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Gold Anodized PG for 1997 Squier Pro-tone P/J

Bourbongangster

Bourbongangster

Nov 5, 2015
481
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43
#1
I've had this bass for almost 20 years and I have wanted a gold anodized pickguard for it for almost as long as I've had it. About 10 years ago after doing a lot of research, I decided it was gonna be almost impossible to find one that would fit, so I settled for making an tan pickguard out of a blank. Recently, I started looking at options again and had an idea. What if I got a gold anodized pickguard for a 50's P-bass and stacked the volume knobs?

Would one of those 50's Fender gold anodized pickguards fit in that situation? My bass has a jazz neck, so would the pocket on the pickguard look wrong? That's the only issue I can think of with doing this.
 
#5
I used to own a California Precision Bass Special which has a Jazz neck on it.I currently own a MIM Precision that has an anodized guard on it and there were differences between the two that were fairly obvious.The neck fit and the screw hole pattern around the control cavity,as i recall.
 
#7
Thanks for that. Good to know. How far off what the neck fit? If it doesn't look completely stupid, then I might still do it. I think there's a 10 hole 50's GA PG and a 13 hole one, so perhaps the other one would work. Otherwise, I'm leaning towards just getting a fake GA PG blank and cutting that.

gfaulkner said:
I used to own a California Precision Bass Special which has a Jazz neck on it.I currently own a MIM Precision that has an anodized guard on it and there were differences between the two that were fairly obvious.The neck fit and the screw hole pattern around the control cavity,as i recall.
Click to expand...

gfaulkner said:
I went back and looked at pics of the '97 Cali P bass Special and the hole count on it was 13.The '50s style has 10 holes.
Click to expand...
 
#8
The width of the heel of the neck is the same 2 1/2 inches,but there are some variations on how rounded the corners and the end of it are.It is a slight difference and unless you look for it most likely won't notice.I would be more concerned with the hole pattern/count.
 
#9
Would I be able to just fill in the holes on it now and put in new holes in the appropriate locations, or does the different hole count mean that it's a different shape/size that wont fit?

gfaulkner said:
The width of the heel of the neck is the same 2 1/2 inches,but there are some variations on how rounded the corners and the end of it are.It is a slight difference and unless you look for it most likely won't notice.I would be more concerned with the hole pattern/count.
Click to expand...
 
#13
Well. The pickguard arrived today. The one thing I was not expecting is for the neck pocket to be too small... And that's what happened. It needs to be shaved down on the E string side by maybe less than a mm. The only other thing is that the p bass needs to be moved over towards the G string side a tiny bit.

When I first got it, my wife asked why I couldn't just drill another hole in it to fit the extra pot. I had no answer. I guess it may be possible. I have no idea though. Any one wanna offer some insight on what drill bit to use?
 
#14
WD music made several custom pickguards for me. In fact I have a gold anodized guard that they made for me years ago for a Ovation Deacon project (that I still haven't completed) and it was great. The pic in my avatar is a 5 string Alvarez project I built from a neck and body. They also cut that pickguard from my design. Send them a tracing of yours. Should cost less than $80 for the guard and it fits exact.

Look at #14

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#15
jimmykicker said:
WD music made several custom pickguards for me. In fact I have a gold anodized guard that they made for me years ago for a Ovation Deacon project (that I still haven't completed) and it was great. The pic in my avatar is a 5 string Alvarez project I built from a neck and body. They also cut that pickguard from my design. Send them a tracing of yours. Should cost less than $80 for the guard and it fits exact.

Look at #14

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

I ended up buying a standard one on eBay and rewired my bass in series with a master volume. That ended up working with a little bit of modification. Thanks!
 
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#17
Plucker Tom said:
I supposedly bought a cali special gold pick guard last year off of craigslist..( that's what the guy told me)..and it didn't fit on my squire p bass...Is there a certain thing with these that only fit that bass..?
Click to expand...
No idea really. I just ended up using a standard Fender size pickguard and figured out a way to get away with one less pot. The only other option I could find was getting one custom-made.
 
#18
Let's see what it looks like!

I just got my first pro tone v last week. I have 9 other basses. After getting this PT bass, I am parting with several others. They don't match up. The only other one that exceeds it that I own is a 1998 ESP J-five that probably cost upwards of $2000 new. It's a custom shop Japan unit. To say this Squier compares to it at all, let alone slides up to the #2 slot out of 8 others is a big compliment! It's going gigging this month and I don't expect it to be replaced by anything. Amazing playability and tone.
 
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#19
jimmykicker said:
Let's see what it looks like!

I just got my first pro tone v last week. I have 9 other basses. After getting this PT bass, I am parting with several others. They don't match up. The only other one that exceeds it that I own is a 1998 ESP J-five that probably cost upwards of $2000 new. It's a custom shop Japan unit. To say this Squier compares to it at all, let alone slides up to the #2 slot out of 8 others is a big compliment! It's going gigging this month and I don't expect it to be replaced by anything. Amazing playability and tone.
Click to expand...

I've had the Pro-Tone V on indefinite loan from a friend for a few years. It's served me well, and it's going back to it's owner soon. My only complaint about it is that the B string is kinda weak.

I posted pics of my Pro-Tone P/J with the new pickguard and series wiring in this thread:

NBD... Kinda (Squier P/J w/ series wiring, new pickguard)
 
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