I'm not sure it does anything to the capacitance! To the magnetic flux and field shape yes but the capacitance!? Perhaps you could explain to me how it changes the capacitance as I'm only a simple electronics engineer.
@@prook2001 I think it's the same as changing the capacitance because the pickup is model is an RC circuit. But yes it just affects the permeability of the magnetic field which reduces highs.
My 2 cents: Uncovered the pickups sound brighter and more articulate. Covered sound somewhat muted. I experienced the same thing on a Tele neck pickup. I do want to note that chromed brass seems to sound really muffled, and Nickel covers are less attenuating. I prefer uncovered in all situations except High gain . Then its a matter of taste. Thanks for taking the time to do this video.
It's subtle but there's definitely a difference. Though I say "subtle," it's no more subtle than the kinds of small differences people will swap an entire set of pickups for, too. Your videos are great! I really appreciate people who do actual controlled testing, with back-to-back A/B comparisons, which put to bed the things many other people just argue about endlessly because it's rooted in their beliefs. I've pointed numerous people to your neck comparison video as proof that necks and fretboard material change tone, and some still refuse to admit it even with the evidence right in front of them. I've even extracted EQ curves from that video to prove there was a difference when people still insisted there was none. Sad, yet funny.
Very interesting! I mostly noticed the difference on the attack and not so much on the sustain. When you let some notes/chords ring out my ears adjust. That being said, I think the difference is subtle and simple enough (as in not complex harmonics) that any difference could be erased by just a little EQ. That could be an idea for a series, getting two or more sounds to sound the similar if not the same by adjusting EQ.
This is the best video I've seen making this comparison, well done! Without the covers one hears the whole note, brighter of course but with more chime too. Rolling down the tone a bit on uncovereds will make it more comfortable for those who prefer covers, but you'll still have bigger notes and that chime - who wouldn't want that.
Another nice one, Kris. To my ear, there's a subtle but discernible difference. How much difference that difference makes is totally subjective, of course, but your demo has objective merit. As for future videos... the subject of "tone" offers SO many possibilities. Tonewoods (which you've covered from a couple of angles), picks, bolt-on vs. set vs neck-through, strings, various makers of various "59" or "57" or "fat 60s," and on and on.... it's a deep mine shaft. Thanks for shedding some light down there.
Thanks for another great vid, Kris. Keep 'em coming! Love this nerdy stuff. The difference seems slight but clearly audible. I tend to prefer the better defined sound of uncovered PUs, but aesthetically I like the covers more.
Well, you can alway roll off the tone with the pickup covers off. But you can’t add it back in with them on. Well, not as easily. I like both. I have some guitars with , and some without. But mostly without. Depends on the guitar and pickup combo.
@@Wargasm644 Yes I have an even mix of covers and open coils. I tend to prefer to leave them as designed rather than to actually take to the soldering iron to remove any.. I mean, these days, everything is so well made & designed...I trust the experts! I defer to their expertise !!
@@lueymeteora1410 I agree, I leave most things stock , as designed. Typically works best that way. Even down to the strings. If it came from the factory with 9-42’s, I stay with them. I know this sounds a bit ridiculous. But the guitar was set up and the nut slot cut for these particular strings. But if I have to change something I will. But I’ll make sure to set up the guitar accordingly. If I absolutely can’t enjoy a guitar with its stock appointments, I won’t hesitate to change it. As long as it’s reversible. I prefer stock, but I’m not afraid to put EMG’s in a Les Paul custom either. Some pickups sound good with the covers, some don’t. My 57 classics are great with covers. My burstbucker pros, not so much. With or without covers, they don’t do much for me. So I actually swapped them to Seymour Duncan’s. There’s a lot of variables to factor in. And if the guitar needs too many mods, I probably won’t be happy with it anyways. So I’ll just sell it and buy something else.
As usual a very good and interesting job with your channel ! There is a huge difference in fact but in my opinion the covers are more "Gibson tone" and It's not just a difference in spectral equilibrium that you could find by adjusting the tone buttons. The covers bring a kind of mix, a typical blend of the Lespaul sound, something we lose a little by removing them. A french musician.
So many people miss the point that every tone is a tone. it may not be a tone that you grew up idolizing but it's a tone nonetheless and it's up to the musician to make that tone magic. Also what's never talked about is that tone is reliant on the sounds around it. If you have a great tone in your bedroom it may not jive in the studio with a bunch of other tones and musicians in a recording session. Also, with all the available tools for EQ none of this should be fussed over. 98% of the people on the planet can't hear the difference anyway.
Man, great post, but to a pro musician, it matters even if you're the only one that hears it. Always start with the best tone you can have, then modify it to your likening. Absolutely correct about changing locations with sound. You have to be able to adjust to different rooms. My 7 string Ibanez sounds great one place, but my Fender Squire sounds ten times better in others. Its just crazy.
In this comparison you can definitely hear more clarity from the uncovered pickups. They are brighter and clearer to my ears. I know I prefer that tone because all of my humbuckers are uncovered. I prefer that brightness and clarity. If you want a darker or smoother tone it’s easy to roll off a bit on your tone knob or on your amp. Great video, Kris. Thanks for your time and hard work.
Yes, that is exactly right! If you want a muddier or warmer tone, you use the knobs. Always start with the cleanest tone and best separation you can get, then adjust your sound.
Really good comparison. I was expecting that I wouldn't hear much difference - but in fact I could hear a difference all the way through. I think that with covers the sound is more kind of 'smoothed out' between pitches. Without the covers the sound has more 'edge' between pitches. I'm used to playing with covers - but now I want to try without.
this video must have taken an eternity to make lol, I appreciate that! Really informative! Yes, the covered pickups lost just the tiniest amount of high end but for me personally, I love how covered pickups look like. I would pick the covered ones everyday of the week just for aesthetics lol. cheers man!
The uncovered pickups sound more open and I feel all the high-mid frequencies are more defined. With the covers on everything sound a little bit muddier and more "boxy". Anyway, you enjoy a guitar with your hands and with your eyes as well and covered pickups still look way way way classier and cooler on a Les Paul.
i use a bareknuckle aftermath humbucker in the bridge of one of my guitars and after some time, i decided to contact bareknuckle and get them to add a cover. before adding the cover i asked them would it reduce noise problems when playing live and they told me yes,which it did, but they also told me the pickup would sound a little darker,which it did. In my case, this was a good thing, and it really made the pickup more pleasing to the ear and gave it a more rounded sound. Killer tone
Nice job! Very clear comparison. The covers do seem to make a slight difference - a bit more high end. That said, when playing, I usually will tweak my amp or guitar tone, or overdrive tone until it sounds good to me. That changes if my strings are new, or older, or if I'm playing my LP, or Tele, or if my tubes are sounding good/bad that day.
