You really can't get a good vintage tone unless you have a bakelite pickguard.
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Different Pickguard Changes Tone
- Thread starter D Bopp
- Start date
If you noticed something....anything... that made you like the bass better, go with it.
Validation is not required.
Validation is not required.
I'm fortunate to have both Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson on speed dial, so I asked these famous scientists about this.*
They explained that the difference in tone between the anodized pickguard and the plastic pickguard has to do with the conductivity of the material. See, the anodized guard actually forms a primitive type of flux capacitor when the plucking hand is in close proximity to it, as of course it is when playing. The capacitance varies with the motion of the plucking hand, hence the value is in flux. And it is well known that higher capacitance in cables is the primary cause of the dreaded tone suck. The loss of tone with the anodized guard differs slightly, in that the high frequencies are rolled off into the ether rather than the ground drain.
So it's all quite logical and reasonable.
Believing is hearing, as the saying goes.
* There's a snarky kind of anti-AGW joke hidden in that...
They explained that the difference in tone between the anodized pickguard and the plastic pickguard has to do with the conductivity of the material. See, the anodized guard actually forms a primitive type of flux capacitor when the plucking hand is in close proximity to it, as of course it is when playing. The capacitance varies with the motion of the plucking hand, hence the value is in flux. And it is well known that higher capacitance in cables is the primary cause of the dreaded tone suck. The loss of tone with the anodized guard differs slightly, in that the high frequencies are rolled off into the ether rather than the ground drain.
So it's all quite logical and reasonable.
Believing is hearing, as the saying goes.* There's a snarky kind of anti-AGW joke hidden in that...
I bought new picks but my playing sounds the same, BTW I play fingerstyle exclusively,any one have an answer?
Ok, I get it. No one has ever experienced this. Looking forward to the next two pages of jokes.....
Some things you just shouldn't say out loud.....or on the internet.
Seriously, if it sounds better to you, it's all good.
Seriously, if it sounds better to you, it's all good.
At least you have a sense of humor about everyone's smartass replies (mine included) and are taking it in stride.
Hey, after making a joke about the thread, I oughtta let y'all have a laugh at me. A while back I had a little extra jingle, so I decided to try one of those high-priced guitar cables. And I watched enough of the marketing vids to convince myself it would sound better. So I dropped a C-note on an Asterope cable, and when it came in the mail tried it out in my music room.
Shazam! I swore the notes somehow sounded crisper, more articulate. I switched back and forth between my old $20 cable and the $100 Asterope, and convinced myself I could hear a difference.
Except when I had my SO run a blindfold test (she switched the cables--and randomly pretended to switch--while I played with my eyes closed and identified which cable it was from how it sounded), I wasn't much more accurate than guessing.
So...the whole thing is about the expectancy effect.
Shazam! I swore the notes somehow sounded crisper, more articulate. I switched back and forth between my old $20 cable and the $100 Asterope, and convinced myself I could hear a difference.
Except when I had my SO run a blindfold test (she switched the cables--and randomly pretended to switch--while I played with my eyes closed and identified which cable it was from how it sounded), I wasn't much more accurate than guessing.
So...the whole thing is about the expectancy effect.
I agree with what you are saying. But I'm talking about the same bass, same everything. Just different cheap pickguard. No special expensive purchase to justify my means. I just noticed a difference, and the only thing that had changed was the pickguard. Then when I changed it back, it sounded like it should've. There was no initial hypothesis to test this A/B comparison. I was being reactive instead of being proactive.
Like Harry Carey (Will Farrell) says, " I calls em like I sees em".
Take what you will from it. And hey, if you ever are in this similar situation in the future, keep it in the back of your mind. You may be surprised!
Anodized pg's are Aluminum, = non-magnetic.
and there, ... there ya go!
Aluminium is not highly magnetic (it is to a very small extent). But it is good conductor of electricity and is often used to make radio antennae.
I would not be surprised is D Bopp has witnessed a genuine physical phenomenon. I'm just surprised that it is so noticeable.
Of course it will sound different comparing conductive vs nonconductive pickguard. The anodized one helps create a large Farady cage around everything. That can affect the highs to a small degree. Stop mocking the guy for cris sakes.
Guy yesterday made the mistake of saying his Precision had a slight neck dive issue.
He got two pages of "neck dive" doesn't exist replies.
Laugh it off and move on.
How are the guards shielded? I wonder if that could have an affect? You don't expect the same if you try a mint guard do you? You're thinking it is something with the gold guard, right?
I have a metal shield underneath the plastic guard. So I don't think it's a shielding issue. I don't even think it's a magnetic, or conductivity issue.
Who knows. Unplugged, I could hear a difference, and I think that translates in some way when plugged in.
