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Different Pickguard Changes Tone

#101
Bizarre. I too have the EXACT same CS model, and found the same thing in my experience as well!
Once I swapped the gold anodized guard for a tort one (obviously any modern repro polymer guard will have similar sonic properties i.e. Black, white, tort...) I found it mellowed out the tone of the bass as well. I got your back on this one bro, even if I'm the only one
 
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#102
When I began shielding guitars and pickups, I didn't think thin aluminum would affect pickup response. I had planned on wrapping the coils of a pickup before putting it in it's plastic case.

So I took a strip of thin 2" wide aluminum tape, and attached a ground wire. While my girlfriend played the guitar we were going to shield, I slipped the aluminum tape, grounded to the guitar ground, between the pickup and the strings, holding it to the top of the pickup.

Danged if the high end didn't mute considerably. Pulled the strip away and the brightness came back.

So I just wrapped the sides of the coils.

Even though the aluminum is non-ferrous it had a definite, and not that subtle effect on tone. Perhaps the aluminum and plastic cover created a capacitor. Who knows?

I have not heard differences after shielding pickguards, but perhaps...
 
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#103
mikeyjm2 said:
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.
Click to expand...

That's why I asked it. I wonder if I'll get an answer?
 
#104
My theory is that the metal pickguard when touched by him, gives some sort of boost, maybe to the ground or something and then boosts the overall volume because of it.

In a similar way to when you grab a radio aerial or the ground wire off the radio and suddenly the volume is increased by that action.

I can't explain it scientifically but I've had it happen on many an occasion.
 
#109
I find that pickguards don't make much difference, but stripes do ...

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#111
Coolhandjjl said:
Ahhh....the venerable STP sticker....
Click to expand...

I used to have one of those on an old Telecaster's pickguard. I put it on there because the previous owner of the guitar had crudely drawn a pentagram on the pickguard with Sharpie. I couldn't get it all off, so I slapped the sticker on there.

Then someone said "Cool! Stone Temple Pilots!" and I took it off.

I like Stone Temple Pilots fine, but I just didn't want people thinking I put a "band fanboy" sticker on my guitar.

This was a looong time ago. Now I don't give a crap what anyone thinks...
 
#115
David Jayne said:
Yup. And this current produces another magnetic field. And this field opposes the original field.
Take from that what you will. But it's a thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, regardless of my smartass response earlier in this thread, I could see anodized aluminum creating some different sounds from an instrument. The OP says he heard it--who am I to say he's wrong? I just wanted to have some fun...
 
#117
sikamikanico said:
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?
Click to expand...
That's what I was thinking. If the pickup is secured tightly rather than floating around relatively freely that could somehow effect the tone. Imagine playing the bass mounted on a guitar stand as opposed to flailing around. Maybe it's a subconscious thing, the OP looks down, sees the different color pickguard and it changes his mood ever so slightly that his playing is altered. He changes the pickguard back, his mood changes, the pickup isn't flopping around in the cavity as much, and there is a noticeable difference you can't put your finger on. I'm surprised nobody asked if a black pickguard is best for metal, although it would seem to be the obvious choice. Either that or chrome diamond plate.
 

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