You can get back more highs, with a cover on, if you raise the screw poles (like an EQ). Then you maintain noise suppression. Try recording in front of an electrically noisy PC with and without covers sometimes. I have and shielding is important.
I know there are a few videos, but I’d like to see you take on the “sustain” of neck-thru, Bolt-on; and set neck. They’d have to be similar guitars I guess though so maybe that might be difficult. You’re quickly rising up the ranks as one of my favorite guitar channels, you play beautifully.
Great video Kris! It definitely sounds different, a touch ore open and a bit more high end sparkle. Usually I prefer the look with covers, but without is starting to grow on me.
The difference is huge! Which is better, is all about taste and application. For a warm rounded tone, leave the covers on, for a tighter and brighter sound with the most output - take 'em off.
Wow! Very noticeable to me. I recently bought a 2000 Les Paul Classic and was about to buy covers for both pickups but now I won’t because I’m all about clarity and sparkle. I admit that covered looks better and more “classic”, but the tone and response under your fingers is most important. Of course to each their own. This is just my personal preference. I am primarily a Tele player and love the snappy-ness of the single coil pickup. Having the covers off on my Les Paul Classic gives me some of that snappy-ness that I was always missing when playing a Les Paul. And the growl it makes when playing with gain is so GLORIOUS!! 😄 Slash was definitely on to something! Now I enjoy playing my Les Paul Classic so much more than other Pauls I’ve owned because it has a snap and sparkle that I really love. So it’s 😊NO COVERS for me 👍🏼 Thanks a million Kris! So helpful to me! 🙏🏼
To me it was a subtle difference of a slight decrease in the highs with the covers. Like turning down the tone knob a tad. Barely noticeable once you added gain though. I don't think I'd be able to tell easily without a side-by-side comparison. I wonder if it would make less/no difference if the covers were made of something else like plastic, rather than metal. Or a metal that is non-magnetic, since pickups are magnets. Interesting video as always, Kris! :) Would love to see you do similar tone tests for things like nut material, bridge saddles, and tremolo blocks that people claim make a big difference in tone. I've even heard people say that different tuning machines/pegs will change the tone, which sounds kinda crazy to me.
On the clean sounds I preferred covers. On the distorted I liked them open. The difference was so big that I'm gonna have to remove the covers on my guitar.
This is the exact reason why I think Jimmy Page uncovered his T-top bridge pickup. I copied him but that is because I love the bold and almost “muddy” tone of the neck pickup for cleans and crunch. But that openness and chime for the bridge is a massive upgrade (I mean not really since it’s just a slight tonal difference) for my current gear. Although I’d recommend checking out other videos on how to add and remove pickup covers. This guys way works obviously but I have found better explanations and tips.
Excellent video! Congratulations. Very pedagogical and very educational. With covers or without covers it won't be better or worse. It's like you say: only after editing the video did you notice the real differences. It's a matter of taste. I preferred it without the covers. And maybe has to do with the mood of the day. :) Well Done. Cheers,
In my opinion covers are there just for the dust to keep the pick up cleaner. I don’t really hear a difference in the sound.maybe the look is different. Great video thank you.😊
I was honestly surprised by the degree of difference I heard! I can't say that I like one over the other per se; I think it really comes down to style. Your description around the 5:20 mark seems spot on. Which is "better" would really come down to a stylistic choice I think.
Fantastic comparison! Oppositely from what I expected, the presence roll-off from the cover is more evident with the neck pickup than with the bridge pickup!
Open sounds more open and covered sounds more covered 🤔🤣 but you know what they say... never judge a pickup by its cover 😂 Great comparison Kris, thank you 🙏
I did not expect there to be a difference at all. The pickup covers make the pickup slightly darker sounding in the upper mids, tamp down on the chime. That's wild.
My covered 2022 LP 50's standard takes me right back to the 70's, it's a sound, I don't know if I should mess with that... I have lots of other guitars with open humbuckers just not Les Pauls.
I find with the Covers off you can really get that stinging high end Mike Bloomfield Tone. But yet he played with covers on and likely just cranked the treble. It's all personal ear love. Thanks brother. This video was a lot of work. I appreciate you. Thank you
Yeah, definitely a difference. Without the covers it sounded quite a bit more open and a big "stronger" but I have to admid I really like the sound of the middle strings with tthe cover on as it's less harsh and a bit more of what I want to hear from a Les Paul against a PRS or something like that. On my Framus Diablo maybe a cover could bring the sound of the bridge pickup a bit closer to what I feel might be "right".
The differences are quite audible and pretty much as you described. I like the sound of the open pickups, more airy and present. One could easily roll off the tone pot a bit if it's too bright.
Great video Kris! Something i like to do to my humbuckers is adjust my top screws to match the fretboard radius. Just seems to sound more even. Plus the material of the cover makes a difference. Pure nickel covers are best! IMHO lol
Man, the difference is not even subtle. The high end vanishes. Thank you for doing this! Now I'm having second thoughts on putting covers on my LP Menace... I guess I'm going to have to roll back the tone and play it for a while before I commit XD. Again, big thanks.
Hello Kris, as a suggestion for a next episode, I would like to know, how tone changes with different bridge and tailpiece models/materials. For example stock TOM vs ABM solid brass, vs. steel, vs titanium. Or stock tailpiece vs aluminium... Cheers, Andy
I'm blown away. I didn't believe it made any difference. But without the cover it was brighter maybe a little more articulate. I do prefer the covered to my ears.
There is a difference in the high end but whether that is beneficial or not is gonna be pickup specific, IMO. A covered PAF smooths out the ice pick, but a covered tone zone probably sounds awful. I am curious, though, if the radiator/tv style of covers bareknuckle does makes the same difference
I prefer look and sound of covered humbuckers. All of my lespauls have had covers removed by previous owners. I've tried puting covers back on but this created a massive feedback issues. Decided to leave the as they are(without covers) now:) Thanks Kris for another great video.
