Covered vs Uncovered Pickups! - Truth or Scam??

Have you ever wondered if the type of cover on your pickups changes their tone?
Wonder no longer! Watch this video to find out!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe :)
RELISH GUITARS:
imp.i114863.ne...
T-SHIRT STORE:
teespring.com/...
TAB STORE:
Songs, Lesson Worksheets, and Guitar Techniques!
www.etsy.com/c...
DARRELL'S GUITARS & GEAR LIST!
imp.i114863.ne...
MY AMPS:
H&K Grand Meister Deluxe 40 - imp.i114863.ne...
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier - imp.i114863.ne...
PATREON:
Become a Patron to be eligible for exclusive monthly Gear Give-Aways and Lesson TABs!
/ darrellbraunguitar
ALBUM:
iTunes:
itunes.apple.c...
OTHER FAVOURITE GEAR:
*Obsidian Wire Solderless Kits - obsidianwire.com?aff=5
*Guitar Parts & Build Kits - www.solomusicg...?ref=1931
*Journey Guitars - journeyinstrum...
Enjoy!

[@hunterm.moreno4201]

I've always perfered covered pickups just because they look slick

[@BoozyBeggar]

That's definitely the best reason for a gear purchase. ;)

[@jean-renepirlet]

@@BoozyBeggar lol

[@BoozyBeggar]

@@jean-renepirlet I said that with a wink, but I actually meant it. You just can't beat nickel covered humbuckers or a good colorful burst finish. It's all in the fingers anyway.

[@yonesmoloodi1886]

People make fun of u but beauty of a guitar is really important , u don't marry ugly girl

[@bigplopa1]

@@yonesmoloodi1886 You do if you want to be happy for the rest of your life. :)

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Great test but having no pick ups at all is what truly makes a difference!

[@maekong2010]

That was hilarious, Soyborne. And more than just a little bit true. I've watched so many pup comparisons, I'm fairly convinced that, as long as you have them, it almost doesn't matter which ones you use. What I am concerned with is the inherent-balance characteristics in one set vs. another, and, additionally, their potential _to be balanced,_ one brand/type over another. Especially in the ceramic vs. alnico realm.

[@realtruenorth]

@@maekong2010 no,, he was right, you don't need pickups at all. LOL

[@maekong2010]

@@realtruenorth Alright then. If you need me, I’ll be ripping the pickups out of my Les Paul. 😆

[@realtruenorth]

@@maekong2010 I already ripped mine out. So liberating

[@esgermantonio]

Plot Twist: he was always playing with the bridge pickup hole.

[@bloemundude]

Oops, wrong hole. Story of my life!

[@Rick_Cleland]

@@bloemundude 😔😔😔

[@yoshizukuri]

Using this guitar for this experiment! Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant!!

[@gornthelizardkingofplanete2031]

Hi Darrell, I'm not sure if you'll see this, but from what I can tell you remain pretty active in your comments section. I just wanted you to know how much I truly appreciate the work that goes into your videos. I was never, and I mean never, one to look at gear, but I quickly got sucked in after my very beginner guitar I've been playing for almost 3 years finally broke. After finding your channel, I can say with full certainty, that it is the single most direct, understandable, to the point, while also thorough, guitar channels out there. You have made my transition into a gearhead one of the most enjoyable things about my interest in guitar. Not only is your work excellent and unparalleled, your genuine love and care for guitars shows through greatly, and your amazing personality is also a huge plus. Thank you sincerely, from one of your recent and nonetheless huge fans.

[@Garbox80]

I totally agree. And the fact that he doesn't let his biases (if there is some on the matter at hand) show and affect. Of course he can mention that he likes something better, but that doesn't show in those explanations and samples. Even in this video he said that you can always tweak your eq to adjust your sound (and in this case make the difference smaller or even disappear).

[@kyleinnes4963]

Dang bro so heartfelt

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

I heard no difference with the mushy distorted sounds but the 3rd test was very clear: there was a lot more high end and clarity from the uncovered pick-up. Not a myth, then.

[@RC32Smiths01]

I have said it before and I'll say it again, you always make any guitar made under any pickup or circumstance the best it could be! Both sounded pretty awesome man! Great work

[@rnarizona9686]

Yes, using this guitar for this demonstration was perfect. I really couldn't find much difference in the tones between the two when there was any gain or distortion involved. However, on the clean tone, the one that Darrell thought was more difficult to distinguish, I thought that the uncovered sounded noticeably better.

