When you repair or upgrade your electric guitar, the pickup cover is a small but important part that affects tone, safety, and performance. We provide premium guitar pickup covers for builders and players, at Jobois, Exotic Wood Zone's focus on guitar hardware and accessories sub-brand. But what exactly does a pickup cover do, and why is it important?
What Does a Pickup Cover Do?
A pickup cover provides protection, tone shaping, and visual improvement by covering the coils and magnets of your guitar's pickup.
1. Protects Internal Components
Pickups have magnets and fine copper windings that are sensitive to damage from collision, dust, and sweat. Guitar pickup covers help shield these components from degradation and corrosion, which is crucial for musicians who perform frequently or have acidic sweat.
2. Reduces Hum & Interference
When properly connected, metal humbucker covers and some P90 pickup covers may reduce electromagnetic interference. They are perfect for professional players or studio settings since they reduce unwanted noise and hum.
3. Shapes Tone
Materials affect tone differently:
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Nickel-silver (like the Hosco Nickel Silver Humbucker Pickup Cover) offers a balanced, clear tone.
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Brass or chrome slightly warms the top end.
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Plastic covers on Strat and Tele models have minimal tonal impact.
P90 pickup covers and Humbucker pickup covers have the ability to soften high frequencies and gently smooth brightness.
4. Improves Appearance
Pickup covers provide an elegant, timeless appearance. Whether you prefer a vintage P90, Tele neck pickup style, or Strat single-coil appearance, guitar parts such as the Hosco Neck Metal Pickup Cover for Telecaster Style Guitar and Hosco Single Coil Pickup Cover for Stratocaster Style Guitar enhance the instrument’s aesthetics.
Do Guitar Pickups Need Covers?
Pickup covers are not absolutely required, but they provide clear advantages.
Reasons to use covers:
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Protection from sweat and corrosion
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Noise reduction on humbuckers and P90s
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Slightly smoother high-end tone
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Cleaner, more professional appearance
Reasons players skip covers:
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Slightly brighter sound without metal
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More aggressive attack
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Preference for exposed-coil look
Whether you choose covered or uncovered pickups depends on your tonal preference and playing style.
Do Guitar Pickup Covers Affect Tone?
Yes, although the impact will depend on the type of pickup and the material is used.
Metal Covers
Used on humbuckers and P90s, metal covers can:
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Reduce sharp treble
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Add warmth and smoothness
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Control midrange
Nickel-silver covers are the most transparent tonally.
Plastic Covers
Found on Strat and Tele pickups, plastic covers primarily protect the coil and rarely affect tone.
Bridge Covers
A telecaster bridge cover or a stratocaster bridge cover are examples of items that are mostly aesthetically pleasing and protective, they usually have no effect on tone.
Types of Pickup Covers
Humbucker Covers
Classic dual-coil pickup covers - Hosco Nickel Silver Humbucker Pickup Cover
P90 Pickup Covers
Available in two styles:
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Dog Ear – Hosco Dog Ear Style P90 Pickup Cover
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Soap Bar – Hosco Soap Bar Type P90 Pickup Cover
Telecaster Covers
Vintage Tele neck pickup metal covers- Hosco Neck Metal Pickup Cover for Telecaster Style Guitar
Stratocaster Covers
Traditional plastic single-coil covers - Hosco Single Coil Pickup Cover for Stratocaster Style Guitar
Why Choose Jobois Pickup Covers?
Jobois provides precision-made, long-lasting guitar parts and hardware crafted for reliability, tonal balance, and accurate fit. Whether you need humbucker covers, p90 pickup covers, a telecaster bridge cover, or a stratocaster bridge cover, Jobois offers solutions built for both performance and style.