Covered vs Uncovered pickup in LIII (visual appeal mostly)

[Rbg]

I never had a guitar with covered pickups and really liked the fact that most MM humbuckers are covered, but ironically the BFR I got comes with opened pickups. As I mentioned in one of my posts before my LIII is running out of warranty so I am thinking of putting covers on the pickups. Just wanted to run by the community with one you prefer from the visual perspective? Here is a couple of shots I made with just putting (not properly installing yet) one pickup cover on mine.

 

[beej]

On that guitar I don't think it makes a huge difference. But slight preference to covered.

 

[fogman]

I agree with beej on this.
I think if it was an HSS guitar, the difference would be greater.

 

[GoKart Mozart]

Personally, I like the covered look in a Luke 3. Helps to visually differentiate it from the JP.

 

[DrKev]

With the cover, it looks like a row of eyes looking out at you from the dark. Without the cover, it looks like teeth, too many teeth.

 

[GWDavis28]

With the cover, it looks like a row of eyes looking out at you from the dark. Without the cover, it looks like teeth, too many teeth.

Kev are you still celebrating your bday (Hahahahahahahaha)?

Glenn |B)

 

[Ted]

I kinda like the look of the covered version. Up until I got my Valentines, I never had a guitar with metal covered pickups (unless you count the neck single coil pickup in my Tele) and wanted something that had them. Something classic about the aesthetics of covered pickups IMO. It was definitely a factor in my interest in the Val and Albert Lee (someday) and EBMM guitars in general.

That Luke looks cool either way, but I prefer the covered look.

 

[Epiplatys]

I’ve got the same L3 BFR, as well as three more L3s both with covered and uncovered. Kept telling myself how much more I prefer the look and the sound of the uncovered ones.
Great top btw!

 

[dalto]

For me, it looks better covered. However, I think it comes down to if you prefer the look of covered or uncovered pickups.

 

[Rbg]

Just to finish the story (for now)… So I swapped the pickups for covered Suhr TB/TB+. Really like the sound and look.

 

[Sweat]

Depends overall HH covered HSS not but I like either so cant vote unless you add all of the above

 

[DrKev]

Looks great!

 

[Axeman4323]

Guess I am a traditionalist lol. I like them uncovered. Just a personal preference

 

[chrismilne]

With cover looks nice, will lose some high frequency, but the Thornbuckers are quite bright, so likely not an issue.

 

[Iperfungus]

That Luke looks wonderful with both covered and uncovered pickups.
But I would go for covered.