Use a hair dryer and melt wax in the cover then quickly insert PU and lightly clamp together. While clamped solder, when done tap on cover to make sure wax filled voids. A lot of squeal is from the cover vibrating. Even on unpotted PU's it helps a lot. My Shaws in my 335 squealed bad (unpotted PU's). Didn't want to use wax so just put a layer of electrical tape on backside of cover, no more squeal. I use a thin piece of plywood the size of the cover with a thin boarder of felt to go against the cover then a c clamp with felt on the pad of the screw side to not scratch bottom of PU. Just have to get PU in cover and clamp (lightly) before wax sets.
I did some really quick frequency response analysis for the bridge clean and the bridge high gain comparisons. The covered pickups has a touch more mids, making it sound a little darker. The uncovered had a bit less mids and slightly less lowend, only about 1 bd difference from what I could quickly determine. I did not do some super scientific stuff, just a quick check with a DAW because I wanted to "see" the results in a graph.
I really like the looks of the covers. I normally buy pickups with more highs than I need and put covers on it. Also I use a capacitor to do a high pass filter to remove some of the muddy sound.
I just love the looks of covers-on with less paul. Difference in tone is there, not sure where is my preference. On clean I like better without covers tone, more gain is opposite. Great content, thanks!
I don’t recall Seth Lover saying that pickup covers don’t change the sound. What I read was that he specifically went to great lengths to figure out what material to use for the covers to produce the sound he wanted, and it was nickel-silver that sounded best. I honestly can’t say which I like better, sonically, because covered they sound a bit more focused, but obviously less bright. I can definitely say that aesthetically, I prefer them covered, and since I can always turn up the treble a bit on my amp or pedals, my preference would be to have covers.
Very interesting! The uncovered Pickups are brighter for sure. But on the other hand I roll of my covered Bridge Pickups tone knob if I have the feeling they are too bright. So I dont know if brighter is always better or if it´s more shrill...
Very useful video, I was thinking to do this test on my Les Paul Custom. Danke Kris! Imo, neck pu sounds better without the cover, while bridge pu sounds better with its cover on.
I have a Dimarzio D Activator X with a 1meg volume pot and open brass humbucker cover. It covers the edge of the pickup from strings catching and covers the ribbon but leaves the majority of the pickup top uncovered. You lose the absolute sizzle of the bridge pickup by 10%. It calms down the absolute highest frequency of your pickup. Just like Telecaster neck pickups have a warmer and more buttery sound compared to a Strat neck pickup. But if you have an overdrive pedal, presence/treble on your amp then you can dial in some more highs and focus. But because my covers mostly cover the sides you still get a load of that bridge crisp sound coming through. At the same time the more you cover the more of the high end gets mellowed out which might be perfect if a pickup is to bright or ice pick like for your years. A Dimarzio PAF Pro is quite bright and might sound better if you uncovered one in the bridge and covered the other in the neck.
Suggestion for the next myth-busting video: body mounting pickups vs pickup rings/pickguard. Honestly, I heard a different in my own guitar but I'd like for it to be peer reviewed haha
That’s effect A LOT to me.But I’m a floyd rose player some time after using the floyd.1st will get stuck by the pickups so I'd choose covered one and set the amp brighter
There is a definite difference ... that was interesting. I've been playing a Gibson Custom Shop Historic Les Paul, a 58 and know if I removed the covers I would be not happy. Also I have a lot of wear that I've put in the covers from playing and it is a part of the vibe. I would not like a brighter tone with it and love the "warmth" I call it.
Excellent video, I agree they do sound much more open dynamics uncovered however covered sound mellows the sound so sweetly maybe adding some extra harmonics even? In the end isn't whole les paul business about darker mellow tone compared to single coil open sounding?
Thank you for sharing this experience. I not sure maybe someone elso already written that point, but it would be interesting to see and to hear how will sound the humbuckers with & without the covers while one of 2 coils of humbucker is cutted/disabled. Like will that cover will chage the tune of single coil, if so how deep it would be. Withy regards to your awesome job!
I’ve done this test myself, using the same pickup in the same guitar, and had the same results. In general I prefer covered, partly because of aesthetics, but also because of the warmer fatter tone. I’ll also note it’s pretty much a non issue with an amp with a presence knob. A couple of ticks higher for the covered pickups and it’s 99% the same tone.
Amazing stuff, editing makes it really easy to actually experience the difference. A video in this series I'd love is one comparing bridge and tailpiece types (e.g. stock gibson nashville, vs gibson ABR vs Faber ABR, etc) and then tailpiece material (alu vs whatever Gibson is using on standards), stud material (stainless, brass, pot metal) - and which of them has the highest impact :)
it is different. both have great qualities. they should make the covers easier to remove so you don't have to keep buying new pickups to get a different tone.
Wow amazing demo! BTW your tone is soooo sweet! Personally I think I prefer the uncovered tone with your style. It's definitely noticeably brighter with perhaps more complex harmonics. But the covered definitely sounds more traditional LP tone. I wonder how these compare on a 335 with tone rolled back for a jazz tone? Hmmm. Guess there's only one way to find out. 😁
Hi. Good one and excellent idea. Open sounded better but after 2 minutes of playing I think my brain would not recall the difference, once into a groove or a song. Few ideas for myth busting follow. 1. Does a amp sound different with a 8 vs 16 ohm speaker? 2. Can a 10" speaker provide the same bass response if you adjust the eq c.f. a 12" speaker? 3. Why do some guitar volume pots when turned to to less than 10, eg: 5 or 6 produce more hum, only referring to Humbucker guitars here. 4. Does a roller bridge on a LP or 335 change the tone? 5. Does string angle change anything? 6. Does a 2 point locking tremolo guitar sound different to a locked Floyd Rose? 7. Do good quality volume/tone pots, cabling, output jack, pickup selector improve sound or noise? I think all these may have been done before but I really like how you do videos. Regards.
Great video, 👏👏👏👏👏 I could hear a huge difference in tone, sounds way better without pick up covers - clearer and sharper tone with more definition. With pu covers on - a bassier tone and slightly muffled. Thanks for sharing 😎👍 🎵
You can clearly hear the difference. Without the covers the sound is more open and crisp - I would prefer this. Pretty much what I would have been guessed 😉 Thanks for all the work making this comparison happen 🤘🏻😎
I like the look!!! and in the neck position it prevents the string from catching on the edge. The tonal changes seem like they can be mostly negated by Eq IMHO.
