This. And once D Bopp realises some factor like the ones listed here has changed the tone and posts about it, everyone will be scrambling to get custom pickguards that have the pickup route .0025mm towards the neck or whatever...
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Different Pickguard Changes Tone
- Thread starter D Bopp
- Start date
This. And once D Bopp realises some factor like the ones listed here has changed the tone and posts about it, everyone will be scrambling to get custom pickguards that have the pickup route .0025mm towards the neck or whatever...
Wait, why do you have to change anything to replace a p bass pickguard? Unscrew, lift, slide out, remove pots and input jack, replace, and back... Or am I missing something?
Anyway, my thought was - if the pickup is pressed against the pickguard (maybe it's a bad fit, or a tight fit), vs the pickup not touching the pickguard... Could that influence the sound noticeably?
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Pretty funny. I read the headline and came here to make some joke about using a metal pick guard. Then I read the post and you WERE using a metal pick guard. Metal is dense, it is conductive, it can be magnetic, so sure, if one pick guard actually sounds different than the other, my guess is one of them is metal.
Yep. When using metal around electrical components, all bets are off. I said to myself when I read the title (but before reading his OP) that one of his pick guards must be metal.
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- Oct 8, 2007
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I ve had over 10 p bassesand i've swapped metal guards on at least 3 of them And I did notice a change in tone.
The OP likely did hear a difference unplugged and plugged in.
The difference is the weight ( or density)and the resonant frequency of the pickguard. Among other intangible benefits.
Different is different. And the guards once screwed into the body of the bass change its resonant frequency.
The metal guards act like a giant " fat head" or fat finger on the body
The OP likely did hear a difference unplugged and plugged in.
The difference is the weight ( or density)and the resonant frequency of the pickguard. Among other intangible benefits.
Different is different. And the guards once screwed into the body of the bass change its resonant frequency.
The metal guards act like a giant " fat head" or fat finger on the body
You and me both. Get those speaker cables off the floor to avoid microphonic distortion.As a recovering audiophile and former subscriber to Stereophile and Absolute Sound magazines I find this thread refreshing...and liberating. This reminds me of the equipment reviewer who claimed his system sounded better when he removed his glasses from his face. I tried that experiment but could tell no difference. Maybe I just hadn't spent enough money on my audio system...or my glasses.
Maybe there is a discernible difference between the two pickguards in question but I confess to probably not being able to tell them apart.
M. M.
Enjoying the humor and all, but that actually is a pertinent question. Anodizing does create a non-conductive layer. It's something I only learned myself from an old oilfield instrumentation tech years ago when I saw him using a multi-meter to check for continuity (actually lack of continuity) from one side of an anodized aluminum connector body to the other.
the title of this thread looks like a headline you'd read on "The National Enquirer' or "The Daily Post" or something...
Ummm...I just changed the pickguard on my P bass. Unless I was stoned when I did it, I can't recall restringing it and replacing the pickups or wiring harness!!!!!!!!!!!!! A simple swap requiring some temporary screw and nut removal.
Inquiring minds want to know.... were either of these pickguards made with a CNC machine?
The proper question is: Which pickguard is best for metal? A metal pickguard? 
MM
MM
Well...damn..guess I'll put in my 2 pesos worth....
I had a custom wooden PG put on one of my Jazz basses and I noticed a difference. It wasn't a HUGE one, but it did affect the tone a tad. Sounded more snappier with the white pg than the wood pg. The wood pg was heavier too.
Wood vs plastic vs metal PGs...of course they make a an impact on the tone. It is the same as slapping a Fathead on the headstock...you're either adding mass our taking it away..no matter how insignificant that amount may be. and the reflective surface material between the strings and the bass body makes a lil' difference. Well, at least to my ears it does.
I had a custom wooden PG put on one of my Jazz basses and I noticed a difference. It wasn't a HUGE one, but it did affect the tone a tad. Sounded more snappier with the white pg than the wood pg. The wood pg was heavier too.
Wood vs plastic vs metal PGs...of course they make a an impact on the tone. It is the same as slapping a Fathead on the headstock...you're either adding mass our taking it away..no matter how insignificant that amount may be. and the reflective surface material between the strings and the bass body makes a lil' difference. Well, at least to my ears it does.
wmhill
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- Aug 20, 2012
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Funny, when some one posts up a anti P-bass post, Rule #10: get quoted right off the bat(..... and closed for comment) but this one's cool. Hmmm?
(not that I am against this post, I just find it curious).
(not that I am against this post, I just find it curious).
I have a different tone after eating baked beans.
I prefer no guard at all so the natural tone wood sound can come through.
Not much different than claiming to hear the difference in fretboard wood.
Or cables.
Mea Culpa! String removal not 'required' but that is how I would do it to avoid manipulating stuff under the strings and risk of scratching finish with pot backs etc... Thanks guys.
Enjoying the comments guys. Both serious and humorous.
I will mention that I did not take the strings off, or adjust the pickup height, etc. Just unscrewed, and screwed the new one on.
I will mention that I did not take the strings off, or adjust the pickup height, etc. Just unscrewed, and screwed the new one on.
Seriously OP - is there a weight difference between the two pickguards? Also, I assume the anodized one is stiffer, is that correct? And is there a difference in the shielding on the back of each guard?
An interesting test would be to make a full front P bass body cut out of 1/16" thick aluminum (good and stiff with maximum coverage) and securely screw it to the bass body then see if you notice (in a blind test and also an instrument test) a difference in sound vs no guard at all. If so, there may be something to the OPs observation. Likewise if there's no difference in sound then it puts the issue to rest. My guess is that there would be a slight difference on the instrument test but the blind test would be inconclusive due to massive hearing variations in different sets of human ears and the subtle nature of the change.
An interesting test would be to make a full front P bass body cut out of 1/16" thick aluminum (good and stiff with maximum coverage) and securely screw it to the bass body then see if you notice (in a blind test and also an instrument test) a difference in sound vs no guard at all. If so, there may be something to the OPs observation. Likewise if there's no difference in sound then it puts the issue to rest. My guess is that there would be a slight difference on the instrument test but the blind test would be inconclusive due to massive hearing variations in different sets of human ears and the subtle nature of the change.
