Jeff Beck was the first player in the 60’s I saw that removed the cover from his Late 50’s Les Paul. He told me he removed them because of uncontrollable feedback using high powered amplification and speaker systems. I started removing covers from my Humbuckers thinking I would sound like Jeff and looking to see if my pickups were the same color as his. I believe Jeff was the first to start the fad of removing covers from humbuckers that exposed the bobbins. Jeff’s Les Paul had a Double Cream and a Zebra (Cream & Black) Humbucking Bobbin. Removing the covers also helped get a little more output from the pickup.

Jeff raised the 6 height adjust (Fillister Head) screws so the bottom of the screw head was about equal to the top of the bobbin (not screwed into the recessed hole in the bobbin). His pickups were setup this way when he recorded “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” using a guitar I gave him called a “Tele-Gib”. It was a Telecaster with a cut down 3 position bridge and Two Humbuckers that I wound for him.

Many companies that manufacturer Humbuckers don’t use covers because of the feedback problems with today’s high powered amplification. The cost of tooling needed to produce the covers that are “deep drawn” can be very expensive. The plating materials used can also effect the magnetic field and can make the pickup sound a little warmer.

Depending on the height of the Humbucker in a mounting ring or pickguard there is a higher risk to damage. The strings usually a High E or Low E can get snagged under the lip of the bobbin and damage to the coil could be disastrous. Trying to remove the tape which insulates and protects the coil could also break the beginning or finish wires of the coil. Extreme care must be given when trying to remove or replacing the insulating tape. The Black Flatback tape Gibson used for many years to insulate the coils is no longer being made. You could try using a Black Photographic tape found in Camera stores. You may have to cut 1/4″ strips from the roll to be used on your bobbins. It works well as long as you don’t put it in a hot wax solution.