[@bikeman1x11]

it was clear as day which was which to me

[@adamhiggins2160]

I agree the clean one was far more noticeable but I actually preferred the covered sound on that test

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

THANK YOU playing the comparison clips without any talking or long pauses between them!

[@josephgrant757]

The uncovered pickups resonated more and honestly has more sustain. The covered pickups were more slightly warmer. Enjoy the video again Darrell!

[@TwoAMBlacktop]

I’m listening on an iPad, and it’s quite a big difference. Uncovered, it’s definitely brighter and clearer.

[@christianchapman9799]

I actually did this as a science experiment back in high school once since it involved magnetic fields and stuff and wasn't able to actually test it due to the inability to change my pickups, and my teacher failed me due to that! Said that since it was just based on equations and stuff instead of actual tests it was likely wrong.. well now this proved i was right this whole time

[@Gmogli]

I am super curious what your results were? What differences did you find mathematically? I know this comment is old so I hope you see this lol

[@kelalliovatti]

Pickup schmickup, can we talk about how DAMN GOOD the new studio looks as a backdrop!?! That's some prime accent lighting there, very cool!

[@jerryx2000]

Next video: Same pick up but different guitar body-

[@angrycharlie]

Oh you don't say! I hope he'll do it.

[@pitchpipeproductions6937]

This pls

[@iainbuchanan5577]

Fore humbuckers: Ive found a big difference with alnico 5 pickups more that other types of magnets. Not sure what you had for this vid. Ive also found using covers that have no holes for the adjustable pins makes a marked difference

[@ts4gv]

yes please

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

Jeremy Eden, Yeah, same body made of different woods, different finishes, plastic, bone or Delrin nut, bolt-on or set neck, CuNi, Ag, stainless, narrow, medium or jumbo frets, maple, ebony, Amazon or Indian Rosewood fingerboards, Brasillian or Phillipine Mahogany necks, underwound, or overwound, various wire-guage pups, ceramic or Alnico magnets, pole-pieces, small or large pots, paper-in-oil or orange-drop caps, import or Switchcraft switches, unshielded or shielded wiring, short or long cords, flat, round or oval-wound strings, cast, stamped or machined saddles, trapeze, thru-body or stop tailpieces? How about amps? Solid state, hybrid or tubes? EL84s or 6L6s? Celestron, EV or Utah speakers; 10, 12 or 15(s)?

[@rockandrollmd541]

Raising the polepieces on covered pickups will give a more articulate, punchy sound. Just lower the overall pickup height a bit and raise the screws to your preference. Many people never adjust the screws.

[@Ndlanding]

S'true! I used to fart about with the screws to get a better string balance.

[@vladimirerfan7721]

That’s what I do to my bridge pickups. I usually lower it on the wound string side and raise the pole pieces on the same side. Have to play a bit and do little adjustments to fine tune it, but the result is great usually - the thin strings have a full sound and the thick wound strings cut through more.

[@lukegoffkat]

I have a Squire and there are no screws to change the Hight of the poles. :(

[@alexandro2390]

I didn't expected that much difference, The covered pickups sound, seemed muffled and more closed, indeed, a little softer and warmer, while the uncovered one is in my opinion, more open, clear, bright and articulate too !

[@medievalsessions]

I could easily identify each example from my phone, no need for high quality audio. Its subtle but really subtlety is a vast chasm when it comes to dialing in your preferred tone I think every guitarist can agree with.

[@jvin248]

The covers provide noise shielding, which can be a problem with uncovered pickups trying to record in front of a computer or other electrically noisy environment. You may be able to tell a difference but the covers give you an important functional noise reduction.

[@ChristopherFreedom]

I prefer the uncovered they are definitely a little brighter and more refined sounding. The covers tone/mute them down a bit.

[@scottsherman2279]

The attack of the notes and being able to hear the individual ones in chords was a dead giveaway, even on bad speakers when I unplugged. The finger style was actually easiest for me to spot because the attack of the notes was different regardless of how loud you played them. This helps me a lot when I think about what I want in utility guitars. Awesome stuff!

