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Anybody else hate pick guards?

#61
I never use a pick but I prefer the look of a pickguard. I like the classic Fender look so maybe that's part of it. I don't know why but I think a sunburst with a tort pickguard is a thing of beauty but a sunburst with no pickguard is the most boring of all bass cosmetics to me.
 
#62
I hate them. They are ugly, cheap looking bits of plastic covering up either a great piece of wood or some great paintwork. I do not understand why they ever were put on basses, especially those massive tele bass ones that cover up half the body! WHY!? I'm with the OP, they're awful things. But to each their own of course, I'm not gonna hate on someone for liking them. I'll just never own a bass that has one on :D
 
#63
I like no pick guards myself but I have both.
The one thing I have found though with MOST of my basses, but not all, is that the tone seems fuller with no pg. and they seem to have a better balance to my liking.
Just my 1 cent.
 
#64
Same here. I'm not fond of 'em either. I've removed 'em off of my '61, '72, and '75 Jazz Basses. If you do that, here's a tip that'll increase the value of your bass down the road:

Mount your pickguard(s) on a piece of wood tends to keep them from shrinking up. If you don't, when you go to put it back on, it'll likely not fit, due to some shrinkage. And, that leads to them cracking fom the strain on them from the mounting screws. I also find that if you store them (while mounted on a piece of wood) in a warm place without fluctuations in temperature, they're less likely to shrink, also.
 

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