Pickguard

[Dazed]

I want to change the colour of a pickguard. 
Has anyone had much luck spray painting or using some kind of vinyl - like they wrap cars in?

[Dan Dare]

Never tried it, but I would imagine it wouldn't look great once it got a few scratches and the original colour started to show through (unless the new colour was close to it). I'd just get another pickguard made in my chosen colour. Plenty of places will do that for not a lot of money.

[BassBunny]

I've vinyl wrapped a few pickguards and they've come out great. I used car vinyl wrap and it's a cheap way to change the look of any bass.

I've used carbon fibre effect for them all.

[Dazed]

2 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

Never tried it, but I would imagine it wouldn't look great once it got a few scratches and the original colour started to show through (unless the new colour was close to it). I'd just get another pickguard made in my chosen colour. Plenty of places will do that for not a lot of money.

Replacements I’ve seen are £40 upwards and it may be temporary if it doesn’t look right hence the cheaper alternative. 
 

I’ve got an anodised gold guard and quite like the wear that’s on it. 
 

 

[Dazed]

54 minutes ago, BassBunny said:

I've vinyl wrapped a few pickguards and they've come out great. I used car vinyl wrap and it's a cheap way to change the look of any bass.

I've used carbon fibre effect for them all.

Good to know. Have you covered the edges onto the back or cut sharp to the face edge?

[BassBunny]

I cut them to the face edge as I wanted the laminations showing. 

[Delberthot]

Many years ago I actually printed a '76 bicentennial Thunderbird style one out of regular sticky paper for my Goth Epiphone Thunderbird. Might be worth it to try before you commit to anything more expensive

[BassBunny]

20 hours ago, Dazed said:

Good to know. Have you covered the edges onto the back or cut sharp to the face edge?

Here's one I prepared earlier. Originally white pearl, which was actually a vinyl wrap over plain white.

Edited June 6, 2024 by BassBunny

[Baloney Balderdash]

I have painted some of my pickguards before with acrylic paint, and with great results.

 

For best results you should finish with a couple a sprayed clear coats.