[@billducas]

The difference is minimal in that you can change your picking slight, and get close to the same tone. Angle the pick slightly, or move it a 1/2" or so closer or farther from the bridge will change the tone. Change the position of the mic on your amp. Or adjust your amp setting slightly. In the end, we may hear a difference, but the crowd won't.

[@Newnodrogbob]

Exactly. This covers so many of the points of debate around electric guitar tone. Woods, nuts, necks, bridges,-all have a scientifically measurable impact on the signal sent to the amplifier. Many times the difference is negligible to the end listener. So many guitarists are concerned with the pissing contest of “I can hear the difference, can’t you?” That they fail to ask the important question: does the difference matter?

[@DamnedEyez]

Obviously only audiophiles and the player will tell the difference in a controlled environment, but if having that in someone's head makes them play better or more inspired, more power to them. But that all comes down to personal preferences, and those pissing contests miss that point. Basically, if you like it and it works, do it,

[@pdp977]

Nice to see an audience-focused perception. I have 30+ guitars. Unless the change is great - acoustic to resonator - they all just sound like "a guitar" to my wife and kids. In a mix, with an engineer cutting and boosting to get the guitar to fit in with the other instruments I'm guessing the effect of most of these minor changes is zero to the listener. I prefer to concentrate on what I like about a guitar and leave the "tone paint" nonsense to people with time on their hands.

[@ViviSectia]

Can't forget that very little music is just dry guitar and nothing else. Even without changing anything, I'm doubtful even the person playing will be able to pick out the differences when they're playing in a band and even less likely when playing through some pedals.

[@ReinhartSchneider]

Strongly disagree. The difference is game changing for anyone who has a strong opinion or preference over their guitar tone. No amount of EQ, picking or adjusting the pickup height will "dial out" a covered pickup's milky, blunt attack and closed sonic character, it's a fundamental change in the general tonality of the pickup you're getting when you put a cover on it and that change is imparted by the cover itself. The difference between covered and uncovered is night and day.

[@vaughanmacegan4012]

For me the clean example was a clear as night and day, it was easy to hear the difference - on that result alone it's myth confirmed!!! The first example with gain was also easy to tell, the other two examples not so much. The choice of guitar to run the test on was brilliant.

[@lumberlikwidator8863]

This is my favorite guitar channel because you obviously know your stuff and you love what you do. You're always smiling and positive, and a it's a pleasure to see your videos.

[@atkstat4540]

Seems like the main - if not only - difference is that the uncovered pickups highlight more mid-high tones, and the covered pickups highlight more mid-low tones. Not a huge difference, but it matters if you're really trying to dial in a specific sound. Thanks for a great, no-frills comparison!

[@robmcloughlin6015]

Great vid. The sound difference was like night and day. Uncovered were way better. I was toying with the idea of adding covers to my pickups as I like the look. However that plan is scrapped - they are staying as they are. Thanks.

[@tonepilot]

I was able to guess correctly in all the blind tests. There is a difference. Not much of one though.

[@Garbox80]

I didn't get them all, but there sure is difference. But as Darrel said, you'd probably be able to tweak that difference out with your eq, so if you like the looks better on one or the other, go for it.

[@DMSProduktions]

Me too!

[@lawineracing2541]

Yeah I could even guess right with All the blind test using my Smartphone speaker

[@Ndlanding]

@@lawineracing2541 I got them all right using a sea-shell. (OK, studio speakers)

[@thedutchdjentleman]

same, yet I did it on iPhone speakers

[@lukegoffkat]

For me, it wasn't so much about the difference in Higher tones, but the separation of sound. The covered pickups sounded a bit muddier in the mids, the uncovered you could clearly hear a distinct difference in the notes played.

[@todosportodos1]

Just single notes Uncovered: 5:30 Covered: 5:44

[@nolanr7679]

I actually love that guitar. Samuraiguitarist did a video on it and its fricking brilliant.

[@wildersparks9161]

So did daryl. i don't think either of them play the thing that often though. good for making videos like this though.

[@calebcarver3449]

Awesome comparisons! Definitely can hear a direct difference.

