'78 Precision Bass Pickguard Template

[André Monc]

Hello bass friends.

I have a '78 Precision Antiqua. But the original pickguard was changed by a white and I want to return it to its original shape.

I'm going to buy a black pickguard (B-W-B) and do the Antigua painting with automotive paint. For this I need the measurements or a template for 1978 pickguard.

Someone has it?

Monc

 

[André Monc]

Here is my Antigua:

 

[André Monc]

Something like this:

 

[sissy kathy]

You have the template now; use the pickguard you have. Duplicate it in the color you want.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Yep, remove the old guard, trace onto 1/2" or 3/4" MDF and cut out. If there's something wrong or you don't like on the original, adjust the MDF one as needed.

 

[André Monc]

You have the template now; use the pickguard you have. Duplicate it in the color you want.

Sissy, the '78 pickguard is a little different from the '62. They have more holes and the thumberst is located in a different spot.

The white pickguard that is intalled on the bass isn´t equal the original.

 

[André Monc]

Yep, remove the old guard, trace onto 1/2" or 3/4" MDF and cut out. If there's something wrong or you don't like on the original, adjust the MDF one as needed.

The white pick isn´t the original. And the '78 pickguard have different holes on it.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

The white pick isn´t the original. And the '78 pickguard have different holes on it.

You should be able to use the existing, correct holes in the body to mark out the holes for your template.

 

[André Monc]

You should be able to use the existing, correct holes in the body to mark out the holes for your template.

Nice. Any tips on how doing that? I need to send the templete to the guy that will manufactoring my pickguard.

 

[André Monc]

That´s the correct pickguard for '78.

 

[André Monc]

 

[sissy kathy]

You are only missing four holes, one for the thumb rest, two for the pickup cover, and the one for the middle area. So to locate the one for the thumb rest, buy at thumb rest and install it. For the middle hole, this is very simple. Get yourself a ruler and bring that black pick guard up on you screen. Take a measurement from one pickguard edge screw to another. I would use the top screw on the treble side and the one between the output and the bridge. Measure from each edge screw to the one in the middle. you have now defined a triangle. Now go to your bass and measure from the same two screw holes. Find the ratio between the drawing measurement and your bass. Use that ratio to determine what the measurements for your pickguard should be. Next, draw arcs using the appropriate measurements so the two arcs intersect. that intersection is your screw location. The farther apart the edge screws are, the more accurate you calculations will be. Now do the same thing for each pick up cover screw, or just buy a pickup cover and install it.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

@sissy kathy has a very good method and I never would have thought of it, thank you for that. Here’s what I was picturing in my mind. If you have the correct screw holes in the body already, after you get the outline of your template made, take tracing paper or parchment paper (I think you can see through parchment paper enough to trace) and cut out the exact outline of the pickguard. You can mark the screw holes from your existing guard on the paper and use those to line up the paper on the body. Alternatively, there may be an outline of the guard faded into the paint. Use that or both to line up your paper template. Then mark out the holes from the body onto the paper, then transfer them to the MDF template. Should be easier to do then to try to type out or read. I’ve done something similar to mark and cut out control covers in bodies when I didn’t have one to copy.