Screws in or out?

[MartinB]

Covers on a Precision look cool, and I never found that they got in the way - I just don't currently have a suitable bass to put them on. I can imagine the Jazz ones could be annoying due to the much larger footprint of the bridge cover though.

[chris_b]

I took  the covers off my Precision because I played right over the pickup, I didn't like the sound of the foam, it was a hassle to change the strings, and most importantly because John McVie took his off. I was easily influenced in those days!!

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

They're basically metallic talent inhibitors. We can't get to the sweet spot or move around the pickups for different sounds with them on.

 

Marcus Miller uses the neck pickup cover as a wrist rest, but I'm sure it still gets in the way.

 

I'm sure it was a great idea in the 1950s/60s to add them and have mute pads attached inside the bridge cover, but techniques have moved on in the ensuing 75 years - unless you're looking for the Laura Lee style consistency...

 

I'm sorry, I fell asleep there for a moment.

 

Bridge mutes can sound awesome for the right song.

[HeadlessBassist]

12 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Bridge mutes can sound awesome for the right song.

Palm muting can sound even better and more expressive.

[TimR]

2 hours ago, Wombat said:

And literally no one has said why we take them off!

Are we just sheep?

I saw someone recently rest their palm on the pup cover while they slapped. Seemed a neat way to avoid damping the strings accidentally?

 

2 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

They're basically metallic talent inhibitors. We can't get to the sweet spot or move around the pickups for different sounds with them on.

 

Marcus Miller uses the neck pickup cover as a wrist rest, but I'm sure it still gets in the way.

 

I'm sure it was a great idea in the 1950s/60s to add them and have mute pads attached inside the bridge cover, but techniques have moved on in the ensuing 75 years - unless you're looking for the Laura Lee style consistency...

 

I'm sorry, I fell asleep there for a moment.

 

Aren't they foam backed and so damp the strings automatically.

 

Hence - take them off if you don't like the sound. 

[Wombat]

The foam has long since rotted and I can’t remember what it sounded like before. This bass has been in my brothers wardrobe for the last 20 odd years 😂.

And Headlessbassist made me realise that it WAS Marcus Miller that I saw resting on the pup cover! Saw him at Koko in London last month! 😂