Uncovered HC pickups?

[marzzz]

So there is another brand new Cobra on Reverb (oops! not anymore...!), Mocha Quilt and HC1-HC2 pickups, but the pickups are uncovered. I thought that would make them HF pickups, but the official TA tag does say HC1-HC2. The seller says there is a "chrome ring" around the pickups, so what exactly are these?

Also, it has a ziricote fretboard- how different is that from rosewood with regard to tone? And did this come about because of there recent CITES restrictions?

[malt]

These are "Open-Face" HC pickups.

Ziricote was introduced as a fretboard option when Indian rosewood was restricted by CITES. As of Nov 26, 19, rosewood is removed for musical instruments from the CITES restriction.

[tom]

correct, we started using ziricote when the cites stuff started. i have an acoustic guitar made with ziricote back and sides and it is lovely and also sounds lovely so that was an inspiration to try it as an alternative fingerboard. it's harder than rosewood, not quite as hard as ebony, finishes smooth like ebony. it's top end is a bit harder than rosewood, and the bottom not as loose as rosewood. but it does not have the hard fundamental tone of ebony.