Fender Aerodyne Special P - looks like you CAN install a pickguard on it?

[filler83]

It looks like someone installed a pickguard over the aerodyne special body that is curved. I was always curious if this was possible, and now it looks like it is (been looking at the all white precision but I thought it needed something to break up the white). I assume the pickguard would be slightly curved to follow the body, correct?

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[B Minor Threat]

I feel like there's no way that's fitting on there properly.

 

[Antonuzzo]

Do the non-export Aerodynes have curved pickguards? Or do they just have non-contoured bodies?

 

[Enrique M]

If this is the special P that came out a couple years ago, someone also switched out the pick ups/pots. Mine only has two control knobs.

 

[Bonedoge]

Might not be the perfect answer for you, but I made a pickguard out of thin urethane film.

I needed some protection on slap zone, and I definately did not want any screw holes on this dead clean surface.

Urethane film by itself is quite adhesive to smooth surface so you don't even need glue to stick it on.

If you're okay with making new screw holes, I suggest you to try with something like thin plastic board that could be bent easily.

It might not perfectly follow the curvature of the top and fit tight like urethane film, but I think at least you'll have a chance.

Good luck! (´∀｀)

 

[JumboJett35]

I suppose you CAN do almost anything. However the Aerodyne itself is made to be different and unique. WHY add a pickguard to an already unique bass thus making it alot like the rest?

I personally have two of the recent Aerodynes. One of them being the Hot Rod burst like in the first picture. I put a set of DR Black Beauties on mine and that is all it took to make it pop. The black on maple always looks good and the black against the red body looks better than steel colored strings. It also sounds great.

Regardless of whether you get one and put a pickguard on or not, I personally believe these are the best value to quality instruments Fender has recently offered. Not so much at $1400 when they were released but $600, which myself and many others paid when Franklin Guitar Works was blowing them out on Reverb, I don't think you will find a better Fender for that price. A used MIM goes for that nowadays.

 

[micguy]

Just because you can....doesn't mean you should.

You can put a moustache on the Mona Lisa, but should you?

 

[JakobT]

It’s certainly possible on the J version, and I see no reason why it wouldn’t work on the P. The non-export version is definitely curved, and there is at least one TB’er who has installed a pickguard on his:

Post in thread 'Fender Aerodyne Club!'

Jul 2, 2024

How well do you think the flat pickguard will conform to the slightly arched top of the body when/if you screw it down? Do you think it’ll be a problem?

0% problemo's.

• Marc DLarosa

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[stevensivak]

On the subject of Aerodynes, has anyone ever heard of a lefty version? Are there P's and J's or???? (in the right hand versions)

 

[Malak the Mad]

Do the non-export Aerodynes have curved pickguards? Or do they just have non-contoured bodies?

I bought a Non-Export and replaced it's pickguard last year. The original appears to be a wee bit slimmer, probably to allow it to better conform to the radius'd body. The newer pickguard, a black/cream/black one from WD Music to better match with the body's cream binding, stays down thanks to the screws, but it does rise up about a millimeter here and there. It isn't bothersome or anything, but it definitely wants to lay flat.

I suppose you CAN do almost anything. However the Aerodyne itself is made to be different and unique. WHY add a pickguard to an already unique bass thus making it alot like the rest?

Just because you can....doesn't mean you should.

You can put a moustache on the Mona Lisa, but should you?

My thinking exactly!

Just my thoughts, but I feel like adding a pickguard to an Aerodyne, or any bass that's built "naked", just detracts from what makes it special in the first place. If you want something that looks "standard" or "normal", then maybe The Almighty 'Dyne is not the bass for you.