Do you like covers on your bass?

[Killed_by_Death]

So far, the only songs I've played on my bass are covers.

 

[Flaked Beans]

First thing I did on my brand new 77 J bass was remove the covers. Likely because I saw a picture of some player with the covers removed - but more because the covers blocked the most comfortable places for me to use my fingers to play. It always puzzled me that Marcus Miller keeps his neck p'up cover on - I use that spot... but he's Marcus, so I'm sure he's got a good reason!

Me too.

 

[BassUrges]

I never liked the look, nor understood the purpose for it.

It was the 50's, daddy-o. The purpose was to put as much chrome as possible on anything you could.

 

[Ric5]

Do you like covers on your bass?

I use my bass for covers and originals

 

[GretschWretch]

Maybe it's a generational thing, but I've never had a problem with them. If the bass came from the factory with covers, I will go out of my way to replace them if necessary. But I will not impose covers on a coverless bass -- a Guild Starfire, for example.

 

[shawshank72]

Sorry, I meant bridge / pickup covers. Not pick guard.

Looks like chit.
Just my opinion of course.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I like the bridge one on, but not the pickup one. It looks cool imo and I often use it as a palm rest.

 

[Real Soon]

While I like the idea of putting them on my 50s Classic P (shouts to garp for that kitted-out honey blonde)... the place I've decided I like the sound the best when plucking is pretty much right over the pickups. So, no cover going on there.

As for the bridge cover, the bridge itself is pretty standard, but I really like the look of the trucks. It'd be kind of a shame to cover 'em up.

 

[Spectrum]

I love the way they look, especially on basses designed in the era of fins on cars: Precision, Jazz, Rickenbacker, etc.

But I agree that it makes them more difficult to play. I removed the cover from my 4003 after spending a month or two trying to learn to live with it. I have thought about putting covers on my VM Jaguar, as it's already super retro-looking, but I would have to figure out which covers to put on it and then probably wouldn't like what it does to the playability.

 

[JimmyM]

I've tried to like them because I like a little bling, but I hate them.

 

[Bassman822]

I have the covers for my recently acquired 75 Precision, but they stay in the case. I normally directly over the pickup.

 

[RickyT]

No thanks. They look stupid.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I like the one on my Rick. I took it off but then realized i liked just playing above the neck pickup so I put it back on.

 

[radioripster]

I really like them on straight up P basses. They're comfortable and perfect for me as a thumb rest and I like the bridge cover on too if I want to stuff some foam in there for a mute. The space beteen the covers is where I normally play anyway and to me, that's were i can get that early 70s P bass mid tone attack and honk. I think they look great on there. On old Jazz basses and PJs, I prefer no covers.

And with a pickup cover, you can do the cow bell thing!

All my P's are early 70s so if I had earlier or later ones, I might not have any covers on at all or maybe I would. no big deal either way.

 

[Hot Rats]

I tried this way for a little while, but I like them off.

 

[DWBass]

I like the look but I can't play with them on. I move my plucking hand around way to much and a cover impedes my playing.

 

[GKon]

I love how they look but the p'up cover just gets in the way for me.

I keep the bridge cover on. That one doesn't hinder me at all.

 

[jd56hawk]

The Jazz bridge cover with its big F is very nice, especially on a black bass...no, not with tort pickguards, with red pearl ones.

 

[jd56hawk]

I love the look of both pickup and bridge covers. Chrome, baby! It's beautiful, like a '55 Chrysler.

 

[MasterBlaster]