Anybody else hate pick guards?

[msaone]

Can't stand them. That's probably why I got my power jazz bass special.

Pick guards just seem in the way to me, just don't like the look.

 

[Dave W]

It depends on the bass.

 

[Epitaph04]

No.

 

[Kmonk]

For me, it depends on the bass. I like them on Fenders, Sadowsky, Laklands and some others but don't think they would like right on Alembic or Warwick for example. I think they add to the look of the bass and you can order many different styles which can help you to personalize your bass.

 

[KeiBau]

I prefer an all wood look without a pick guard. No major judgement though.

 

[Batmensch]

Nope. I actually prefer them.

 

[low2groove]

in 45 years my two biggest turnoffs for a bass or guitar is pickguards and sunburst finishes.

 

[Tristan]

I used to think not having a pickguard was better... looked clean and slick.

Now I find basses with them have more character and those that don't look plain.

(In genereal of course, there are lookers and uglies of both types)

 

[Solarmist]

I don't hate them, but I don't like them either ... they cover up the nice looking wood grains. I've been playing with picks since 79', and never hit the body where the pick guard sits.

 

[Dan B]

Depends on the bass. Laklands 94s look great with them, for instance. However for me if it's on a Fender Jazz type bass, it needs both the control plate and the pickguard. Having one or the other (but not both) makes the bass look incomplete, though having a clear pickguard ameliorates that.

 

[georgestrings]

Nope. I actually prefer them.

This...


- georgestrings

 

[satellite4]

I love them on my P and J basses...really like being able to change out the pickguards and alter the overall look/style of the bass.

Would never put a pickguard on my Spector of course =)

 

[Munjibunga]

in 45 years my two biggest turnoffs for a bass or guitar is pickguards and sunburst finishes.

Four of my basses have pickguards, the rest do not. The ones with pickguards look correct with them. It'd be a sin to put pickguards on any of my coffee table basses.

 

[oddgrowth]

I used to really dislike them. Never owned a bass w/em.

I now have a pair of 76 fenders (P&J) w/mirrored pickguards.

 

[willbassyeah]

I need them. Can't stand it when bass has no pickguard feels empty when I am slapping.

 

[J.Nuno]

Not that I hate them (2 basses, 1 with the other without). But in terms of "picks" they are preatty useless because I can never fit any pick under that .

Slapping without it scratches the wood... the pickguard can be replaced.

 

[maturanesa]

I hate pickguards and control plates too. Just like a plain background´s body

 

[walkerci]

I don't use a pick, so pickguards are useless for me.

On a related matter, I absolutely HATE the control plate on Fender Jazz basses.

 

[TBird1958]

I like them.....

Of course I play with a pick, so

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I play with a pick and I am indifferent towards them. For one I wouldnt scratch the body with a pick the way I play that would be rather hard , some basses look great without gaurds, such as the jazz special , others look to plain , the boxer P from 1985 by fender,looks like a jazz special but just with a P pickup and no guard, its way to plain looking to me.