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Bridge PU Cover- Yay or Nay?

I

IsThisIt

Oct 27, 2008
31
0
#1
So I want to put Fender's Bridge PU Cover on my MIA 4-string Jazz. This is completely, 100% motivated by visual looks. I talked to a friend of mine about drilling into it to make the holes, and he just cringed, not wanting to do anything to the bass. I bought it new back in July, and it is, as is, beautiful (Charcoal Frost color with white pickguard, maple neck.) However, I LOOOOVE the way the Bridge cover looks. I don't want to put the neck PU cover on because I'm afraid it will get in the way of slapping.

I play with fingers over the Bridge PU, with the neck PU cut in half (usually, anyways)- will putting the cover on give me issues with my sound?

Anything I should avoid, worry about, etc.?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Again, I'm just interested in doing this because I think it makes a bass beautiful.

Cheers!

Mike
 
#3
Personally I think the bridge cover on a jazz is silly looking, but the neck cover looks snazzy. Most people say that the neck cover helps with slapping because it gives you a place to put your hand.

Putting the cover on won't make any difference in sound. Just make it one more step when you want to change strings and another thing to attract fingerprints.
 
#7
What's wrong with doing something purely for aesthetics? I say if you like it, go for it. My favorite bass of all time (shouldn't have sold it, stupid economy) was a 62 RI P with bridge and neck covers. I've been trying to find covers for five string precisions forever.
 
#8
I think they look cool too but won't use one because it rules out palm muting while playing with my thumb, which I do quite a bit. And I play a P bass, and I puck almost on top of the pickup a lot, so that kills the other cover, too. I LOVE how they look but I can't use 'em. :hmm:
 
#9
I used to keep mine on my jazz, just the bridge cover not the neck pup cover since I mostly play over the neck pup, but I've been playing back near the bridge more lately so I recently took it off. If it's going to get in your way, don't let aesthetics hinder your playing.

Bridge cover pr0n:

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#14
I've been trying to make the covers work with my '51 RI. Sometimes I love it - sometimes they drive me batty.

Since the slab body on my '51 makes palm muting uncomfortable, I think of the bridge cover as being a foam mute facilitator. (And either covers makes a good finger/wrist rest.)

Apparently back in the day they had a foam strip glued on the underside of the bridge covers. IME glue is not needed.
 
#17
It's funny. I'm currently contemplating doing the same thing to my new MIA 3-tone sunburst Jazz. I keep staring at the cover and the two screws and then the thought of making two holes in in an unblemished, virgin body bothers the hell out of me. It's like the old "you can't put the genie back into the bottle" thing. Once it's done-it's done.
You first my brother...:)
 
#18
BlackNoSugar said:
It's funny. I'm currently contemplating doing the same thing to my new MIA 3-tone sunburst Jazz. I keep staring at the cover and the two screws and then the thought of making two holes in in an unblemished, virgin body bothers the hell out of me. It's like the old "you can't put the genie back into the bottle" thing. Once it's done-it's done.
You first my brother...:)
Click to expand...

If you are doing it to the neck pickup it won't really hurt the resale value and any pickguard can hide it.
 
#19
dmusic148 said:
I think they look cool too but won't use one because it rules out palm muting while playing with my thumb, which I do quite a bit. And I play a P bass, and I puck almost on top of the pickup a lot, so that kills the other cover, too. I LOVE how they look but I can't use 'em. :hmm:
Click to expand...

completely agree. i put both on my last p bass and realized i coudnt get two of my favorite tones anymore! no more palm muting and no more plucking over the pickup. they look great tho, so if you can swing it, go for it.
 
#20
if you do go through with it, put down a piece of tape on each side of the bridge over the area where you will drill, line up the cover, mark the holes on the tape, and then set the drill to the reverse direction (as if backing out a screw). use the drill this way until you penetrate the top coat, then you can flip it to drill into the wood.
 

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