Pickguard woes

[schmig]

Just griping here...

Bought a tort pickguard for my Geddy Lee sig Jazz a couple of weeks ago. Find the white a bit glaring, especially onstage...nice warm tort more up my street.

So I order one from WD Music, seeing as they have pickguards specifically for the GL jazz. About $59, add UPS shipping to Europe, comes to $130. Ridiculous, yes, I know, but I've been playing a lot of paying gigs and starting to get some big venues so hell, why not have my bass looking as well as I can have it?

Customs charge me an additional $46 on delivery of the pickguard, so I do a little , it has now cost a total of over $170.

But I remind myself, this is a once off, and she's going to look great up on that stage...

How little was I surprised when I removed the stock white PG only to discover that the WD pickguard is not a fit, $170+ later. Neck pickup hole is out by a centimetre or more. Furthermore the edges are a little different. The holes would have lined up alright were it not for that.

So, I'm $170 poorer, while Irish Customs, UPS and WD music are all gone for a beer together on the back of my efforts.

[draftsmann]

No consolation now, but didn't you check out the eBay seller in Belgium who lists dozens of scratchplates? That's an awful lot of dosh.

Adrian

[draftsmann]

Ah - it's not a standard Jazz.

There is another eBay seller in England who sells scratchplate material for a tenner or so. I say this safe in the knowledge that I'm too far away for any sideways nether-region scratchplate insertion!

[schmig]

Had read up here and other places about difficulties in finding right pickguard (especially for unusual or japanese sticks etc), thus the decision to drop an inordinate amount on the WD pickguard.

And f*ck it, it looks great on there..if only it would fit!!!

Have dropped an email to WD music yesterday but so far, nothing...

[Pilgrim]

Hopefully WD will work with you. Sounds like you'd be way ahead to make a tracing of your existing PG and have one custom-cut to fit.

[schmig]

Well, WD music did get back to me:

Greetings John, unfortunately, your Japanese Geddy Lee signature J-Bass does not fall into the following description:


Fender® Jazz Bass® Geddy Lee

Please note that this pickguard will only fit genuine 20 fret Fender® Jazz Bass® and Fender® Geddy Lee Jazz Bass®. This pickguard will not fit 22 fret Fender® Jazz Bass®



The genuine version of this product is specifically made in U.S.A. All Fender products made in Japan require tracings of the original guard in order to create this product for you in our custom pickguard department. If you could send us a tracing of your original pickguard, then we’d be able to ensure a proper fit for your Japanese Fender product. Awaiting your reply. Regards, WD sales

Thing is, I find this information to be misleading. I read on their site, as printed above, that the pickguard will fit the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass.

It goes on to say that the Japanese versions require a traced pickguard.

HOWEVER, the Geddy Lee is ONLY manufactured in Japan..I find the information above to be contradictory.

[Pilgrim]

Hmmmm...I don't think you're likely to win that one. Fender products sold in the US (regardless of where they're made) and sold in Japan are different.

[schmig]

Bought it in the U.S. They got back to me and appear to be willing to help out...will reserved judgment until I see what happens.

[Pilgrim]

Good for them! (And for you.)

[schmig]

Just to wrap up this thread, I was contacted personally by the business owner, who is setting the matter straight for me.

Excellent customer service, in all fairness, I'll go to them again.

[Steveaux]

Originally Posted by schmig

Just to wrap up this thread, I was contacted personally by the business owner, who is setting the matter straight for me.

Excellent customer service, in all fairness, I'll go to them again.

Always good to hear of a satisfactory conclusion.

WD just went up a couple points.

[schmig]

Received a perfectly fitting pickguard in the post yesterday. Kudus to Larry Davis et al at WD music, he personally sorted it out for me.