[@riangarianga]

Watching this cool test again, almost 4 years later... But now armed with more knowledge. I got it right every time. The covered pickup sounded kind of more compressed, that was the giveaway. However, since I experimented a lot with screw height in the past few years, I'm led to believe on the uncovered pickup the adjustable screws had a lower height compared to the covered pickup. We tend to make these screws flush with the pickup top, however that would mean our references are different by around 1 mm (cover thickness + gap between the slugs and the cover). That's the kind of effect I'm hearing in your test, based on my experience adjusting the screws in the past years: nowadays I always lower down max 2 turns those on wound strings to make them sound more airy and less boomy, and perhaps take the screw on the 1st string a up to 1/2 turn higher to give my .008" a bit more presence.

[@PavelTyan]

I answered correctly in all tests , the sound difference is obvious and clear. Many thanks for this video.

[@squi9935]

Darrell, amazing job dude, so thorough, I love watching your videos, keep it up! I noticed a little more clarity from the uncovered pickup and a little more fuzz on the covered. Thanks, now I want more guitars!

[@erdiulusoy1150]

There is a huge difference in tone that can be noticed even with the phone speakers. But none is better than other, it's all about preference. Personally I've always loved the covered pickups because of their looks but now realized I like the sound of uncovered pickups better.

[@tomasrodriguez1]

in the same phase ...

[@robsterTN]

Same.

[@calebwhitcraft1664]

I had hoped it would be less obvious sounding, because I VASTLY prefer the look of covered pups, but I picked every one of the blind tests without any lucky guesses, it's a clear difference in sound. Not that you can't adjust your rig to compensate some for covered pups, which is likely what I do.

[@julianodelphino]

I think the fact that this test was made using neck pickups jeopardy the whole point. The position is not fair and all pickups use to sound the same. The bridge is the place that the pickups differences are more evident . Anyway the video is amazing! Thanks for helping us

[@DebuMazumder]

I think it doesn't matters whether they were covered or not..!!

[@chacha134]

I think I actually heard a difference that was consistent (I thought the uncovered seemed to be slightly more bright and sparkly on the high end). My question is do you think how you played them was also a factor? Because I think you sounded like you played more confidently in the uncovered takes. Whether it’s the order you played the riffs in vs maybe you heard a difference while you were playing and that affected how you played. Idk just food for thought. Cool channel and videos, definitely informative!

[@PierceThirlen2]

It should also be mentioned that the pickup cover material and any layers of plating on the covers can have a significant effect on the tone. Covers made from brass, or covers with a heavy layer of copper plating, will have a more significant effect on the tone than covers made from nickel silver with no plating, or from a stainless steel alloy such as 316L.

[@robertlewis5447]

For me the uncovered pickup sounds better, just love the bite of it and the clarity on the high end

[@seanhare1899]

Cool. I didn"t know I prefered uncovered until now. In each test, I liked the uncovered better. Thanks for the demo. Nice job.

[@archive_video_surveillance]

Uncovered made more noise, covered made shielding.

[@coopw101]

I liked the sound from the uncovered. what a guitar!!

[@gregmorgan6273]

Difference is negligible at best, subtle difference, matter of taste really, both sounded good. Thanks for the demo!

[@valueofnothing2487]

Glad this showed up again. Metal increases inductance and lowers the frequency. This is a fact. However, the effect is only large with certain metals - steel being the most common for base plates because of this. Nickel-Silver - used in high quality covers - effects of the least. Dylan talks tone measured an increase of .4uh of inductance using a tele base plate. Even this is not a lot. I have tried baseplates on single coils and I think you can really notice a difference.

[@Inn0IWNL]

Covered pickups kinda sound a bit thicker, but crowds wont usually notice

[@AB-80X]

Don't be so quick to say that. They may not know, but you have to remember that the energy in the music is in the definition, and that's what you change. Our hearing is thousands of times more sensitive to transients, time and resolution than what we can sense with touch or our eyes for example. So when you play your music, the pickup affects how your audience perceives what you are playing. If it gets softer, brighter, bites harder, sounds louder, more distortion etc. etc. etc. it all matters a lot. There's a reason why some of the best players who ever lived are or were also gear freaks.

[@boydbarkhouse3430]

Not to mention sound will affect how you play. Audience may not appreciate that, but a player will be hearing and feeling it .

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@AB-80X Turn up amp treble.

[@AB-80X]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver What? That’s nowhere near the same thing!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@AB-80X That's all it is. It's like what guitar techs tell you about 'hot pickups'--just turn up your amp.

