Fugly Pickguard Shapes

[rwillett]

  On 10/12/2024 at 16:22, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

The Rickenbacker 4001/3 pickguard shape works on a Ric as it is an iconic design, however on the Jackson X series, it is ridiculous.

 

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To be honest, that's the sort of pick-guard I would design. Sadly that's not a good thing...

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[MichaelDean]

It looks like I'm possibly in the minority of liking quite like a lot of these. Especially the ones with metal plates that don't really need to be there. I love that sort of thing. Even the Jackson/Rick medly works for me somehow. There are exceptions (the Steve Bailey, JP-90 and the Sandberg Basic) but, yeah...

 

What I don't like is Jazz pickguards that include the controls. Makes it look like a dong on the end and they've missed the ease of use of the metal plate.

[Twigman]

Eastwood EEB-1      ( Ampeg AEB-1 copy) I actually quite like it - anyone know what the neck feels like?  I'm tempted.

Edited December 11, 2024 by Twigman

[ezbass]

Whilst I’m sure that there are many more ugly bass p/gs to come, D’Angelico seem to be especially keen on WTF p/gs for guitars.

 

 

[Twigman]

Airline Jetsons

[tauzero]

TBH, I don't like pickguards (or scratchplates as we once called them in Britain before we got Yankised). Presumably they were used because of front routing, as that meant the body never had to be turned over as all the routing was on the front. I far prefer rear routed basses with no pickguards.

[Yorkshire Bottom End]

 

Traben. They're kind of bridge/scrachplate abominations. Why?

Edited December 11, 2024 by Yorkshire Bottom End

[MichaelDean]

Ah yeah, whoever designed the Traben ones needs a serious talking to.

[NancyJohnson]

Just on the original post, I have never understood how or why MusicMan decided that that monstrosity of a pickguard/scratchplate on the Stingray 5 was a good thing or decent design statement.  And yes, I know they've done 5-string models in the original shape.  There are some (no pun intended) sterling finishes on some of these 5s (the deep purple sparkle), but then over half the top is just covered in big slab of plastic. 

 

It works okayish on the stealth models where there's a single-ply matte guard and it kind of disappears:

 

 

 

[lksmks792]

  On 11/12/2024 at 09:58, Twigman said:

Eastwood EEB-1      ( Ampeg AEB-1 copy) I actually quite like it - anyone know what the neck feels like?  I'm tempted.

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Could be worse (or is it): Italia Imola 4

[casapete]

  On 11/12/2024 at 09:27, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

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I quite admired these basses when first released, and actually don’t mind the guard either.

There again I love a Danelectro as well, so no hope for me I guess. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

  On 11/12/2024 at 17:49, casapete said:

I quite admired these basses when first released, and actually don’t mind the guard either.

There again I love a Danelectro as well, so no hope for me I guess. 

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Nothing wrong with a Danelectro. The clear pickguard on my blueburst longhorn is rather tasteful.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

These things Flea was flogging several years ago had a particularly uninspired pickguard designed by drawing around a plate and plonking it on the body as if to say 'that'll do.'

 

[SteveK]

Since I can remember, I've loved the sound of a Music Man Stingray! However, being a shallow bass player I couldn't get past the criminally non descript scratch plate - It put me off ever buying one.

It's as if Leo had forgotten about the scratch plate and had 10 minutes to come up with something before his deadline was up.

Years later, I did buy a Stingray 5, which has a slightly improved(?) scratch plate design. Unfortunately, I couldn't get used to the extra string, and didn't like the dull sound of the B string. I think I used it 3 times on stage.

[meterman]

  On 11/12/2024 at 19:53, SteveK said:

 

It's as if Leo had forgotten about the scratch plate and had 10 minutes to come up with something before his deadline was up.

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Unfortunately those 10 minutes happened when Leo was sat on the loo.

 

I think the pickguard works really well when it's the same colour as the bass, like black with black, white with white, etc, but I couldn't go for it otherwise. The bog seat vibe definitely works for a lot of bass players though, so what do I know? 

[SteveK]

  On 11/12/2024 at 21:08, meterman said:

I think the pickguard works really well when it's the same colour as the bass, like black with black, white with white, etc...

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I assume you're being ironic😉

[meterman]

  On 11/12/2024 at 22:31, SteveK said:

I assume you're being ironic😉

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Nah, I'm not clever enough for that 😂

 

I wouldn't kick a MM Stingray out of bed though, toilet seat pickguard or not. They were a real GAS list instrument for me, until I realised a Squier Precision was about my level...

[SteveK]

  On 11/12/2024 at 22:45, meterman said:

Nah, I'm not clever enough for that 😂

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Okey dokey😉

I've heard it described as a looking like a "frying pan" many times... but, I think I prefer your "toilet seat" description😂

[Stub Mandrel]

I won't judge this, I quite like it, but some won't.

 

 

[MartinB]

  On 10/12/2024 at 22:44, meterman said:

I haven't got any decent pictures of it, but surely someone's going to post the original cut-down homemade bass that Bill Wyman made (Dallas-Arbiter with the frets pulled out?) in the early 60's that had a hilariously bad DIY pickguard.
 

Same goes for some of the early (late 50's / early 60's UK made basses. And some late 60's or early 70's plywood MIJ basses too. The pre-lawsuit "we're not really sure what we're doing but we're doing it anyway" ones. Teisco were repeat offenders.

 
 

Italian company Meazzi also made some pretty wild looking basses, the Jupiter models in particular. I sort of admire their Italian bonkers-ness in a way.

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These are pretty cool! Also:

[MartinB]

  On 11/12/2024 at 09:58, Twigman said:

Eastwood EEB-1      ( Ampeg AEB-1 copy) I actually quite like it - anyone know what the neck feels like?  I'm tempted.

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As someone who mostly plays Jazz necks, the word I would use is "chunky"

[meterman]

  On 11/12/2024 at 23:19, MartinB said:

 

These are pretty cool! Also:

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Chapeau, sir! 

[Geek99]

  On 10/12/2024 at 14:53, tauzero said:

 

I like the Variax one. My own Variax is sunburst with tort though. I've also got a Ray5 which is very like the second one. None of the other 30 or so have pickguards. Still, to add to the ugly pickguards:

 

 

and especially

 

 

 

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Are you unaware of the 11th commandment? The fire writing on the tablets was a bit large and they couldn’t fit #11 on however it says

“thou shalt hold St Leo holy and thou shalt not disrespect a Fender” so I’m forecasting fire, brimstone and hot pokers for you, mister” 

[casapete]

  On 11/12/2024 at 17:59, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

 

Nothing wrong with a Danelectro. The clear pickguard on my blueburst longhorn is rather tasteful.

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Sounds same as mine - lovely.

 

I was thinking of some of their other stuff though, like these.

Fine by me, but…?