Nickel covers for my Burny Thunderbird

jumbodbassman · July 16, 2012, 08:50:53 AM

Quote from: gearHed289 on July 13, 2012, 09:04:50 AM
Looks great! Big improvement.

What's the consensus on those German covers that have been popping up on eBay recently?

saw those also - haven't seen any comments anywhere...

the mojo hobo · July 17, 2012, 05:15:57 PM

Here is one of those German covers next to a Sixties pickup. The only difference I can see is the holes are a little bit smaller than the original. Once mounted I am sure no one will know the difference, except for the lack of wear.

Highlander · July 17, 2012, 05:18:54 PM

They would just need minor work to enable the screws to fit more flush...

lowend1 · July 18, 2012, 06:29:01 AM

Are the corner radii the same? Maybe it's an optical illusion, but the OE cover looks to have a larger radius.

the mojo hobo · July 18, 2012, 06:43:24 AM

There is a very slight difference in radii and this perspective might enhance the difference. I wish I had an original trim ring to compare.

TBird1958 · July 18, 2012, 12:01:37 PM

A buddy of mine used them ( the German ones)on his black Gibson TB plus and said he had to remove all the plastic outer case AND file the corners to make it fit.

Nocturnal · July 18, 2012, 02:33:07 PM

I have a set of the German ones. Haven't tried to use them for anything yet but I figure that whatever pickups they go over will take some work. They look well made, no sharp edges or other ugliness.

dadagoboi · July 18, 2012, 02:37:19 PM

Quote from: Nokturnal on July 18, 2012, 02:33:07 PM
I have a set of the German ones. Haven't tried to use them for anything yet but I figure that whatever pickups they go over will take some work. They look well made, no sharp edges or other ugliness.

How thick is the metal?

Nocturnal · July 18, 2012, 03:22:43 PM

I will have to check that out when I get home.

Nocturnal · July 18, 2012, 10:35:17 PM

I have nothing to get a precise measurement and I've been to happy hour so don't take this as gospel.

Compared to the 1976 Gibson chrome covers, the German covers appear to be the same thickness. Not identical shapes but very similar. The German made cover fit nicely inside the 76 trim ring, actually with less room for movement than the original Gibson cover (but it doesn't look like it would effect the ability to adjust the pickup as needed). I currently have the original Bach artec pickup (corners trimmed) inside the 76 cover. The German cover fit right over the trimmed pickup with no problem. I tried to upload pictures but Photobucket has some sort of maintanence going on so I couldn't do it. I will try to load the pic's again tomorrow. The Gibsons seem huge compared to the Germans, but it is really just a height difference. The Gibsons look like they are about 1/4" taller than the new covers.