Interesting video. Even on my crappy computer speakers I noticed a difference. Uncovered seemed brighter with a very slightly sharper attack especially on the higher notes. I don't think one is better than the other that is a matter of taste. Thanks for the vid
I can hear a slight difference, in a full mix i don't think you would notice it. With an isolated guitar track you can definitely hear it and there it just comes down to personal preference. I have my bridge cover removed, my neck pickup is still covered but the pole pieces are set higher. The difference in tone is much higher when setting the pole pieces or pickup height, uncovering the bridge pickup was just for aesthetic reasons
A question, what about covered pickups with both of the coils' screws/ bolts/ slugs exposed? I hear the difference, but I'm interested to know if the difference is made by the cover in general, or by the cover blocking one of the coils slugs. In other words, how different are uncovered pickups with a dual screw design, and covered pickups with the same design?
Thanks for the comparison VDO. They're totally difference. The uncover is more aggressive, bright, attack, etc. It doesn't mean better. It depends on what youike. I personally like the one with cover. It' s massive sound. Thanks.
Great Great GREAT vid!!!! its obvious that there are differences ... at leat to my ears !!!! without cover the sound is clearer and like you said more open !!!! with the covers it sounded more warm vintage sound ... the Bad thing is .... i LOVED Both ways !!!!!! grrrrr ..... the differences in tone are small ... but really noticeables i bet if you didnt have the A-B comparisson you wouldnt remember if one or other sounded better .... for what i felt from the video ... the feel, the mood changes ... with the cover it almost makes wat to play some 70's classic rock, i dont know why, but it took me immediately to the sound of bands like "the who" and so ... some POwer Rockn n Roll ... and it might be better for bluesy sounds too.... without the cover it took me to a more modern sound ... Hard rock ... i dont know ... perhaps some Gun n Roses type of sound .... well this is not a great exemple but i mean ... a more modern rock ... like i said i loved both ... the vintage sounds overall (with cover) pleasures me more ... but many times in use with some pedals it gets a bit "muddier" than i wished for ... and it gets me wonder if uncovering the pickups would helep me ... i guess it would .. but then i would lose some of that lovely "vintage" warmth ... Oh Lord Help me !!!! perhaps the best solution is like Plant's and yours ... neck covered ... and bridge uncovered ... now i believe it is the best solution ... if you cant afford two Les Pauls .... :P Thanks Best regards Rui from Portugal
I like the covered sound better as well, that being said could you get the same sound with the tone rolled back ? If so the uncovered would wale on a hard rocking lick.
It's definitely changing the sound. This is tough one. I prefer the look of ones with cover and sound of ones without them. Guess I'll be playing without pickups :v
I agree with most(?) comments: Yes, there is a difference, more muted with cover. However, I regard that difference to be subtle at best, the difference between an aluminium bridge and a brass one being large by comparison, at least for (semi)acoustics. Also, I think of myself as a musician rather than a sound technician. If a closed PU sounds bad, removing the cover won't probably solve the problem.
Vielen dank! No doubts at all, they're brighter w/out the covers, expecially on the neck pup and, both of them, on wound strings. I have a Harley Benton SC-450 Classic Series, black finish (LP inspired), the baby sounds great, the only complain is the rough frets' finish, but the thing is a winner in terms of tone and overall built quality. Through the decades I owned four real Gibsons (including a Cherry Red 335 DOT Reissue and a Wine Red SG '62 Reissue) and now with this HB I have no regrets, at all. I noticed a quite warm neck pick-up, not a defect but being mainly a Strat-guy, I just like an overall brighter tone, and since I have to wax-pot the neck pup (due to the typical microphonic feedback), I'll let it uncovered after the job and I'll uncover the bridge pup too, I just want a bit brighter sounding axe when needed. And when I'll need smoother tones, I'll use the tone controls. Thanks a lot again! 👍🏼👍🏼💪🏼💪🏼
It ain't a myth. Is real! I had an issue with a guitar, the hb neck pup (shn1 59) was sound too pearcing. I considered replacing the pup, so as a last shoot, I installed a cover, and voila, rounded and warmer sound 🙌🏼
I like the looks and shielding of covers, plus my amp has tone controls so I can turn up the treble or presence a bit. It's strange I've done this test before and not had the differences you experienced. The covers being non magnetic should have no effect, and shouldn't have any measurable effect on capacitance. How did you measure PU height since you can't tell accurately the distance inside cover. Almost sounded like uncovered was a tad closer. I've had that same diff. just by raising PU. with cover on it.
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From a pure electronic perspective the covers are a shield slightly increasing capacitance. This rolls off some high end.
Yes that is the physics of the matter. I just haven't heard it so clearly before as in this video.
True! I HATE covered hum buckers!
agree
I'm not sure it does anything to the capacitance! To the magnetic flux and field shape yes but the capacitance!?
Perhaps you could explain to me how it changes the capacitance as I'm only a simple electronics engineer.
@@prook2001 I think it's the same as changing the capacitance because the pickup is model is an RC circuit. But yes it just affects the permeability of the magnetic field which reduces highs.
My 2 cents: Uncovered the pickups sound brighter and more articulate. Covered sound somewhat muted. I experienced the same thing on a Tele neck pickup. I do want to note that chromed brass seems to sound really muffled, and Nickel covers are less attenuating. I prefer uncovered in all situations except High gain . Then its a matter of taste. Thanks for taking the time to do this video.
It's subtle but there's definitely a difference. Though I say "subtle," it's no more subtle than the kinds of small differences people will swap an entire set of pickups for, too.
Your videos are great! I really appreciate people who do actual controlled testing, with back-to-back A/B comparisons, which put to bed the things many other people just argue about endlessly because it's rooted in their beliefs. I've pointed numerous people to your neck comparison video as proof that necks and fretboard material change tone, and some still refuse to admit it even with the evidence right in front of them. I've even extracted EQ curves from that video to prove there was a difference when people still insisted there was none. Sad, yet funny.
Very interesting! I mostly noticed the difference on the attack and not so much on the sustain. When you let some notes/chords ring out my ears adjust. That being said, I think the difference is subtle and simple enough (as in not complex harmonics) that any difference could be erased by just a little EQ. That could be an idea for a series, getting two or more sounds to sound the similar if not the same by adjusting EQ.
This is the best video I've seen making this comparison, well done! Without the covers one hears the whole note, brighter of course but with more chime too. Rolling down the tone a bit on uncovereds will make it more comfortable for those who prefer covers, but you'll still have bigger notes and that chime - who wouldn't want that.
bridge - uncovered, neck - covered..wait, Jimmy did it long long time ago..and was damn right)) Thanks for work, Kris!
