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  1. #1

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    Am looking at a 2018 Gibson 330 with metal covers. Can you simply swap them out for the black plastic covers, an aesthetic I much prefer?

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  3. #2

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    As far as I know: yes you can!

  4. #3

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    The concern with the metal covers is loss of high frequencies. At least, this was the argument Seth Lover had with Gibson. Seth lost out when the humbuckers arrived. Marketing did not like the look without shiny covers.

    It may be that you prefer to lose those frequencies.

    Here's an example of the difference in the looks.


    Gibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-36809659024_ab3c6f2987_z-jpgGibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-36809658914_9f3ece0eb5_z-jpgGibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-37261432270_4daacc5eb7_z-jpg

  5. #4

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    the black looks cooler ...
    which is what really matters ...

  6. #5

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    I agree.

  7. #6

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    To each his own - I like the gold plated pick-ups the best!

  8. #7

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    nothin wrong with the cremes either



    to op..yes you can trade em out...just get the correct size...imperial vs. metric..stock gibby would be imperial

    cheers

  9. #8

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    The cremes are very nice, too.

    Here is an article about the two Heritage Super Eagles with P90s. One has cremes and mine is the other shown above. Mine also is 3 3/8" deep while the other is 3". Lastly, mine has a 1 3/4" nut and the one below is 1 11/16". This shows you how flexible Heritage was 25 years ago. Nowadays it would cost a fortune, if they even would do this level of custom work.

    Heritage Super Eagle


    Gibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-df203214-a442-42ea-a363-04fd29f004c1-jpgGibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-af7cc11c-88a7-4dae-a1bb-19e9ca02f850-jpg

  10. #9

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    If I had an es 330, I'd want the trad black pup covers. Make sure replacements have same pole spacing.

  11. #10

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    If anyone reading this has some metal chrome ES 330 pickup covers that they have swapped out, in any condition please let me know! Would gladly take them off your hands for a project I am working on.

  12. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pappymerlot
    If anyone reading this has some metal chrome ES 330 pickup covers that they have swapped out, in any condition please let me know! Would gladly take them off your hands for a project I am working on.
    Hi,

    I have a set of Chromes (nk&br). Been sitting in the case for years. Take/off from my ES-330. Exclnt Cond w/ no dents - minimal wear

    PM me if interested…
    Rich
    Attached Images Attached Images Gibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-d13e22b8-3fd9-4846-b09d-1d4790352c31-jpg Gibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-13cfef6a-f9e5-47b4-8bb7-5868b35168c8-jpg 

  13. #12

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    Be aware that it is likely the P90 covers are soldered to the pickup frames. Because there is such a huge area of metal to dissipate the heat, you need a serious soldering iron (gun or torch) to get them off. It may be easier to cut the solder lump with a Dremel. A 15-watt Weller pencil isn’t going to do it.

    A 330 should have standard-sized covers, possibly different depths. It’s the Asian Casinos that have weirdness - different spacing bridge/neck.

    I agree, black looks better. Chrome P90s always looked cheap and flash to me - something Ron Popeil might have put on a $19 guitar in 1976.

    Steven

  14. #13

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    Metal P-90 covers are for aesthetics, not function, at least for the most part.

    I have listened by A/B testing with and without metal covers. The difference is subtle enough that I can't reliably distinguish between the two states- covered and uncovered.

    I personally don't favor gold or chrome covers because they show dirt and don't particularly look any better to me. But I do prefer a cover to keep crap out of the pickup.

  15. #14

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    Well, they can partially shield, if they are properly grounded.

  16. #15

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    Thx for the adding me...

    The covers came off my 330 & they were 'not soldered on'. Got the guitar about 15 yrs ago. When I purchased it, it was sold to me as a '64 model. Yanking the wiring harness out, the pot codes had a '63 date code. Has a 1 11/16" nut width. Upon further forensics, the hardware (pup covers, trapeze tp & bridge) should have been Nickel & looked wrong for a '63 model. Apparently. the parts had been switched out! A respectable tech confirmed it for me...

    So, I went about restoring the 330 w/ the correct hrdwr for that year 'cept for the pup covers, which I found a pair of vintage black pup covers that I wanted to be on the guitar...
    I also removed the orig tuners & knobs so as to keep them from constant use & stashed them away in the case for safe keeping. Aftermarket tuners/knobs are on there now. Really like this guitar & it sounds & plays great. Weighs 5.9 lbs & actually prefer it over my 335. I still might refret it & install a new nut as the first 5 first frets are worn & I like taller frets over what's on there now...

    not sure why pics are showing sideways...?
    Gibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-img-4380-jpgGibson ES-330 - P90 Pickup Covers-img-4378-jpg

  17. #16

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    1. The OP is looking at a 2018, not a vintage. No guarantee it’s made the same way.
    2. I said ‘probably.’ My point is take the five minutes and find out what you have before making a decision.

  18. #17

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    I think black covers look so much better than the nickel/chrome ones…..

  19. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by Little Jay
    OP was looking in 2019… old thread, not a lot of chance he’s still looking….
    Saw that the orig Thread was from 3 yrs ago. I was actually responding to Pappymerlot’s post from last April IIRC…
    I have received a message from him.

  20. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marty Grass
    The concern with the metal covers is loss of high frequencies. At least, this was the argument Seth Lover had with Gibson. Seth lost out when the humbuckers arrived. Marketing did not like the look without shiny covers.
    Seth Lover always wanted the nickel covers on. It was part of his original design. The argument he had with marketing was over adjustable pole pieces, which Lover thought were unnecessary.

    Quote from Lover: "Now, this here metal cover was an important part of it. See, that's nickel silver, German silver, whatever they want to call it. This helps shield away electrostatic noises from fluorescent lamps and so forth, and I wanted to get rid of that, because the older pickups that had plastic covers, with this wiring and so forth connecting up to it, the pickup itself would tend to pick up that noise."