pickup with a piece of gaffer tape, and I have not noticed a difference in the sound at all.

ehque · #10 03-03-2009, 09:54 PM

I have the tendency to pluck my strings so hard they occasionally touch the pole pieces. Covered pole pieces help avoid the loud pop that ensues.

Stealth · #11 03-04-2009, 12:28 AM

Covering the pickup with a piece of tape usually works, as does coating the pole-pieces with some kind of enamel (clear nail polish works surprisingly well).

A question for those of you who regularly deal with pole-pieces - would sanding the poles lightly (so as to remove rust) accidentally demagnetize them due to friction? Am I better off using some kind of rust-removing chemical?

slowburnaz · #12 03-04-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

Covering the pickup with a piece of tape usually works, as does coating the pole-pieces with some kind of enamel (clear nail polish works surprisingly well).

A question for those of you who regularly deal with pole-pieces - would sanding the poles lightly (so as to remove rust) accidentally demagnetize them due to friction? Am I better off using some kind of rust-removing chemical?

If I'm not mistaken, magnets can become weaker or demagnetized altogether if subjected to high heat or shock. Unless you're sanding with a belt sander or something, I would think you'd be okay.

It also depends on whether the pole pieces are actually the magnets themselves, or just being magnetized by a separate magnet in the pickup (Dimarzio Model Js, for example... the pole pieces are just set screws which get magentized by magnets set at the bottom of the pickup).