Blank or closed pickup covers

[Grassie]

Hi all,

Has anyone ever replaced the covers (the actual black plastic enclosures as opposed to the chrome ashtray jobs) on pickups with exposed pole pieces with blank or closed type covers?

I want to try a set on my Squier jazz bass but am concerned that a blank cover will cause a reduction in volume/output as the pole pieces will be covered. Some reasons for me wanting to try this:

I'm quite heavy handed when digging in and often catch the string on the pole piece, causing that horrible clicking sound.

I can't keep the pole pieces clean for love nor money. I get sweaty hands when playing and the poles on all my basses have a certain degree of corrosion. In the past some have actually gone a bit rusty.

I don't actually like the look of exposed pole piece pickups, closed ones look much nicer.

Thoughts/experiences anyone?

[Dazed]

Often seen tape covering exposed poles to overcome the clicks. 

[hooky_lowdown]

Putting closed covers will make no difference to your sound, you may need to adjust the pickup height though.

[PlungerModerno]

I agree you should try it with tape before spending money - see if it solves your problem.

A more permanent solution is to take off the covers and replace them with solid ones, or if you don't mind modding the pickup covers - gluing wood veneer or plastic to the face of the cover. It won't look like an Xotic pickup: 

But it should work. Woods generally easier to paint than plastic if you wanted a solid colour. If the strings are hitting it a very tough wood or plastic would be ideal, or just lower the pickups (maybe look at a preamp or booster for raising the output, or just hotter pickups? if you don't like the way they sound lowered).

[ikay]

20 hours ago, hooky_lowdown said:

... you may need to adjust the pickup height though.

+1 If the strings are currently hitting your open pole pieces then they will certainly hit any top covering unless you lower them which will slightly reduce the output.