[@pinktacoluvr]

Great comparison! I was hoping you'd try the same experiment with the pickups in the bridge position. I think the tonal differences would be more apparent than in the neck position.

[@JammyGit]

I was surprised at just how much difference there was between covered & uncovered pickups. I think I prefer to have them uncovered, just to have the extra frequencies available because I can always use my amp to dial in how I want them to sound depending on what I'm playing. Another good idea for a video would be to compare the difference between different pickup cover materials. Such as chrome coated nickel, raw uncoated nickel, brass, and whatever else is out there because I've seen pickups for sale before and have seen those options available. It might be a bit difficult and costly to get those guys at Relish to make specialist pickups but I suppose you could just buy the different covers which aren't too expensive and solder them onto your quick change pickups instead. 👍

[@Lisbonized]

I used the ten second skip feature so the jump back and forth between sound bytes was immediate and couldn’t really tell much difference. I thinks it’s definitely down to amp settings and aesthetics as which you’d prefer regarding covered and uncovered!

[@d34thnote79]

I'm not really good at music or guitars(and I REALLY mean it) but even I can hear that uncovered ones are a bit more.. clean? Dynamic? Alive? However you'd call it to me they sound a bit better Though the difference probably isn't big enough to be noticeable while listening to music, but I feel like that's a case in most of these small differences in instruments overall

[@robertclarkguitar]

Was just watching the show on another video. Hhaha. Nice. Love it

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: Yes, there may be a little difference, but it is not like it radically changed the sound. Like another said, a slight bump of the controls makes more difference. Probably a couple turns on the pickup height screws would more radically change the sound. I would not take a guitar apart to solder a cover on or remove a cover to accomplish that little bit of change.

[@blanchae]

In the 70s, we used to un-cover the pickups and mount them solid to the body rather then leave them spring mounted. We'd cut blocks of wood to mount the pickups at the right height.

[@blanchae]

We didn't have many pedals back then or money for them so uncovering the pickups gave us a little bit more dirty sound.

[@charlottedayvocals]

Hi Darrell, I'd love it if at some point you could add some vest/sleeveless tee's to the womens range?? (especially in the classics design you're wearing, it's my fave 😊)

[@joshuaglaude1549]

Definitely a difference. I can tell that even with just my phone's speaker. Covered sounds cleaner to me.

[@valvenator]

To me covered sounded cleaner but uncovered sounded clearer with a bit more bite, though also a bit grittier . Nice to see I'm not the only one to hear a difference, and from personal experience there definitely is one. Is it enough to matter? Depends on the perspective I think.

[@hemnair75]

I noticed the difference on the very first test. After that, it became more subtle. Great video and definitely showed proof there is a difference, even if subtle, there is just that much more output on the uncovered. Cheers and thanks

[@Newnodrogbob]

Agreed

[@rickrobertson9941]

Uncovered. Every day. All day,...................but then, Darrell, I truly believe you could take a lefty guitar missing every second string and make it sound amazing. Awesome videos, buddy. I truly appreciate all you do for the rest of us mortals.....keep it up.

[@dyingsuneffects3193]

I got each of the blind comparisons right. There's a subtle but noticeable difference through decent headphones and with young-ish ears that don't have a built-in high-end roll-off. :-)

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

😂👍

[@chrisholton7353]

Three consecutive hyphenated words. Well done.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

I could reliably discern which was which using mediocre headphones and not-so-young ears...

[@Ndlanding]

@@KZbinHandlesAreMoronic As could I, with none of your jump-to-a-conclusion-because-it-was-the-uncovered-pickup-first-the-last-time nonsense. And I'm a sixty-six-year-old fart.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

@@Ndlanding Huh? Was that meant for me, or Dying Sun Effects?

[@andrewpowell3398]

Does it matter what the covers are made of? Are there different metals used like nickel, which is less magnetic/

[@ChrisMarsh67]

My question exactly. Nickel covers are about 145 on amazon from Gibson

[@pandealt.639]

Definetly depends on which genre you want to play and personal preferences. Both sounds great. The video is very up to the point, thank you Darrell!

[@guitarforfun2596]

Audio comparison 1, I nailed it. Comparison 2 I couldn't tell Comparison 3 I also couldn't tell. Comparison 4, I nailed it I fo believe no covers are brighter sounding. But was surprised how little the difference was.

[@Nevets9719]

Oh yeah, welcome back.