Jimmy wacked his t-top bridge pickup cover off when using his bow and never put it back on
Another nice one, Kris. To my ear, there's a subtle but discernible difference. How much difference that difference makes is totally subjective, of course, but your demo has objective merit. As for future videos... the subject of "tone" offers SO many possibilities. Tonewoods (which you've covered from a couple of angles), picks, bolt-on vs. set vs neck-through, strings, various makers of various "59" or "57" or "fat 60s," and on and on.... it's a deep mine shaft. Thanks for shedding some light down there.
Thanks for another great vid, Kris. Keep 'em coming! Love this nerdy stuff. The difference seems slight but clearly audible. I tend to prefer the better defined sound of uncovered PUs, but aesthetically I like the covers more.
Im finding I like the covered sound better. It's like rolling back your tone just a smidge , to roll off some of the nasty icepicks.
Well, you can alway roll off the tone with the pickup covers off. But you can’t add it back in with them on. Well, not as easily. I like both. I have some guitars with , and some without. But mostly without. Depends on the guitar and pickup combo.
@@Wargasm644 Yes I have an even mix of covers and open coils. I tend to prefer to leave them as designed rather than to actually take to the soldering iron to remove any..
I mean, these days, everything is so well made & designed...I trust the experts! I defer to their expertise !!
@@lueymeteora1410 I agree, I leave most things stock , as designed. Typically works best that way. Even down to the strings. If it came from the factory with 9-42’s, I stay with them. I know this sounds a bit ridiculous. But the guitar was set up and the nut slot cut for these particular strings. But if I have to change something I will. But I’ll make sure to set up the guitar accordingly. If I absolutely can’t enjoy a guitar with its stock appointments, I won’t hesitate to change it. As long as it’s reversible. I prefer stock, but I’m not afraid to put EMG’s in a Les Paul custom either. Some pickups sound good with the covers, some don’t. My 57 classics are great with covers. My burstbucker pros, not so much. With or without covers, they don’t do much for me. So I actually swapped them to Seymour Duncan’s. There’s a lot of variables to factor in. And if the guitar needs too many mods, I probably won’t be happy with it anyways. So I’ll just sell it and buy something else.
Roll back Robbie? ;oP
I love those icepick sounds. Same reason I love the bridge pickup on a telecaster.
As usual a very good and interesting job with your channel ! There is a huge difference in fact but in my opinion the covers are more "Gibson tone" and It's not just a difference in spectral equilibrium that you could find by adjusting the tone buttons. The covers bring a kind of mix, a typical blend of the Lespaul sound, something we lose a little by removing them. A french musician.
So many people miss the point that every tone is a tone. it may not be a tone that you grew up idolizing but it's a tone nonetheless and it's up to the musician to make that tone magic. Also what's never talked about is that tone is reliant on the sounds around it. If you have a great tone in your bedroom it may not jive in the studio with a bunch of other tones and musicians in a recording session. Also, with all the available tools for EQ none of this should be fussed over. 98% of the people on the planet can't hear the difference anyway.
Man, great post, but to a pro musician, it matters even if you're the only one that hears it. Always start with the best tone you can have, then modify it to your likening. Absolutely correct about changing locations with sound. You have to be able to adjust to different rooms. My 7 string Ibanez sounds great one place, but my Fender Squire sounds ten times better in others. Its just crazy.
They hear it whether they know it or not, let alone could describe it
"You may not have noticed it... but your brain did."
@@KomboAndy ???
In this comparison you can definitely hear more clarity from the uncovered pickups. They are brighter and clearer to my ears.
I know I prefer that tone because all of my humbuckers are uncovered. I prefer that brightness and clarity. If you want a darker or smoother tone it’s easy to roll off a bit on your tone knob or on your amp.
Great video, Kris. Thanks for your time and hard work.
Yes, that is exactly right! If you want a muddier or warmer tone, you use the knobs. Always start with the cleanest tone and best separation you can get, then adjust your sound.
Yeah this sounds right, you cant get back frequencies which you have lost
Really good comparison. I was expecting that I wouldn't hear much difference - but in fact I could hear a difference all the way through. I think that with covers the sound is more kind of 'smoothed out' between pitches. Without the covers the sound has more 'edge' between pitches. I'm used to playing with covers - but now I want to try without.
this video must have taken an eternity to make lol, I appreciate that! Really informative! Yes, the covered pickups lost just the tiniest amount of high end but for me personally, I love how covered pickups look like. I would pick the covered ones everyday of the week just for aesthetics lol. cheers man!
Ever so slight but without it’s snappier, „Chris“per tone....Great job as usual 👍
Yeah I like a good Krispy tone for sure! 😂 cheers buddy
Slight?
@@KrisBarocsi he missed a trick with that comment 😆 Krisp
The uncovered pickups sound more open and I feel all the high-mid frequencies are more defined. With the covers on everything sound a little bit muddier and more "boxy". Anyway, you enjoy a guitar with your hands and with your eyes as well and covered pickups still look way way way classier and cooler on a Les Paul.
The difference in tone is slight. In fact, most people can't really hear the difference. 😏
yes ... thes the biggest pois ... covered are way more cool and classier ... and we all know that (we) guitarists are all show off !!!!! LOLOLL ; )
Imho uncovered PUs look cooler and rockier. 👍😁
@@Juno58 sorry sir, I had to denounce you to the competent authority for this :D
I disagree. In a strat or tele I like the look of covered but in a Gibson I prefer uncovered
i use a bareknuckle aftermath humbucker in the bridge of one of my guitars and after some time, i decided to contact bareknuckle and get them to add a cover. before adding the cover i asked them would it reduce noise problems when playing live and they told me yes,which it did, but they also told me the pickup would sound a little darker,which it did. In my case, this was a good thing, and it really made the pickup more pleasing to the ear and gave it a more rounded sound. Killer tone
Nice job! Very clear comparison. The covers do seem to make a slight difference - a bit more high end. That said, when playing, I usually will tweak my amp or guitar tone, or overdrive tone until it sounds good to me. That changes if my strings are new, or older, or if I'm playing my LP, or Tele, or if my tubes are sounding good/bad that day.
You can get back more highs, with a cover on, if you raise the screw poles (like an EQ). Then you maintain noise suppression. Try recording in front of an electrically noisy PC with and without covers sometimes. I have and shielding is important.
