exposed pole pieces vs. covered?

[hachi kid]

I'm curious if there's some advantage to having the pole pieces exposed versus having them covered? I've been using pickups with covered pole pieces since as long as I've basically been playing, and I recently tried a bass with exposed pole pieces (stock P-bass), and every time I really plucked hard, it popped really loudly against the pole pieces. this seems like an inferior design to me. is there some reason pickups are still made with exposed pole pieces?

[Electricblue]

I dont know, i solved the impact problem with some electrical tape. Or just calm down when you play

[FunkMetalBass]

The difference is aesthetic. Really. The difference in the magnetic field is trivially small.

You could try lowering the pickups slightly, or putting tape over the exposed poles.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

The difference is aesthetic. Really. The difference in the magnetic field is trivially small.

You could try lowering the pickups slightly, or putting tape over the exposed poles.

I had a dog, and his name was... BINGO!

[CapnSev]

Clear nail polish over the pole pieces will solve your problems.

[hachi kid]

I'm not asking how to solve the problem of the clicking when strings hit the pole pieces. like I said, my bass has pickups with covered pole pieces. what I'm asking is, is there any real performance difference in having the pole pieces exposed? like, tonal purposes, or something.

[mikezimmerman]

Originally Posted by hachi kid

what I'm asking is, is there any real performance difference in having the pole pieces exposed? like, tonal purposes, or something.

No.