No Pickguards

[MrSpace]

I find myself drawn to basses without pickguards. Not sure why, I just prefer the look. Anyone else feel the same? What's the disadvantage with a lack of pickguard?

[PaulThePlug]

Same here... couple of custom bodies i had made... more wood.

Edited October 8, 2022 by PaulThePlug

[OliverBlackman]

Not sure this makes any sense, but with pickguard looks like a bass guitar and without a pickguard looks like an electric bass.

[MrSpace]

I can understand that, interesting perspective. I guess I just prefer the simpler look of it without a pickguard. I'm also wondering if the pickguard has much of a function on a bass? 

[velvetkevorkian]

Even on guitars it's mostly just a reference to older designs, a lot of instruments that aren't leaning on 60s tropes don't have them and are mostly fine.

 

You will see wear depending on playing style though, e.g. aggressive slap and poppers can wear through a thin finish over time.

[velvetkevorkian]

They can also cover all manner of manufacturing side effects, as well.

[Doctor J]

I don't mind them but generally lean towards not having them. When they're used to facilitate cheap and crap manufacturing processes, often on quite expensive instruments though, that's unforgivable

 

[asingardenof]

3 hours ago, MrSpace said:

I find myself drawn to basses without pickguards. Not sure why, I just prefer the look. Anyone else feel the same? What's the disadvantage with a lack of pickguard?

I prefer no pickguard and no control plate, but am contemplating taking the guard off my Sire V7. The one thing that stops me is the holes left behind, but putting the screws back will look even worse. Decisions decisions...

[MrSpace]

1 minute ago, asingardenof said:

the holes left behind

There has to be a way of filling those and colouring them to match? I'm sure someone on this forum can advise. 

[Doctor J]

1 hour ago, asingardenof said:

I prefer no pickguard and no control plate, but am contemplating taking the guard off my Sire V7. The one thing that stops me is the holes left behind, but putting the screws back will look even worse. Decisions decisions...

Filling and matching would be a pain. Perhaps transparency would work?

 

[asingardenof]

6 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

Filling and matching would be a pain. Perhaps transparency would work?

 

Ooh, potentially

[PaulThePlug]

Clear plates look cool...

[uk_lefty]

48 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Clear plates look cool...

I just don't see it myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

😜

[Bassassin]

11 hours ago, asingardenof said:

I prefer no pickguard and no control plate, but am contemplating taking the guard off my Sire V7. The one thing that stops me is the holes left behind, but putting the screws back will look even worse. Decisions decisions...

 

 Clear acrylic worked a treat on mine.

 

 

It's one of these:

 

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/pickguard/boston-m4v-110-tr-1-ply-pickguard-for-sire-marcus-miller-v-transparent

 

But be warned - it's a poor fit & the pickup hole & heel cutout needed lots of careful filing to get it to fit. Looks great now but took hours of fiddling to get it right.

[Vin Venal]

Personally I prefer the aesthetics of a pickguard, and it's a fun easy way to change the looks of an instrument, which is half the fun imo.

 

I do agree with perspectives above though that pickguards from a manufacturers point of view are often about cost saving and easier mass manufacturing - much easier to just rout everything out from the front and cover it with a bit of plastic.

 

On more expensive instruments with nicer looking wood and finishes I'm more inclined to leave it off.

[jd56hawk]

I put pickguards on basses that don't usually have them.

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by jd56hawk

[crazycloud]

On 08/10/2022 at 19:23, MrSpace said:

I find myself drawn to basses without pickguards. Not sure why, I just prefer the look. Anyone else feel the same?

Yes, I hate PGs (and control plates) and none of my main players have them.

On 08/10/2022 at 19:23, MrSpace said:

What's the disadvantage with a lack of pickguard?

None. I don't see an advantage to one unless you're super agressive with a pick, which is certainly not me.

Edited October 9, 2022 by crazycloud

[dclaassen]

Not a pickguard in sight...

 

 

Edited October 12, 2022 by dclaassen

[neepheid]

Eh, it doesn't bother me either way.  Got all the main types

 

No pickguard - Epiphone Les Paul Standard bass

Traditional, screwed down pickguard - G&L Tribute LB-100

Weird-a$$ pickguard attached with a bracket - Epiphone Jack Casady

No pickguard but has control plate - G&L CLF L-1000, Reverend Triad

 

 

They are what they are.

 

The only "disadvantage" I can see of not having a pickguard is for the manufacturer, who has to rout the body front and back now instead of just in the front.

 

Edited October 13, 2022 by neepheid
Stoopid swear filter

[neepheid]

Really, swear filter?  A$$ is an animal.  Weird-a$$ is a colloquial adjective.  It doesn't necessarily mean "bum".

[MrSpace]

I did wonder if wierd-donkey was a special kind of pickguard that I hadn't heard of 😄

[Ralf1e]

On 08/10/2022 at 11:43, MrSpace said:

I can understand that, interesting perspective. I guess I just prefer the simpler look of it without a pickguard. I'm also wondering if the pickguard has much of a function on a bass? 

Yes it makes easier to make as you just cover up bad routing with a bit of plastic 😀

[goonerjoe]

On 08/10/2022 at 10:30, OliverBlackman said:

Not sure this makes any sense, but with pickguard looks like a bass guitar and without a pickguard looks like an electric bass.

This sums it up perfectly 

[Rich]

On 08/10/2022 at 17:08, uk_lefty said:

I just don't see it myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

😜

 

[Kevan]

MIJ 62 JB reissue. Came with a black plate but so much nicer with it off I think.