Help me decide: with or without?

[Bergerman]

Friends don’t let friends drill unnecessary holes in beautiful basses.

 

[GKon]

Normally, I'd say with, but it's stunning without!

 

[mhartman29]

Honestly it looks stunning either way. I think the pick guard makes it pop a little more. Beautiful

 

[J Wilson]

Drop-dead gorgeous, as your work always is, BV.

I can see including the white PG IF the customer really wants to push the 'Explorer' vibe.

On the other hand, that's WAY too much gorgeous quilt to cover even a square inch of it for me.

IF it were me and I just had to have a pickguard: Duplicate the white one in clear plastic.

All the Best,

JW

 

[Robert Udell]

No wrong answer

 

[soulstew]

Without.

Or with.

I don’t know. Both look good.

Without

Or…

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I wouldn't want to hide any of that wood top.

Then again, I hardly ever use a pick, so I don't need to protect the top from one.

 

[lomo]

None (or transparent) for me.

 

[TeaTime]

I eventually voted no pickguard because I hate to see beautiful wood and craftsmanship hidden behind cheap plastic. But that was only after ohhhs and ahhhhs over every element of the build. Epic.

 

[The Sandman]

I wouldn't want to hide any of that wood top.

All those strings and tuning pegs will distract the casual observers.

 

[Basvarken]

Thank you people!
It looks like 60% of you prefer it without pickguard.
I think I'm leaning towards the other 40% myself.

But I've agreed with my customer that I will leave it off. And I'll just put it in the case with a bag of pick guard screws. So he can put it on if he decides he prefers it with.


For me the pick guard is an integral part of the Gibson inspired Explorer. It has a strong visual function. It has very little to do with protecting the finish.
Covering part of the quilted pattern is also a bit of a decadent statement maybe. ;-)

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

If pickwear is an unavoidable circumstance, then yes. Beautiful bass.

 

[The Sandman]

Covering part of the quilted pattern is also a bit of a decadent statement maybe. ;-)

A first world problem for sure. Now, can you please pass the Grey Poupon…

---

 

[Iristone]

I generally prefer the Explorer with a guard, but this one looks great without one. It doesn't need a guard any more than John Entwistle's Alembic Exploiter! I guess I only prefer a guard on a korina or solid-colour Explorer so that it doesn't look like an 80's MIJ hair metal axe.

 

[Bonkersville]

Late to the game. As usual. But in this case I'd favour the pickguard, although I wouldn't propably have thought about it myself. I usually don't like them.

However to me that guard adds a lot of character. And the point about it been seen across the hall is a good one.

But the bass is still plenty pretty without it. And in the end the customer is the one who should make the decision for themself.

 

[Polfuste]

Absolute killer without PG. A beauty !

 

[Dark Horse]

Double stick tape to attach pickguard…that way you can take it on or off and not have unsightly pickguard screw holes

 

[TN WOODMAN]

White is too bright. I like aged white pearl. But I would need to see it to give you a final answer.

What's up with all the tuning pegs, though?

One per string. 3 courses on a 4 string spaced bass for a total of 12 strings.

 

[BassHole1]

One per string. 3 courses on a 4 string spaced bass for a total of 12 strings.

I just looked at the bridge closeups and realized there are 3 strings per.....now I've totally lost it..........

 

[DrBnz]

True....true.... I'm so particular about my setups.... tuning.... always with the finite adjustments to get it perfect. When I seen 12 it was a bit of a head rush. Can I play it? Or will the setup alone drive me insane?