This is a good point and is my experience as well.
I’ve noticed less noise overall using covered pickups, and I actually prefer the smoother highs.
I know there are a few videos, but I’d like to see you take on the “sustain” of neck-thru, Bolt-on; and set neck. They’d have to be similar guitars I guess though so maybe that might be difficult. You’re quickly rising up the ranks as one of my favorite guitar channels, you play beautifully.
This is the exact reason i play uncovered bridge for that chime, but covered neck pup for a singing-vocal-like tone.
Great video Kris! It definitely sounds different, a touch ore open and a bit more high end sparkle. Usually I prefer the look with covers, but without is starting to grow on me.
The difference is huge! Which is better, is all about taste and application. For a warm rounded tone, leave the covers on, for a tighter and brighter sound with the most output - take 'em off.
Wow! Very noticeable to me. I recently bought a 2000 Les Paul Classic and was about to buy covers for both pickups but now I won’t because I’m all about clarity and sparkle. I admit that covered looks better and more “classic”, but the tone and response under your fingers is most important. Of course to each their own. This is just my personal preference. I am primarily a Tele player and love the snappy-ness of the single coil pickup. Having the covers off on my Les Paul Classic gives me some of that snappy-ness that I was always missing when playing a Les Paul. And the growl it makes when playing with gain is so GLORIOUS!! 😄
Slash was definitely on to something!
Now I enjoy playing my Les Paul Classic so much more than other Pauls I’ve owned because it has a snap and sparkle that I really love.
So it’s 😊NO COVERS for me 👍🏼
Thanks a million Kris! So helpful to me! 🙏🏼
Nice videos man! You're doing great.
To me it was a subtle difference of a slight decrease in the highs with the covers. Like turning down the tone knob a tad. Barely noticeable once you added gain though. I don't think I'd be able to tell easily without a side-by-side comparison. I wonder if it would make less/no difference if the covers were made of something else like plastic, rather than metal. Or a metal that is non-magnetic, since pickups are magnets. Interesting video as always, Kris! :)
Would love to see you do similar tone tests for things like nut material, bridge saddles, and tremolo blocks that people claim make a big difference in tone. I've even heard people say that different tuning machines/pegs will change the tone, which sounds kinda crazy to me.
On the clean sounds I preferred covers. On the distorted I liked them open. The difference was so big that I'm gonna have to remove the covers on my guitar.
This is the exact reason why I think Jimmy Page uncovered his T-top bridge pickup. I copied him but that is because I love the bold and almost “muddy” tone of the neck pickup for cleans and crunch. But that openness and chime for the bridge is a massive upgrade (I mean not really since it’s just a slight tonal difference) for my current gear. Although I’d recommend checking out other videos on how to add and remove pickup covers. This guys way works obviously but I have found better explanations and tips.
Excellent video! Congratulations. Very pedagogical and very educational.
With covers or without covers it won't be better or worse. It's like you say: only after editing the video did you notice the real differences. It's a matter of taste.
I preferred it without the covers. And maybe has to do with the mood of the day. :)
Well Done.
Cheers,
Thanks for this, the difference is so much bigger than I expected. I would not call it subtle.
In my opinion covers are there just for the dust to keep the pick up cleaner. I don’t really hear a difference in the sound.maybe the look is different. Great video thank you.😊
I was honestly surprised by the degree of difference I heard! I can't say that I like one over the other per se; I think it really comes down to style. Your description around the 5:20 mark seems spot on. Which is "better" would really come down to a stylistic choice I think.
Fantastic comparison! Oppositely from what I expected, the presence roll-off from the cover is more evident with the neck pickup than with the bridge pickup!
Open sounds more open and covered sounds more covered 🤔🤣 but you know what they say... never judge a pickup by its cover 😂 Great comparison Kris, thank you 🙏
I did not expect there to be a difference at all. The pickup covers make the pickup slightly darker sounding in the upper mids, tamp down on the chime. That's wild.
Awesome comparison! I still prefer the tones with cover, sounds more clear (less noise) to me with headphones.
And really appreciate your efforts!
My covered 2022 LP 50's standard takes me right back to the 70's, it's a sound, I don't know if I should mess with that... I have lots of other guitars with open humbuckers just not Les Pauls.
Really useful video, thanks. Subscribed
Thanks for the demo. Enough of a difference for someone to have a preference I'd say.
I find with the Covers off you can really get that stinging high end Mike Bloomfield Tone. But yet he played with covers on and likely just cranked the treble. It's all personal ear love. Thanks brother. This video was a lot of work. I appreciate you. Thank you
Covers definitely round the sound out a lot... I like to run a cover on my neck but not my bridge pup. Awesome video man. Thanks for doing it.
Great Work 🙏
Yeah, definitely a difference. Without the covers it sounded quite a bit more open and a big "stronger" but I have to admid I really like the sound of the middle strings with tthe cover on as it's less harsh and a bit more of what I want to hear from a Les Paul against a PRS or something like that. On my Framus Diablo maybe a cover could bring the sound of the bridge pickup a bit closer to what I feel might be "right".
The differences are quite audible and pretty much as you described. I like the sound of the open pickups, more airy and present. One could easily roll off the tone pot a bit if it's too bright.
Awesome review! Thanks
Great video Kris! Something i like to do to my humbuckers is adjust my top screws to match the fretboard radius. Just seems to sound more even. Plus the material of the cover makes a difference. Pure nickel covers are best! IMHO lol
Man, the difference is not even subtle. The high end vanishes. Thank you for doing this! Now I'm having second thoughts on putting covers on my LP Menace... I guess I'm going to have to roll back the tone and play it for a while before I commit XD. Again, big thanks.
I like the covered better. Sounds more ‘humbuckery’ and just looks way better too
Hello Kris, as a suggestion for a next episode, I would like to know, how tone changes with different bridge and tailpiece models/materials. For example stock TOM vs ABM solid brass, vs. steel, vs titanium. Or stock tailpiece vs aluminium...
Cheers, Andy
Hi Kris, thanks for this video. The difference is bigger than i thought it would be. Ik like the sound without the covers, its sound less wooly to me
I'm blown away. I didn't believe it made any difference. But without the cover it was brighter maybe a little more articulate. I do prefer the covered to my ears.