[@leatherzeppelin_krystalserpent]

The moment he took off the back of the guitar i went xd

[@zepp3lin]

Definitely different but surprisingly I kinda like covered, it takes away that harshness from the uncovered.

[@keithrowe1007]

Finally began to hear that the uncovered pickup was a sniff brighter. If there is a difference in attack it’s lost with YT’s compression.

[@willpoon9363]

what’s up I love your videos they always bring me joy and motivate me to explore guitar more

[@davidrobinson5648]

Same bro, same

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Thanks WP! 😊

[@CriconBRYAN]

i got right all the tests... guess im going to take out the covers of my pickups now... liked a lot more the sound of uncovered pickups, more brighter and clean. At least in my opinion

[@hNsGregrz]

yeah, this video was kinda shocking to me as well. Didn't think the difference would be that profound. Unfortunate the covers looks dope.

[@CriconBRYAN]

@@hNsGregrz yeah i got an epiphone sg and i think it looks just perfect with the covers... im going to take them out anyways

[@markdignam3525]

I was surprised that there was a fairly obvious difference and I got all the " guesses" correct, though to be fair, I'm 62 and have been playing electric guitars since I was in school. The uncovered pickups did seem to have more treble and were clearer and sharper. Yet I don't think that that one was necessarily better than the other. I initially liked the uncovered pickups better but wonder if with various other instruments playing, the opposite could apply.

[@davidrangel8783]

It doesn't matter how your guitar looks, it's the tone that matters. I love what guitars look like with covered pickups, but it's when you uncover them that the guitar releases all of its potential...

[@melvynobrien6193]

You found the only practical use for that silly Relish guitar: comparing pickups. And there's a noticeable difference between the two pickups.

[@nakleh]

I think showing the recorded tracks in a DAW would have helped us see the difference between the tones for sure

[@ricklanders]

I took the covers off of some of my pickups, and experienced the same exact differences that I'm hearing here and that you mention, mostly in the high end seeming "brighter," with a slightly harsher and (IMHO) less pleasing tonal character. Great video, Darrell you're the best!

[@alienlovetunes]

I was surprised, listening on my phone, I recognised always the covered and uncovered, uncovered resonating more clearly.

[@aiden_macleod]

The differences are so minor that it's merely a cosmetic choice, IMHO.

[@LUR1FAX]

Yeah, that's my impression as well.

[@BradColemanisHere]

This was the only test over the years I got 100% right! The covered pickups just have a tiny bit of fuzz on them that gives a little less clarity. It's super close though. Matters very little. Great test and video! Oh, and I much prefer the look of the covered ones.

[@Mephilis78]

Yeah I'm torn. I like the look of the covers, but the sound of the uncovered. I guess I'm just going to need another SG....

[@douglasnielson8250]

Not enough difference to give up the extra shielding and physical protection covers give.

[@KevinORourke25]

I've got a Relish Mary one. It's a great guitar and perfect for this comparison. One set of Pick ups is covered, the other not. There is a difference in tonal quality but it is the nature of the pick ups and not because one is covered and the other uncovered.

[@sircharles7323]

I also removed the covers from my Les Paul and it was the same result. For me uncovered has little more resolution in details, means you here the single notes more as single notes, with covers it´s more blurred. For soloing maybe better without covers then, but also for picking. Maybe also for different styles of music you may prefer covered or uncovered more.

[@WattchomanBrandySavage]

Relish is killing it with that design. innovation that still looks beautiful

[@michaelrhodes8581]

The technology is awesome but that guitar is as ugly as a run over cat!

[@saddle8bag]

Theoretically, the reluctance (magnetic resistance) would be slightly lower with a steel cover. That's why thin steel plates are stacked together as the magnetic path for things like transformers. If the flux had to flow thru air cores, they wouldn't be nearly as efficient. I have a hard time believing that such a small change would be detectable. It could still be the case that the magnets are slightly different strengths, the windings aren't exactly the same etc. I was about 50/50 at trying to guess which was which by the clarity. Hell, even slight changes in how hard your were picking could account for some of that.

[@Newnodrogbob]

I got The driven and high gain tones right, but I guessed wrong on the cleans. It’s definitely not massively different. You’re also right that there might be variation between the pups other than just the covered/uncovered state.

