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Wow, type of PU cover makes a difference!

In The Light

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Mar 31, 2005
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The nickel plating will only stick to copper. The crome covers are nickel underneath the crome (hows that for wierd?)

The above is evidently not the case. Pot-metal and aluminum are the only metals that nickel is too acidic to ahere to without a copper base-coat. I just want to try to clarify this messy situation a bit more, though I personally appreciate your help. I found this link - evidently nickel will adhere to quite a few metals: http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/nickel.htm
 

Ron

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Aug 3, 2001
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848
Interesting how nobody seems to care to comment about how the worst type of pickup covers (brass) were reportedly used on the "holy grail" "Burst" PAF pups, as I detailed above. Any comments or insights at all? It's a pretty loaded concept - Les Paul tones that most are chasing using BRASS covers? That would be ironic. Experts? Anyone?
I think the info about the covers on that site must either be a typo or just plain incorrect. It's common knowledge in the guitar world that PAFs had German Silver AKA Nickel Silver covers. It says so in BOTB and in numerous other books and magazine articles on the subject. If PAFs used brass covers why would Gibson tout thier use of German Silver covers? Why would Seymour Duncan use Nickel Silver covers on the Antiquity humbuckers (and his other models)? Seymour's obviously examined more than a few PAFs. DMC obviously has done alot of research involving old PAF covers also and their Super Real PAFF covers are German Silver.
 

In The Light

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I think the info about the covers on that site must either be a typo or just plain incorrect. It's common knowledge in the guitar world that PAFs had German Silver AKA Nickel Silver covers. It says so in BOTB and in numerous other books and magazine articles on the subject. If PAFs used brass covers why would Gibson tout thier use of German Silver covers? Why would Seymour Duncan use Nickel Silver covers on the Antiquity humbuckers (and his other models)? Seymour's obviously examined more than a few PAFs. DMC obviously has done alot of research involving old PAF covers also and their Super Real PAFF covers are German Silver.

Yes. But, why would Gibson do the myriad things they've done in past production years that defy logic and common sense? We all know here that often Gibson isn't renowned for a common sense production philosophy. I've read and am aware of all the sources you've sited, yet I'm still compelled to seek more definitive proof on the issue of PAF covers. Believe me - false assumptions and mere hearsay are constantly perpetuated in print, and even find their way to production and the bank $ time and time again. I won't even get started on how many inaccurate technical details get perpetuated all the way to the production line of various big name and boutique manufacturers under the name of "re-issue" or "replica" - it's laughable.

The bottom line is who here knows with 100% certainty what is under the nickel of those PAF's - is it solid or plated? Somebody who knows first hand of analyzed PAF's maybe. Frankly I don't care if they are brass or pure nickel-silver, as we know most PAFs sound incredible regardless, yet I still want to know the facts with some tangible evidence to back it up. What we have here so far simply isn't enough to call definitive proof. I concede that DMC is a pretty damn good indicator though, since they claim to produces "dead mint" replicas, but then again...
 
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Ron

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This is an interview that Seymour Duncan did with Seth Lover in 1978.
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/seth.html

It's hosted on the same site you referenced above. There is a ton of interesting info about PAFs in the interview, straight from the man who designed them.

Here are a few questions regarding the covers:

Seymour Duncan: You like using Nickel Silver for the bottom plate and cover.
Seth Lover: Yes.


Seymour Duncan: Did the cover that was nickel silver have a plating?
Seth Lover: I think it was nickel silver plating and they started using gold plating--If they don’t plate too heavily, that’s fine. Chances are they are not going to plate to heavily at the cost of gold today


I guess that answers the question.
 

Ron

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No problem. That interveiw is recommended reading for anyone interested in PAFs. I think Seth's somewhat flippant attitude towards some of the specifics that many here (myself included) over-analyze is quite interesting and entertaining.
 

In The Light

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Mar 31, 2005
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Absolutely. Just finished reading the entire interview. Incredible wealth of information throughout - interesting details on winding, bobbins, magnets, wire, everything! A lot of issues people talk about are clearly resolved by this 1978 interview. Great stuff...
 
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Mitchell

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Feb 20, 2002
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Just so you guyz know..

Seymour is currently offering a new pickup info "dvd" for $20.
Tricks of the trade, etc.
 
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