Brass scratch plates.

[Greene-Mann]

Just want to get one for my Jazz...based on the theory of a solid bit of brass will resonate more...i remember seeing one years ago and loved the idea of it (any help will be apprecitated)

P.S. I want this to experiment on a performance thing; so a gold anodised isnt a substitute however would look very cool.

[Al Heeley]

There's a specialist UK website that custom manufacutres various metal pickguards to order, but I can't remember the name - i got a chrome one for my black MIM tele once. It was about £50 I think.
I'm interested in your resonance and brass theory. I've fitted brass nuts to guitars but not yet a bass, and fitted brass saddles to a tele as people generally see a lot of positive benefits in terms of tone, but I've never heard of anyone recommending a brass scratchplate for improved resonance. There are also people who think the brass nut and saddle thing is just a bit of pseudo-science as brass is actually quite soft and they feel softness will enhance the vibration-dampening effects of a nut or saddle. I'm undecided but I reckon in our punk covers band you're not likely to hear the tonal nuances above the racket of the guitarist's obtuse thrashings.

[henry norton]

I doubt a brass scratchplate would make any difference to the sound of your Jazz. If it were a half inch thick and covered the entire front of the body (and had the bridge mounted on it) you would probably notice the difference in sound (as well as the hernia...), but a couple of millimetres of standard Jazz scratchplate shape will just make it a bit heavier, as well as turning brown and eventually green if you didn't keep it polished or lacquered.

I've got a brass nut on my Precision, as well as a brass Schaller bridge and it's certainly not the worse for having them, but the difference when I changed them over was quite subtle.

[Greene-Mann]

I suppose the contact with the bridge would be what would make it work..like Zemaitis guitars with te entire steel front plate...

If it wont make a blind bit of difference then sod it, Gold annodised is alot cheaper

[Al Heeley]

will keep cleaner longer too. Brass and greasy sweat from a heavy gig are not a winning combination unless you are into that grunge relic look

[Low End Bee]

I had one during my 5 minutes of owning a Jazz bass. I still feel dirty.

It was a NOS Mighty Mite one I got on ebay from the states when it was $2=£1.

It was shinier and heavier than the original and made zero sound difference as far as I could tell.

[Noisyjon]

How about this one from [url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/pickguard-bass-plated-brass-p-2574.html?p=product"]Allparts[/url]

A bit pricey and not [i]exactly[/i] what you want but close...

[Al Heeley]

Good grief - £115?! File under 'more-money-than-sense' category