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Question about bridge cover
- Thread starter FitzFitz
- Start date
Unless you like to play right up on the neck, the answer is pretty much "NO". When Fender was still putting the covers on their basses, you didn't really need to palm mute; the mute that was glued into the top of the bridge cover did it for you. I'm afraid it's pretty much an "either-or" situation. Leave them off like 99.9% of other players do, and palm mute a versatile bass; or put them on and pretty much need the mute all the time. Not so versatile. Personally, I have the covers (and the mute) on my '78 P-Bass, as well as s set of Fender Flatwounds. No, it's not very versatile any more, but it sounds like I want it to sound for '50s-early '60s rock, blues, and rockabilly. If I need a different sound, I have 17 other basses, too..
Oh I didnt realize these covers had mutes already attached to them. I really love the look but now Im not sure. Thanks for your help.
Well say I took off the mute attached to the cover, then would it work alright? Or does it still cover too much to palm mute effectively?
There is no way to palm mute with it on it extends too far foreward. The ones you buy don't come with a mute. You supply your own often made of foam rubber.
I have often wondered, is the p/u cover the same as a J or is the P a different part? In my travels, I've come across J p/u covers but only P bridge. My '73 P is drilled but I never noticed when I bought it from the first owner and never asked if he had them then lost contact.
Jazz bridge cover is almost twice as big as a P-bass bridge cover, in order to cover the bridge pickup.
As Batmensch said, the Jazz Bass' bridge cover is much larger than the one on a P-Bass, since it has to cover a bridge pickup, too. The P-Bass' pickup cover, and the neck pickup cover on a Jazz Bass are more or less the same size, IIRC. And yes, the covers you can buy from Fender now don't have a mute in them; the original ones that came on the bass back in the day did have it in there, though. I had to get a new one for my '78 (the original owner threw them away, like everyone did 
) and make the mute myself. And finally; yes, the bass will work perfectly fine if you have the covers on, but no mute in the bridge cover. It will just be practically impossible to palm mute the thing. Like I said; it's one of those either-or situations. If you really want to be able to choose between mute/no mute, do what I did; buy a Rickenbacker!
) and make the mute myself. And finally; yes, the bass will work perfectly fine if you have the covers on, but no mute in the bridge cover. It will just be practically impossible to palm mute the thing. Like I said; it's one of those either-or situations. If you really want to be able to choose between mute/no mute, do what I did; buy a Rickenbacker!
Sorry, Badass MOFO, I misread your post.
OK, the pickup cover on the P-bass is actually a little bigger as the P-bass pickup has a larger "footprint", if you will, than the Jazz, and the Jazz cover has slightly rounded edges, the P-bass one is more squarish in shape.
OK, the pickup cover on the P-bass is actually a little bigger as the P-bass pickup has a larger "footprint", if you will, than the Jazz, and the Jazz cover has slightly rounded edges, the P-bass one is more squarish in shape.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
The reason most people took off the ashtray was for that very reason - access to the bridge. Just like the pup cover interferes with where you want to play. If palm muting is part of your playing, leave it off.
You could try mounting it further down, but if you don't like it, you are stuck with those holes.
You could try mounting it further down, but if you don't like it, you are stuck with those holes.
Then when your Ric arrives the first thing you do is take off the plastic pickup cover.As Batmensch said, the Jazz Bass' bridge cover is much larger than the one on a P-Bass, since it has to cover a bridge pickup, too. The P-Bass' pickup cover, and the neck pickup cover on a Jazz Bass are more or less the same size, IIRC. And yes, the covers you can buy from Fender now don't have a mute in them; the original ones that came on the bass back in the day did have it in there, though. I had to get a new one for my '78 (the original owner threw them away, like everyone did
I really dig the look of bridge and pup covers on most P and J basses, but while I've tried them several times, I just can't get on with them.
I play (70% fingers, 30% pick) all the way up on the neck to right down over the bridge saddles. They just take up too much real estate for me. Two sweet spots, to my mind, on Ps are right behind the pup and right in front of the bridge. I ain't covering those in chrome goodness no matter how hot it looks.
I play (70% fingers, 30% pick) all the way up on the neck to right down over the bridge saddles. They just take up too much real estate for me. Two sweet spots, to my mind, on Ps are right behind the pup and right in front of the bridge. I ain't covering those in chrome goodness no matter how hot it looks.
I like the pbass style cover on my SX Jag. I find myself changing technique a little when I'm playing towards the cover, but I can still tonally play everything the way I normally would.
I never find the bridge covers on a P bass to get in the way. The pickup cover on the other hand is a real nuisance. I've buit basses and put pickup covers on to take pictures, then remove them when it comes time to play. The bridge covers look great and stay out of the way. You can even shove foam under them to mute, then pull it back out right after.
Maybe when your Ric arrives. My '73 4001 still has the original pickup cover on it; and it's my go-to bass. My '01 4003 has the cover on it, too. And, not only that, I usually play them with (gasp!!) a pick. Different horses for different courses..
