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Post subject: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:42 am
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Does anyone run their Tele neck pickup naked - without the chrome metal cover? How does it sound compared to with the cover on? Brighter? Darker? No different?

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:57 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
Does anyone run their Tele neck pickup naked - without the chrome metal cover? How does it sound compared to with the cover on? Brighter? Darker? No different?


It's slightly louder where the string separation along with the mids and highs are a bit better. I would attribute this to the absence of the cover for with the cover on, there is space between the inside of the cover and the tops of the pole pieces. By necessity, without the cover, the overall height/angle of the pole pieces can be better managed. Also, without the cover, capacitance is reduced. Lastly, depending on the individual guitar, there MAY be a slight increase in 60 cycle hum but nothing more extreme than a 'typical' Strat pickup which I may add, is what this pickup without the cover sounds most like.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:06 am
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Never run mine uncovered, but it seems that if everything Martian is saying is so, then it might be worth doing. What is required to remove the cover? Is it just held on by the pickup mounting screws?
I like the middle pickup on my Blackout Tele, but the neck pickup leaves a little to be desired. Maybe I'll try uncovering the neck pup and see how I like it. So my question is still...how do I remove the cover?

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Last edited by TimDrakeMusic on Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 1:42 pm
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Martian wrote:
It's slightly louder where the string separation along with the mids and highs are a bit better. I would attribute this to the absence of the cover for with the cover on, there is space between the inside of the cover and the tops of the pole pieces. By necessity, without the cover, the overall height/angle of the pole pieces can be better managed. Also, without the cover, capacitance is reduced. Lastly, depending on the individual guitar, there MAY be a slight increase in 60 cycle hum but nothing more extreme than a 'typical' Strat pickup which I may add, is what this pickup without the cover sounds most like.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.


I am running GFS Neovin Vintage Noiseless pickups on my Squier BSB Affinity Tele. I really like the sound of both pickups and they are nice and quiet compared to the factory pickups. The neck pickup sometimes seems a little bloated and muddy in the bass, particularly the low "E" string. I have resolved most of that by careful adjustment of pickup height and angle but was curious as to the effect of removing the neck pickup cover completely. I might do it or I might not. :D

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 1:44 pm
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TimDrakeMusic wrote:
Never run mine uncovered, but it seems that if everything Martian is saying is so, then it might be worth doing. What is required to remove the cover? Is it just held on by the pickup mounting screws?
I like the neck pickup on my Blackout Tele, but the middle pickup leaves a little to be desired. Maybe I'll try uncovering the middle pup and see how I like it. So my question is still...how do I remove the cover?


My cover is just held on by a couple of tabs on the cover that snap to the bottom pickup bobbin or whatever the bottom plate on the pickup is called. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:57 pm
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My '62 Tele Custom Reissue sported a naked front pickup and it was louder for sure and I thought it was brighter and yet had a bit more meat to it! I actually prefer the sound for that pickup. 8)

FWIW

T2

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 4:22 pm
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TimDrakeMusic wrote:
...So my question is still...how do I remove the cover?


There is a tiny solid wire going from the cover to the negative wire eyelet of the pickup. Cut this solid wire. From the cover, there will also be a metal tab or two bent around the base of the pickup. Pry (bend) this/these tab(s) straight and this shall free the cover. Make absolutely sure you have enough clearance so that these tabs do not drag (gouge) the pickup winding. That's it.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:00 pm
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This '53 Esquire partscaster, which is certainly one of the most valuable guitars in the world from a collector's perspective, has gone through many changes over the years, and has run a "naked" neck pup for many years. Hopefully, it will someday reside in the Smithsonian.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:17 pm
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Martian wrote:
TimDrakeMusic wrote:
...So my question is still...how do I remove the cover?


There is a tiny solid wire going from the cover to the negative wire eyelet of the pickup. Cut this solid wire. From the cover, there will also be a metal tab or two bent around the base of the pickup. Pry (bend) this/these tab(s) straight and this shall free the cover. Make absolutely sure you have enough clearance so that these tabs do not drag (gouge) the pickup winding. That's it.


