Better tone with bridge cover?

[Dirk Rockbottom]

I recently purchased a used '62 replica Precision bass that came with a bridge cover. I tried it once and then removed it because it looked like the bass was wearing a diaper. However, after listening to recordings of the band, one with the cover and one without, it sounds like the recording with the cover on sounds punchier than with it off. I know there are a lot of variables other than this one thing, but it got me thinking. Has anyone had experience with bridge covers and noticed any effects they have on the tone?

 

[Sharko]

I put a bridge cover on a fender once. It sounded just as bad as without it and it was always in my way.

 

[ToddB1963]

I recently purchased a used '62 replica Precision bass that came with a bridge cover. I tried it once and then removed it because it looked like the bass was wearing a diaper. However, after listening to recordings of the band, one with the cover and one without, it sounds like the recording with the cover on sounds punchier than with it off. I know there are a lot of variables other than this one thing, but it got me thinking. Has anyone had experience with bridge covers and noticed any effects they have on the tone?

Bridge cover without foam muting strip? No, but the bridge cover on old Fender Precision basses contained a foam strip which muted the strings slightly, thereby cutting overtones and increasing thump/punch. My P bass always wears the bridge cover with the foam strip. It's a great sound, especially with flatwound strings.

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

Ah yes, the bridge foam mute. I forgot about that. No mute in my bridge cover. So I guess it must be my imagination. Thanks for the reply!

 

[kesslari]

Ah yes, the bridge foam mute. I forgot about that. No mute in my bridge cover. So I guess it must be my imagination. Thanks for the reply!

Unless it changes where you put your right hand?

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

Unless it changes where you put your right hand?

I understand what you're saying, but I don't think I changed it. I like to play between the pickup and the bridge more toward the pickup. Good point.

 

[metron]

It’s not entirely imagination. I’ve had P basses with unpotted or not well potted pickups. They were slightly microphinic and would pick up a faint ring from the pickup cover vibrating. Not a thing if resting a hand on the cover though.

 

[GIBrat51]

Bridge cover without foam muting strip? No, but the bridge cover on old Fender Precision basses contained a foam strip which muted the strings slightly, thereby cutting overtones and increasing thump/punch. My P bass always wears the bridge cover with the foam strip. It's a great sound, especially with flatwound strings.

Yeah, what he said. Since I have... well, a bunch of basses... of all kinds, My '78 Fender P-Bass has no need to be versatile. So, it's a '50s-'60s Vintage Rock, R&B, C&W and Motown specialist. With the mute in the bridge cover, and GHS Precision Flats (a close analog of the original Squier Flats it would have worn when new), I want it to sound like it's... oh, 1965 or so... when I play it. Which it most certainly does...

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

Yeah, what he said. Since I have... well, a bunch of basses... of all kinds, My '78 Fender P-Bass has no need to be versatile. So, it's a '50s-'60s Vintage Rock, R&B, C&W and Motown specialist. With the mute in the bridge cover, and GHS Precision Flats (a close analog of the original Squier Flats it would have worn when new), I want it to sound like it's... oh, 1965 or so... when I play it. Which it most certainly does...

This is something I might try. I tried a foam mute under the strings at the bridge, it just doesn't sound that great. But the idea of a foam mute in the bridge cover could be just what I'm looking for. Unfortunately this one didn't come with the foam mute. Now I'm wondering how I can put one in.

 

[Killing Floor]

It makes sense because Fender bridge and pickup covers are super cool looking and most of our perception of tone comes our eyes. I added the chrome to my 73 and once I learned to play around them I now play it all the time.

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

Do you have foam under the bridge cover AND the pickup cover? Or just under the bridge cover?

 

[mikeswals]

On a P bass with no foam and only a bridge cover on... No, its your imagination. There is nothing connected from the electronics to that cover over the bridge.

You have to be careful on how you stuff foam in there. If the foam pushes on the strings too much, then you'll push the intonation out of whack. The same goes for stuffing foam under the strings.
But back in the day Fender installed the narrow foam strip just ahead of the bridge saddles. And the strip itself was shaped with a taper, so it didnt over-dampen the G string vs the E & A strings.

 

[andare]

The bridge cover absolutely adds an overtone to some notes on my P bass, both plugged and unplugged. So much so that if I didn't have foam under the strings, I would have to stuff foam under the cover behind the bridge to mitigate the ring.
It's possible that for you this makes the bass sound punchier.

I'll take this opportunity to reiterate another issue: the ashtray over the pickups messes with the hum cancellation of the split coil pickups so some single coil hum comes through. This happens to all my P basses as soon as I hover the cover over the pickups. Screwing it in, which grounds it, doesn't change a thing. I have a Bronco with a dual blade humbucker that always hums a bit (cheapie pickup, the coils probably have different resistances) and with the cover it stops humming altogether. The ashtray definitely interacts with the pickups somehow.
I suspect most people don't hear a difference because their bass is not shielded (so it always hums a bit) and/or their amp is not super quiet to begin with. I can barely tell the difference through my tube guitar amp because it always has a faint hum or buzz but with my Rumble, which is solid state and totally silent, it's easy to tell. Same through my interface. It's no bother on stage but audible in a recording.
End of PSA

 

[SteveCS]

Metal covers over the pickups (as well as metal mounting rigns and decorative additions) do change things. The vibrating string induces changes in the magnetic flux of the pickup. These changes, as well as generating the current that is the output signal also induce eddy currents in the covers. Under certain circumstances, these eddy currents can induce their own changes in the magnetic flux of the pickup that are opposite in magnetic orientation to those generated by the string. They are not equal (or nothing would come out) but they can be enough to counter the current generated in the coil. The effect is a type of gentle and natural compression for slightly softer transients and slightly warmer tone.

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The possibility of magnetic coupling between a normally-placed P pickup and bridge cover seems unlikely given the distances involved, but I guess, with the right combination of string material and pickup setting (close to the string) it might be possible and the effect might even be audible?? From my own experience I had a brass ring surround on the bridge pickup of my P/J and that really changed the J tone, expecially with the high-powered Seymour QP.

 

[Swerve]

The bridge cover is added mass screwed directly into the body and making full contact. So the slight difference in sound doesn’t surprise me. I’ve even experienced it just by removing a pickguard.

 

[jd56hawk]

It's possible.
I get a better plugged-in tone with the sound-hole plug than without it.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

It's possible.
I get a better plugged-in tone with the sound-hole plug than without it.

I think you just compared apples to tomatoes.

Both could be red & both are fruits vs both have strings & both have wood, but each pair; significantly different.

 

[jd56hawk]

I think you just compared apples to tomatoes.

Well, they're both fruit.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Hey, if the "mojo" is there...why question it?

Interesting though, as I've had/have them on several Fenders and haven't noticed a stark difference. I add mine for aesthetics, which I believe they knock it outta the park on.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I recently purchased a used '62 replica Precision bass that came with a bridge cover. I tried it once and then removed it because it looked like the bass was wearing a diaper. However, after listening to recordings of the band, one with the cover and one without, it sounds like the recording with the cover on sounds punchier than with it off. I know there are a lot of variables other than this one thing, but it got me thinking. Has anyone had experience with bridge covers and noticed any effects they have on the tone?

This seems physically impossible. If we’re talking chrome pickup covers (directly over the pickup), yes this will effect tone because it forces you to play in a particular spot (not directly over the pickup). But, a chrome cover over the bridge can’t have a similar effect.

Jamerson, Osborn, Miller, John Paul Jones have all played with chrome pickup covers installed on their basses - and they have great tones. Just sayin’