Switching the covers on a DiMarzio P

[knigel]

Hello,

I tried to do some research, but I didn't find anything about it. Can you switch the pickup covers on a DiMarzio DP122 P bass pickup? I have black, but cream would be premium. It looks like they are on there pretty good, and I don't want to force anything, but I thought maybe there's a trick I didn't know. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[jbrew73]

i was gonna ask the same thing about dimario model j's. i will be keeping my eye on this thread.

 

[doktorfeelgood]

I called DiMarzio once and asked the same question...they told me nope....can't be done. The whole pickup assembly is epoxyed together. J's too. )-(

 

[knigel]

Well damnation and hellfire. That's what I thought. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Unless they change the way they make them, I used to change the covers all the time. They don't epoxy them in, and you should be able to push them out of the cover.

Now, having said that, I haven't had a set made after 1980 or so, so I don't know if they changed them.

But I used to take the cream covers off and put black ones on. They only had a little hot melt glue to hold the magnets in place.

 

[andk5591]

I have painted them multiple times with good success. I had cream and wanted white, then a couple year later went to black.

Removed polepieces, scuffed and then cleaned real well with windex - krylon rattle can worked just fine.

 

[knigel]

You know what, I just popped the covers off, right or wrong. I separated the epoxy (? clear stuff?) from the cover with a razor knife, the popped the covers off. Here's to hoping I didn't damage them! Because aesthetics are the only thing important to me, obviously.

 

[precision punk]

i doubt that it will do anything to them
great tone huh?

 

[knigel]

Hmmm...well, I'm about 100 dollars away from finishing, and my unemployment ran out. But I'll post pics when I am done.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

I removed the black cover of a new Ultra Jazz and put them into white covers for my Lakland DJ. I just used a razor blade and gently cut thru the silicone adhesive securing the pickup to the cover (the bottom side of the pickup). Very easy...less than a minute job. No epoxy whatsoever. I think DiMarzio just don't want anyone jacking with their pickups....is the reason they gave the "no" answer.

 

[hockeyokkie]

Same here, it can be done, but take your time and do it right. I'm sure this voids your warranty, but if you want to make them fit your bass, you gotta do what you gotta do. The covers on the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz 5 pickups can be removed, cut carefully through the silicone adhesive with a razor blade or Xacto knife just inside the covers. The Ultras will fit inside the pickup covers on a MIM Fender Jazz 5 - although I had to enlarge the holes in the covers for the pole pieces a little bit, using a hand drill.

 

[cytodavid]

I have painted them multiple times with good success. I had cream and wanted white, then a couple year later went to black.

Removed polepieces, scuffed and then cleaned real well with windex - krylon rattle can worked just fine.

I'm guessing you never went back