[@Rolli6669]

In the 70's (I guess) it was believed that if your pickups were microphonic and had the metal cover that removing it would make them less microphonic. I don't know how it works but it's not about changing tone but about removing the microphonic qualities of the pickup. Could this be a thing man?

[@saddle8bag]

@@Rolli6669 That makes sense. If the pup is feeding back it's resonating. The extra weight would initially resist the shaking, but once going, the inertia of the metal lid would likely make it worse. It's like taking off in a car. Initially, it requires a lot of fuel to get going, but once you're up to speed, the inertia propels you along with a lot less energy input from the throttle.

[@guitarbrian46]

Honestly the difference was so slight that if you didn't say it was a different pickup we never would have known.

[@shinjial]

Great experiment. It does make a subtle yet noticeable difference between them, although for me it was hard to tell if it was just the tremble. At times it felt like the covered one was a little bit fuller in the mids, and the uncovered one a little thinner by comparison. And that shift produced different results, specially with gain on. The covered one was clearer to my ears for some reason. I do appreciate your attention to method, which is something most channels on guitar dismiss. If the point of the video is to make a statement or avaluate a hypothesis such as this, it is paramount.

[@ramona.vargas7298]

Cover is a lil muffled but I feel it depends more on the players dynamics.. but what does it matter the audience don't know the difference unless there all Music/Tech Nerds... if you're good enough you can fool them aswell.. Hehe...

[@MaxMiller614]

Theres just *enough* of a difference to prevent me from uncovering my neck pickup haha.

[@Tolbens]

Very useful research!!! Although I prefer covered pickups because of their vintage look, now I can see that uncovered ones have more clear sound.

[@derwolf9670]

I normally never hear any difference in the sound test that you conduct... :( But today I really heard the difference. I prefer the uncovered ones. Love your channel by the way. Greetings from Germany...

[@gmscurto]

As a parent I feel videos discussing "uncovered" pickups should carry an "R" rating. 😂 On the serious side, I really like this. Really helps me understand nuances. Thank you.

[@_SKDK_]

I've never understood the arguments on pickups. As long as they're good quality it shouldn't matter if they're passive, active, covered or uncovered. It's an electric guitar, you can literally use a program or pedal to make it sound however you want. Just get what looks nice or what you can afford and play 🤙🏾

[@AB-80X]

You are having us on, right?

[@lovelylemonfactory]

That's complete nonsense. Pickups are 90% of the sound of the guitar. Different pickups make an absolutely massive difference to the sound you get. The real argument is, it mostly doesn't matter what guitar you get. You can just throw in the pickups you like and it will sound how you want it.

[@_SKDK_]

@@lovelylemonfactory Never seen a pickup that can't sound like another pick up with a program bud. I'd argue that pedals and programs differences are far more noticeable than just switching out models/brands of pickups

[@HighlineGuitars]

Because the examples are so close, I think you have to do the test with one set of pickups. Record one round without covers and one round with covers. Two separate sets of pickups (covered and uncovered) introduces a variable.

[@peterwilson8039]

I was thinking of getting covers for the humbucker pickups on one of my guitars just because I like the look better. After watching this video I'm pretty sure that my ears won't notice the difference in tone.

[@mrredritehand]

Yeah my SG looks much better and any loss of tonality is nill

[@YigitAcl]

Some people like me likes active pickups of because of its shape instead of sound :)

[@evenzeroescanbeheroes6875]

That was kind of the reason why I got a guitar with active pickups lol.

[@dehasim]

I know a guy (here in Brazil) that make handmade pickups and he can make a passive pickup that looks like a active one.

[@YigitAcl]

@@dehasim ahahhaha interesting

[@dehasim]

@@YigitAcl yes, he made my pickup (im still newbie, but anyway) i prefer the looks of a covered pickup, but i prefer the sound of uncovered

[@alanshewitt]

But are the pickups exactly the same, but for their cladding? Same windings? So many variables.

[@thehound2161]

The room is tweeked to a beautiful wonderland. Just a nice room/backdrop.

[@thehound2161]

I like both covered and uncovered. Slightly more low mid's with the covered IMO. I liked the uncovered for the rhythm because i lean towards the treble for the bite and cut. I think there would be less fighting for space in a mix with uncovered. I would not buy a guitar or not because of covers or lack of.