There is a difference in the high end but whether that is beneficial or not is gonna be pickup specific, IMO. A covered PAF smooths out the ice pick, but a covered tone zone probably sounds awful. I am curious, though, if the radiator/tv style of covers bareknuckle does makes the same difference
I prefer look and sound of covered humbuckers. All of my lespauls have had covers removed by previous owners. I've tried puting covers back on but this created a massive feedback issues. Decided to leave the as they are(without covers) now:)
Thanks Kris for another great video.
Use a hair dryer and melt wax in the cover then quickly insert PU and lightly clamp together. While clamped solder, when done tap on cover to make sure wax filled voids. A lot of squeal is from the cover vibrating. Even on unpotted PU's it helps a lot. My Shaws in my 335 squealed bad (unpotted PU's). Didn't want to use wax so just put a layer of electrical tape on backside of cover, no more squeal. I use a thin piece of plywood the size of the cover with a thin boarder of felt to go against the cover then a c clamp with felt on the pad of the screw side to not scratch bottom of PU. Just have to get PU in cover and clamp (lightly) before wax sets.
I did some really quick frequency response analysis for the bridge clean and the bridge high gain comparisons.
The covered pickups has a touch more mids, making it sound a little darker.
The uncovered had a bit less mids and slightly less lowend, only about 1 bd difference from what I could quickly determine.
I did not do some super scientific stuff, just a quick check with a DAW because I wanted to "see" the results in a graph.
I really like the looks of the covers. I normally buy pickups with more highs than I need and put covers on it. Also I use a capacitor to do a high pass filter to remove some of the muddy sound.
Uhh that sounds awesome with the capacitor. Gotta try that one day. Thanks for the comment buddy!
Thanks this is great. No covered pickups sounded best in every situation more clear tone and not so muddy/boxy
I just love the looks of covers-on with less paul. Difference in tone is there, not sure where is my preference. On clean I like better without covers tone, more gain is opposite. Great content, thanks!
Thanks for doing this, subtle but the difference is there. I’m going to leave my LP alone but the cover is coming off my tele neck pup.
I don’t recall Seth Lover saying that pickup covers don’t change the sound. What I read was that he specifically went to great lengths to figure out what material to use for the covers to produce the sound he wanted, and it was nickel-silver that sounded best. I honestly can’t say which I like better, sonically, because covered they sound a bit more focused, but obviously less bright. I can definitely say that aesthetically, I prefer them covered, and since I can always turn up the treble a bit on my amp or pedals, my preference would be to have covers.
Absolutely right!
Very interesting! The uncovered Pickups are brighter for sure. But on the other hand I roll of my covered Bridge Pickups tone knob if I have the feeling they are too bright. So I dont know if brighter is always better or if it´s more shrill...
Great video!
Very useful video, I was thinking to do this test on my Les Paul Custom. Danke Kris!
Imo, neck pu sounds better without the cover, while bridge pu sounds better with its cover on.
I have a Dimarzio D Activator X with a 1meg volume pot and open brass humbucker cover. It covers the edge of the pickup from strings catching and covers the ribbon but leaves the majority of the pickup top uncovered. You lose the absolute sizzle of the bridge pickup by 10%. It calms down the absolute highest frequency of your pickup. Just like Telecaster neck pickups have a warmer and more buttery sound compared to a Strat neck pickup. But if you have an overdrive pedal, presence/treble on your amp then you can dial in some more highs and focus. But because my covers mostly cover the sides you still get a load of that bridge crisp sound coming through. At the same time the more you cover the more of the high end gets mellowed out which might be perfect if a pickup is to bright or ice pick like for your years. A Dimarzio PAF Pro is quite bright and might sound better if you uncovered one in the bridge and covered the other in the neck.
Suggestion for the next myth-busting video: body mounting pickups vs pickup rings/pickguard. Honestly, I heard a different in my own guitar but I'd like for it to be peer reviewed haha
That’s effect A LOT to me.But I’m a floyd rose player
some time after using the floyd.1st will get stuck by the pickups
so I'd choose covered one and set the amp brighter
There is a definite difference ... that was interesting. I've been playing a Gibson Custom Shop Historic Les Paul, a 58 and know if I removed the covers I would be not happy. Also I have a lot of wear that I've put in the covers from playing and it is a part of the vibe. I would not like a brighter tone with it and love the "warmth" I call it.
Excellent video, I agree they do sound much more open dynamics uncovered however covered sound mellows the sound so sweetly maybe adding some extra harmonics even?
In the end isn't whole les paul business about darker mellow tone compared to single coil open sounding?
Thank you for sharing this experience.
I not sure maybe someone elso already written that point, but it would be interesting to see and to hear how will sound the humbuckers with & without the covers while one of 2 coils of humbucker is cutted/disabled. Like will that cover will chage the tune of single coil, if so how deep it would be.
Withy regards to your awesome job!
I’ve done this test myself, using the same pickup in the same guitar, and had the same results.
In general I prefer covered, partly because of aesthetics, but also because of the warmer fatter tone.
I’ll also note it’s pretty much a non issue with an amp with a presence knob.
A couple of ticks higher for the covered pickups and it’s 99% the same tone.
Amazing stuff, editing makes it really easy to actually experience the difference.
A video in this series I'd love is one comparing bridge and tailpiece types (e.g. stock gibson nashville, vs gibson ABR vs Faber ABR, etc) and then tailpiece material (alu vs whatever Gibson is using on standards), stud material (stainless, brass, pot metal) - and which of them has the highest impact :)
Great comparison presentation.
I like the uncovered sound. Great video Chris
it is different. both have great qualities. they should make the covers easier to remove so you don't have to keep buying new pickups to get a different tone.
Wow amazing demo! BTW your tone is soooo sweet! Personally I think I prefer the uncovered tone with your style. It's definitely noticeably brighter with perhaps more complex harmonics. But the covered definitely sounds more traditional LP tone. I wonder how these compare on a 335 with tone rolled back for a jazz tone? Hmmm. Guess there's only one way to find out. 😁
Great video! thanks!
Interesting and o my ear, even on a cell phone, the pickups without covers are a tiny bit brighter and more crisp
Great video 📹
Hi. Good one and excellent idea. Open sounded better but after 2 minutes of playing I think my brain would not recall the difference, once into a groove or a song. Few ideas for myth busting follow.
1. Does a amp sound different with a 8 vs 16 ohm speaker?
2. Can a 10" speaker provide the same bass response if you adjust the eq c.f. a 12" speaker?
3. Why do some guitar volume pots when turned to to less than 10, eg: 5 or 6 produce more hum, only referring to Humbucker guitars here.
