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Does this bass need a tort pickguard?
- Thread starter Chrisk-K
- Start date
i dig Tort. But i would keep this one as it is. This black pickguard seat perfectly with this beautifull sunburst. 
Didn't read all 4 pages. Warmoth does tort guards for about $49. You could delete the end hole and go 2 holes with stacked VT, VT pots.
The one TBer suggested a smaller size tone pot for the end. Great idea!
One of my builds. VT, VT knobs.
The one TBer suggested a smaller size tone pot for the end. Great idea!
One of my builds. VT, VT knobs.
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Chandler (https://pickguardheaven.com/) has the template and much better tort than WD. No need to pay them 100 bucks. About 60 bucks. I got one for mine and i think it's a big improvement:
In retrospect I would have also gotten the thumb-rest holes and installed one, but this bass is long gone.
In retrospect I would have also gotten the thumb-rest holes and installed one, but this bass is long gone.
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Y pass on $130 for a pickguard. let someone else who has to have it pay that. Someone on Facebook Marketplace in the Morgan Hill, CA (SF Bay Area) has one they just removed from an American Professional II for $30. maybe message them and see if it fits or exchange idk.
Another suggestion, look on Amazon. RN they have the "Fenderr Pure Vintage Pickguard, '63 Precision Bass, 13-Hole - Tortoise Shell" on sale for $59.99, regularly $93. I actually bought one that was "used/returned" 2 days ago for only $40 + tax.
I apologize for not paying closer attention to the details on why these probably won't fit your bass with the 3rd knob but you get the idea. Your bass looks stunning right now but keep your eyes out for a deal, one day you will find it.
Another suggestion, look on Amazon. RN they have the "Fenderr Pure Vintage Pickguard, '63 Precision Bass, 13-Hole - Tortoise Shell" on sale for $59.99, regularly $93. I actually bought one that was "used/returned" 2 days ago for only $40 + tax.
I apologize for not paying closer attention to the details on why these probably won't fit your bass with the 3rd knob but you get the idea. Your bass looks stunning right now but keep your eyes out for a deal, one day you will find it.
I did some superficial mods to mine. I’m not usually a big black guard fan, but I think it looks perfect. I went for a modded 70s P look.
What do I think? I think that there isn't a bass in this arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, that needs a tort pickguard. Personally? There are 3 P-Bass shaped basses in my herd - all 3TB finished, - and none of them have a tort pickguard. My '24 Custom Shop G&L Kiloton lined fretless bass used to have one; now, it has the same Cream/Black/Cream 'guard that my '78 Fender P-Bass, and my '18 Warmoth Mini-Precision Bass have. The Fender originally had a solid Black one, but it was badly cracked when I bought it (in 1988). I thought it looked a little... gloomy... so I replaced it. IMO, Cream/Black/Cream just looks.... classy... with a 3TB finish. But, I'm sure all the Tort-ites will be urging you to join them; and, it is your bass, after all. So, if you want to go the tort route you can 1) settle for a "regular" one - that will almost certainly look like pizza-with-extra-sauce pewk; or 2) spend big $$'s for a pickguard that actually looks like tortoiseshell. Which I guarantee you will cost a lot more than $130....
Buy different ones and swap them out when you get bored. Helps reduce GAS. I call that The Wig on the Wife Dynamic.
