Tone difference in chrome vs. nickel covers?

[Canadian Steve]

Is there any difference in tone between chrome and nickel covers? 

[ericsabbath]

lol!

[Yamhammer]

Nickel is brighter.

Chrome is darker.

[Ratrod]

I think it's the same difference you get between poly or nitro finish.

[Twinfan]

I would say there is no difference that your ears could detect.

[Spitfire]

and the difference between black and cream bobins?

[MDV]

Well theres certainly difference between different pole and slug materials and shapes. I cant comment on covers though - not had the opportunity to hear anything but there or not.

I can imagine theres a difference, given the difference in magnetic properties of the materials, but I dont imagine its bigger than the difference from totally slackening off the strings and retightening them between the pickup changes, and even with new strings each time, I dont imagine you could tell the difference with 20 minutes between hearing them, and it would be WAY smaller than the difference between guitars.

Non-issue. Covered or uncovered, yeah, a little bit, but this? No.

[Philly Q]

I had a vague memory of Tim commenting on this once or twice, so I did a quick search:

Covers offer protection from sweat and grim also RF too. Raw nickel silver is sonically the most transparent, nickel and gold plate next with chrome having the most attenuating effect as it's the heaviest plate.Some players claim chrome is brighter.................shinnier yes, but not brighter in my experience.

Tonally I feel that chrome is a little darker and harder-it's a very small then and quite subjective though.Nickel covers always sound clearer to me, probably because the plate is much thinner.To get a good chrome finish the plate tends to be thicker.

Personally I don't think it's anything worth worrying about - I'd go for whatever matches the existing hardware and/or the look I want to achieve.

[sjwebb90]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I asked the same questions of Tim a while back.

1) Physically, is one better than the other  and what about
 longevitity of each?
Chrome doesn't tarnish(why it's used on bathroom fittings)whereas nickel
does age and evelopes a softer patina-

2) Any Tonal difference?
Chrome is a slightly heavier plate so in theory does roll out a touch
more highs but it's a subtle thing really.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As for myself (SJ) I would probably go for the Nickel ones myself.

[HTH AMPS]

seems like it's nothing that tweaking your amp's treble pot wouldn't fix.