Thanks Martian, your expert advice is always appreciated. I shall remove the cover next string change and see how I like it. Of course a steady hand is at the top of my priority list when it comes to any delicate job...I'll take care to not kill the winding.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:39 pm
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TimDrakeMusic wrote:
Thanks Martian, your expert advice is always appreciated. I shall remove the cover next string change and see how I like it. Of course a steady hand is at the top of my priority list when it comes to any delicate job...I'll take care to not kill the winding.


You're quite welcome.

It's not difficult at all to do. You just have to be 'in the mood', so to speak. Bear in mind though that once the cover is removed, the coil will be exposed to the elements. In light of this, I urgently recommend you protect it by putting a fabric type tape around it.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:51 pm
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Martian wrote:
TimDrakeMusic wrote:
Thanks Martian, your expert advice is always appreciated. I shall remove the cover next string change and see how I like it. Of course a steady hand is at the top of my priority list when it comes to any delicate job...I'll take care to not kill the winding.


You're quite welcome.

It's not difficult at all to do. You just have to be 'in the mood', so to speak. Bear in mind though that once the cover is removed, the coil will be exposed to the elements. In light of this, I urgently recommend you protect it by putting a fabric type tape around it.


Sounds like a good idea with the tape as well. I'll see if there's any around the house. Otherwise I'll make a trip to the store and pick some up.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:07 pm
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TimDrakeMusic wrote:
Martian wrote:
TimDrakeMusic wrote:
Thanks Martian, your expert advice is always appreciated. I shall remove the cover next string change and see how I like it. Of course a steady hand is at the top of my priority list when it comes to any delicate job...I'll take care to not kill the winding.


You're quite welcome.

It's not difficult at all to do. You just have to be 'in the mood', so to speak. Bear in mind though that once the cover is removed, the coil will be exposed to the elements. In light of this, I urgently recommend you protect it by putting a fabric type tape around it.


Sounds like a good idea with the tape as well. I'll see if there's any around the house. Otherwise I'll make a trip to the store and pick some up.


I popped the cover off the stock pickup that came with my Squier Tele (haven't touched the GFS pickup that's in it yet) and found that the coil was already wrapped in tape. Maybe yours will be too.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:05 am
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Thanks for that bit of info Bluesky...good to know. So did you notice any differences after removing the cover?

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:10 pm
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TimDrakeMusic wrote:
Thanks for that bit of info Bluesky...good to know. So did you notice any differences after removing the cover?


Sorry for any confusion. I removed the cover from the stock pickup that I replaced with the GFS pickup. The stock pickup was not connected. I just wanted to see what it looked like. I have not touched the GFS pickup that is actually installed in the guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Naked Neck Pickup
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:40 pm
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Martian covered things rather well here, but I thought I had better point out a couple of others.

First, many guitar greats have used uncovered neck pickups on a Tele, and Roy Buchanan, a true Master of the Telecaster, comes to mind. Note that, though many like the uncovered sound -- well described by Martian -- it will no longer sound much like that distinctive "choked off" Tele neck pickup sound that some of us love so much about Teles. When I want a Strat neck pickup sound I grab my Strats which sport the custom '69s in that position (can't say enough about that pup in that position). Next, keep in mind that bare uncovered pickups are subject to more abuse than dirt and grime. Take a good look at an up-close photo of Steve Vai's "FLO" Ibanez. He has to use a good chunk of tape to keep the high E string from catching under the top bobbin cover. THIS can happen to you, potentially breaking windings and killing the pup -- or just being a total nuisance if not a killer. So you have been warned.

Finally, the cover on the neck Tele pickup has changed over the years, and aftermarket ones vary, too. First of all, these tend to have the thickest metal covers of any common pickups ever used on a guitar, hence another reason for their distinctive sound. Some use plated copper, some just all steel, some nickel. And there are so many different types available I'd rather replace than alter. I'd figure out what sound I was really after first, then chase it down.


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