4. Does a roller bridge on a LP or 335 change the tone?
5. Does string angle change anything?
6. Does a 2 point locking tremolo guitar sound different to a locked Floyd Rose?
7. Do good quality volume/tone pots, cabling, output jack, pickup selector improve sound or noise?
I think all these may have been done before but I really like how you do videos. Regards.
Glad to hear you liked it! Such awesome suggestions. Let me note them real quick. Haha
amazing comparison! thanks for sharing
Great video. Thanks! You could record a follow up after having reviewed the footage and add your conclusion.
Great video, 👏👏👏👏👏
I could hear a huge difference in tone, sounds way better without pick up covers - clearer and sharper tone with more definition.
With pu covers on - a bassier tone and slightly muffled.
Thanks for sharing 😎👍 🎵
You can clearly hear the difference. Without the covers the sound is more open and crisp - I would prefer this.
Pretty much what I would have been guessed 😉
Thanks for all the work making this comparison happen 🤘🏻😎
I like the look!!! and in the neck position it prevents the string from catching on the edge. The tonal changes seem like they can be mostly negated by Eq IMHO.
BTW: Tasty playing, and those pickups sound great! What models are they?
Interesting video. Even on my crappy computer speakers I noticed a difference. Uncovered seemed brighter with a very slightly sharper attack especially on the higher notes. I don't think one is better than the other that is a matter of taste. Thanks for the vid
Best without cover! Your playing it's very nice!
Uncovered definitely has a clearer sound. The covers make it about more mid woofy
Can you do one of these with nickel vs chrome vs no cover?
I can hear a slight difference, in a full mix i don't think you would notice it. With an isolated guitar track you can definitely hear it and there it just comes down to personal preference. I have my bridge cover removed, my neck pickup is still covered but the pole pieces are set higher. The difference in tone is much higher when setting the pole pieces or pickup height, uncovering the bridge pickup was just for aesthetic reasons
A question, what about covered pickups with both of the coils' screws/ bolts/ slugs exposed?
I hear the difference, but I'm interested to know if the difference is made by the cover in general, or by the cover blocking one of the coils slugs.
In other words, how different are uncovered pickups with a dual screw design, and covered pickups with the same design?
Thanks for the comparison VDO. They're totally difference. The uncover is more aggressive, bright, attack, etc. It doesn't mean better. It depends on what youike. I personally like the one with cover. It' s massive sound. Thanks.
definitely more bite without the covers. great video! thanks
Great Great GREAT vid!!!! its obvious that there are differences ... at leat to my ears !!!!
without cover the sound is clearer and like you said more open !!!!
with the covers it sounded more warm vintage sound ...
the Bad thing is ....
i LOVED Both ways !!!!!! grrrrr .....
the differences in tone are small ... but really noticeables
i bet if you didnt have the A-B comparisson you wouldnt remember if one or other sounded better ....
for what i felt from the video ... the feel, the mood changes ...
with the cover it almost makes wat to play some 70's classic rock, i dont know why, but it took me immediately to the sound of bands like "the who" and so ... some POwer Rockn n Roll ... and it might be better for bluesy sounds too....
without the cover it took me to a more modern sound ... Hard rock ... i dont know ... perhaps some Gun n Roses type of sound .... well this is not a great exemple but i mean ... a more modern rock ...
like i said i loved both ... the vintage sounds overall (with cover) pleasures me more ... but many times in use with some pedals it gets a bit "muddier" than i wished for ... and it gets me wonder if uncovering the pickups would helep me ...
i guess it would .. but then i would lose some of that lovely "vintage" warmth ...
Oh Lord Help me !!!!
perhaps the best solution is like Plant's and yours ... neck covered ... and bridge uncovered ...
now i believe it is the best solution ... if you cant afford two Les Pauls ....
:P
Thanks
Best regards
Rui from Portugal
I like the covered sound better as well, that being said could you get the same sound with the tone rolled back ? If so the uncovered would wale on a hard rocking lick.
It's definitely changing the sound. This is tough one. I prefer the look of ones with cover and sound of ones without them. Guess I'll be playing without pickups :v
Same here dude! Haha!
I agree with most(?) comments: Yes, there is a difference, more muted with cover. However, I regard that difference to be subtle at best, the difference between an aluminium bridge and a brass one being large by comparison, at least for (semi)acoustics. Also, I think of myself as a musician rather than a sound technician. If a closed PU sounds bad, removing the cover won't probably solve the problem.
Vielen dank! No doubts at all, they're brighter w/out the covers, expecially on the neck pup and, both of them, on wound strings. I have a Harley Benton SC-450 Classic Series, black finish (LP inspired), the baby sounds great, the only complain is the rough frets' finish, but the thing is a winner in terms of tone and overall built quality. Through the decades I owned four real Gibsons (including a Cherry Red 335 DOT Reissue and a Wine Red SG '62 Reissue) and now with this HB I have no regrets, at all. I noticed a quite warm neck pick-up, not a defect but being mainly a Strat-guy, I just like an overall brighter tone, and since I have to wax-pot the neck pup (due to the typical microphonic feedback), I'll let it uncovered after the job and I'll uncover the bridge pup too, I just want a bit brighter sounding axe when needed. And when I'll need smoother tones, I'll use the tone controls. Thanks a lot again! 👍🏼👍🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Clear difference - I like it more with the cover on! Great chime!
Uncovered are brighter - my favourite. Great Vid Mr. Kristoferson.
Haha! Thanks man! Mine too. I love percussive and open humbuckers. Cheers
It ain't a myth. Is real! I had an issue with a guitar, the hb neck pup (shn1 59) was sound too pearcing. I considered replacing the pup, so as a last shoot, I installed a cover, and voila, rounded and warmer sound 🙌🏼
Brilliant video ...... usually tasty playing but the neck crunch riff has that extra sauce.
Thanks so much! :)
I could definitely hear a difference. I liked covers on but that’s just my preference
I like the looks and shielding of covers, plus my amp has tone controls so I can turn up the treble or presence a bit. It's strange I've done this test before and not had the differences you experienced. The covers being non magnetic should have no effect, and shouldn't have any measurable effect on capacitance. How did you measure PU height since you can't tell accurately the distance inside cover. Almost sounded like uncovered was a tad closer. I've had that same diff. just by raising PU. with cover on it.