Covered vs Open Coil Humbucker Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Studio

This is the sound of a 2004 Gibson Les Paul Studio Pro Faded before and after the chrome covers were removed to make them traditional "open coil" pickups. There is a slight difference in the sound and even the same set of strings were reused (not new). The open coils are a bit hotter than the closed ones so it is better to achieve brightness that way than to boost a treble knob.

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[MrPisster]

From what I get from the video, the difference is with the cover the sound is a bit darker but without definition. The cover off instantly makes it have both the same heaviness but adds a bit more distinction. Like when you're listening to headphones and then press them tight against your ears.

[bmiranda2645]

@MrPisster yes you are totally correct. There are pros and cons to either choice though. With pickup covers on, the lower capacitance of nickel and chrome does help reduce 60-cycle hum noise but dampens the brightness of the sound a bit. When the covers are removed, the open coils resonate more freely against the strings' magnetic field increasing the definition, but the pickup is more prone to electrical noise. This is probably unnoticeable on a humbucking pickup anyway.

[Jawisr]

can't feel the diference

[bmiranda2645]

@Jawisr yes you are correct. there's not much of a difference to the ears. the pickups look a bit different to the eyes though.

[TheVictimsX]

horrible



[BLACKSYNTH]

2:13 DOOM! level 1 music. 

[bmiranda2645]

@stratocasterrelic thank you. Oh yeah and you are correct about covered humbuckers being more sloppily setup underneath than those meant to be open coil. The coils were also a lot looser on mine so I wedged some cardboard between them to tighten them up a bit.

[stratocasterrelic]

@bmiranda2645 I know what your saying...i did it earlier and i'm happy with the look more than the sound..like you say its not massively different. The wax wasn't a problem to remove but the solder was a little scary as i didn't want to cause damage etc. The pickups are not as well prepared as say a new set that were made to be uncovered...things like insulation tape sloppily placed round the sides ha. Cheers keep up the playing ;-)

[bmiranda2645]

@stratocasterrelic yeah I just discovered that going through the trouble of damaging the solder with a chisel only makes it sound slightly different. I didn't want to use a soldering iron because it started melting the pot wax. The wax prevents the magnets from vibrating and causing feed back.

[stratocasterrelic]

I think it sounds a little thinner without but looks better. I'm thinking of doing it to my traditional les paul but i'm not keen on breaking the solder.

[lukyosoytupa]

yeah thanks man !

[WhiteDemon87]

@bmiranda2645 thanks!