Pickup covers?

[Poor Tom]

Hi everyone, I have been curious lately about pickup covers. Whenever I see a bass with them, it makes me think the bass has better pickups or something. Can anyone explain to me what the role of a pickup cover is, any tonal characteristics it may or may not add, and if all pickups can be covered?

Thanks a lot guys!

p.s. one reason I ask is because with my playing style on my E string, I tend to hit against the metal circle on my pickup and have caused some scratches.

 

[Searcy]

Pickup covers serve 4 functions.

1. Protect the pickup. (coils are not tough)

2. Make the pickup look cool. (Well...it does look cool right?)

3. Reduce noice in the pickup. (Either through shielding or just by keeping you from bouncing your strings off your poles)

4. Hide the magic stuff that pickups are made out of. (Come on... you know you want to see what's it there)

Covers can be added to some types of guitars pickups but most bass pickups are limited to factory covers.