[@michealjoseph9943]

You should try wax potted vs un-wax potted. I think there is a significant difference, where the un-wax potted sound much more clear. I have usually preferred single coil because of the clarity, but then I tried a pair of un-wax potted humbuckers and loved how clear they are.

[@AxCYeR]

An uncovered humbucker destroys the look of pretty much any guitar. :S

[@landofahhs_1]

My '69 Fender Thinline looks better with it's 1971 addition of a '60 SG humbucker uncovered on the neck....it matches the original uncovered Fender bridge and neck pickups like they were designed that way.😊

[@Ale2065Tate]

Absolutely true

[@yeahhyouvish]

They REALLY sound different.

[@Mr1bigbaddaddy]

Peoples ears are interesting. Sound to me was totally different. Covered was much warmer, uncovered had way more bite. Very cool comparison. Thanks as always for the vid and your continued info. Very happy youre doing what you do.

[@MoreSoNowThanEver]

Oh yeah, I guessed every one correct. Uncovered has an extra chime to them and a bit of a boost on everything. This doesn’t make them better, this is just what I was listening for because there’s nothing interrupting the magnetic fields around the poles.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

I've been wanting to record this vid for awhile! Big thanks to Relish Guitars :) 1. Guitar and Pickups 2. Tones 2:27 3. Final Thoughts 8:00 Guitar: imp.i114863.net/ezraX

[@picksalot1]

I completely agree with your conclusions.

[@scottmcbutters6721]

Hey Darrell, can you do a comparison of the stacked humbuckers compared to their counterparts? ie. The Seymour Duncan 59' vs the little 59'....and I'm sure there are about 10 others that can be done as well. It would be fun to see if the stacked hum's sound anything like the real ones. Thanks!

[@bryantherocker]

VIDEO SUGGESTION, SINCE TONEWOODS DOES NOT MATTER MUCH.... PLEASE DO A VIDEO WHERE YOU USE 2 DIFFERENT BRANDS AND OUTPUT OF PASSIVE HUMBUCKERS, AND TRY TO MAKE THEM SOUND THE SAME USING THE SAME AMP, BUT TWEAK ITS E.Q. OR GAIN OR USE AN EQ PEDAL TO MAKE THEM SOUND VERY SIMILAR. THIS TEST DETERMINES THAT YOU CAN MAKE HUMBUCKERS SOUND VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER HUMBUCKERS THUS NEGATES BUYING DIFFERENT HUMBUCKERS $$$. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUMBUCKERS IS JUST AN EQ SETTING AWAY . THANKS :)

[@jeronimomartinezfabregas]

I think that the comparison is unconclusive, since playing with the "Pick of Destiny" clearly makes both humbuckers sound equally awesome, and then there's the 9v batteries versus the power supply for the pedals....jokes aside, I was only able to hear a slight difference in the high gain tones, could barely tell any difference in the overdrives and cleans, maybe it's easier to tell when you are the one playing...great stuff in any case!

[@countblue]

@@scottmcbutters6721 I got stacked double blade ones. I would say in my opinion they sound a bit different since the width contributes to the tone. A wider magnetic field seems to mellow somehow the tone. But it would be fun to see and hear the proof from Darell.

[@antoniomonteiro1203]

Hi Darrell: very good comparison, BUT!... I'm used to making comparisons and it is sooooo difficult to rule out all possible causes of error... To make a more scientific comparison I think you would have to use the same pickup in both cases, in one case with a cover and in the other, the cover removed. This is because as we all know there are many factors involving the "response curve" of a pickup, namely the magnet material, the coil and the shape and, even if they are all computer controlled, two pickups made with this care may sound different in an A/B immediate comparison. Even with my proposed situation, only with a robot playing (I've not seen many, lately) you could have a very approximate picking, which I'm sure you would agree, influences very much specially the brightness of high notes. But this would be the next level. Today I believe my suggestion is feasible with the adequate material, possibly from Relish. This all said, of course I agree with ALL your conclusions.

[@kathrynhobbs1082]

Hearing is believing, I'm sure your new iso booth helped make the difference more apparent! Great sound recording when even my blown out old ears can hear the difference! Thanks bud, can't wait for the next!!!

[@timothyiorlano1996]

Even listening on my phone speakers i got em all right. The covered was not really dull...but a tad muted in the highs, the uncovered definitely had more bite.