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Pickup covers "ashtrays", do you use them?
- Thread starter Axtman
- Start date
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- Tags
- covers pickup covers pickups
I just put the bridge cover back on my P to keep from ripping my hand on the threaded bridge saddles. I’m in the market for more robust AND streamlined bridge. When I decide which one the ashtray will go back to the dust bin. The foam helps but there’s nothing like good ol’ palm muting IMHE. 
I love the look of the ashtrays. My main axe sports them and they in no way interfere with my playing style. I don't slap though, and I pluck either at the heel of the neck or just behind the pickup if I need a sharper attack. Pick works fine. Trays also hide what I consider the ugliest parts of a Fender - the pickups and the bridge.
On modern basses, I wouldn't put them on. It would feel out of place.
But a Precision without ashtrays just looks naked.
On modern basses, I wouldn't put them on. It would feel out of place.
But a Precision without ashtrays just looks naked.
Alan Ace Cooper
Supporting Member
- Jan 6, 2004
- 3,349
- 9,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Devon Basses, DR Strings, EMG pickups, Bag End Cabs
Alan Ace Cooper
Supporting Member
- Jan 6, 2004
- 3,349
- 9,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Devon Basses, DR Strings, EMG pickups, Bag End Cabs
The white Jazz with matching headstock and Tortoise guard is the most amazing thing I've seen this month!
I love how classy the jazz bass looks with the cover. Its like having chrome on a car, not needed but adds that extra something.
There's a pretty good reason they are not included anymore on new instruments (Fender). The bridge cover on a P bass looks OK but I don't think I'd put holes in it to mount it. What if I ended up hating it? I guess I could put screws in the holes to cover them up like I did with the idiotic tug bar holes.
Please no covers for me. I don't like anything in the way of string access. Plus I like to play with my thumb on top of a pickup.
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
- 2,460
- Disclosures
- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
I'm 61 going on 62 and I slap. First thing we did was remove those covers. Those younger than I from the Marcus generation keep them on. To each his own is what I say.
I used bridge covers on all my Fender style basses. I like using it as a hand rest, but they do limit playability; it takes away much of my ability to palm mute, but since I don't really do any palm muting I chose the comfort factor of the bridge ashtray. I don't use pickup covers, I dig the look but they just cut off too much of my playing area.
I can't see why anyone would want to keep anything on a (fender) bass that limits so much access to the strings, escpecially on a jazz bass, where the covers block the best places to play!
Those things are needless, archaic structures that were put on before the possibilities of the fender bass were realized.
I'm old enough to remember when NOBODY left the pickup cover on until the early 90s when Marcus Miller burst on the scene as the newest bass hero and slowly and steadily all the kids started putting their pickup covers on their J basses.
Those things are needless, archaic structures that were put on before the possibilities of the fender bass were realized.
I'm old enough to remember when NOBODY left the pickup cover on until the early 90s when Marcus Miller burst on the scene as the newest bass hero and slowly and steadily all the kids started putting their pickup covers on their J basses.
I voted "carrots" cuz none of the other choices quite described my situation. I think pickup covers on Fender basses look absolutely fantastic, but they are also right I the spots I like to play, so unfortunately ours is a love that can never be...
The KB-1 was only around from maybe 1965 to 1968. The pickup and bridge are standard Gibson, actually parting it out makes it worth more than selling it whole
The jam has moved to Jasper Hill in Holliston, about an extra 20 minutes drive for you.
The KB-1 was only around from maybe 1965 to 1968. The pickup and bridge are standard Gibson, actually parting it out makes it worth more than selling it whole
The jam has moved to Jasper Hill in Holliston, about an extra 20 minutes drive for you.
Thanks Brian, according to MapQuest it's about 35 minutes, so not too bad. When I get my EB-3 back together I'll bring it down. My ex-wife had or has a Kalamazoo archtop acoustic, it was old when i met her in 1972.
Yup I'm 64 and when I started playing there was not a cover to be seen, I never thought of Marcus Miller but I think you guys are right, he is the first high visibility bass player that I saw with a cover. There were always a few back in the 50's and 60's who left them on but the vast majority took them right off.
