pickup cover on or off on a 4003 bass?

[ben_brown]

OFF for me too.
...but I'm waiting to remove the cover on this til after RIO.....

And there's this one....If I remove this cover it'll feel like comitting a sin!

[weemac]

I like them on but prefer the HS or the earlier low profile cover on the high gain. (its a comfort thing)
It forces you play in a position different to playing other basses (over the neck pickup or behind the treble) and that in turn provides some of the sound that we have come to associate with the 4000 series.
It is true to say that picking over the treble pickup is ideal though, but for me that would make the sound that bit closer to other basses.
Speaking of which, I tend to mimic the Rick picking positions on my other basses since doing most of my learning years on a rick.. (does that make any sense?)
emac.

[brycycle]

ON.

[wints]

Off!

Get dug in to that sweet spot....Oh, and try and play with your fingers too sometimes!

[weemac]

Oh, and try and play with your fingers too sometimes!

I do play with my fingers alot, but I have long nails on my right hand (for guitars)and the result on the bass does not sound a lot different to a plectrum.

emac.

[nov_1981]

Works better for me with it off

I think it looks better too

[rickenbrother]

I used to take the covers off my Ricks. Now I've been putting them back on. My favorite tone comes from playing right over the neck pickup anyway.

[lurch]

Don't let nothin' get between you and your strings no matter how shiny or "cool" anyone thinks it looks!

I resent that, Jeff! Mine is on 100% for functionality purposes. I'm a pick player 50%-60% of the time and it is the ideal place to rest my hand when picking. When i'm playing fingerstyle, my thumb rests in the curved area of the pickguard above the neck pickup. So the cover stays, and it has nothing to do with shine.

Sloop_john_b stole my post!

Agree 100% -

[berth]

Works better for me with it off

I think it looks better too

Excuse me my ignorance. But what kind of (color) binding is that? (Or is it just some kind of flash-glo?)

[bosco64]

That's Amber Fireglo, Bert. The CV is tinted.

Oh, take them off! (unless you have a horseshoe...)

[nukebass]

I do both. My 79 didn't have the cover when I got it and I never put one on. I play that one directly over the bridge pickup. My DCM has the cover on and I'm learning to play "around" it, mainly playing over the neck pickup. If I want a bit more treble, I rest my thumb on the cover and play behind it. It's all a matter of preference!

[jps]

On.

[jps]

Off.

[jps]

On.

[jps]

Off.