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NBD, with or with out pickguard?
- Thread starter PennyroyalWe
- Start date
I do like the look of a Jazz sans pickguard, but those empty screw holes would put my OCD into overdrive. So, I vote "with" using a replacement pickguard.
Many years ago, I made an inquiry to a Fender dealer about ordering a particular Jazz undrilled without a pickguard. I was informed that would've put me into Custom Shop pricing. From what I can tell, even Fender's Mod Shop doesn't offer this as an option. Only at FMIC does less actually cost more.
After pricing out a Warmoth replacement body, I ultimately went with a sans-pickguard J clone from another builder.
Many years ago, I made an inquiry to a Fender dealer about ordering a particular Jazz undrilled without a pickguard. I was informed that would've put me into Custom Shop pricing. From what I can tell, even Fender's Mod Shop doesn't offer this as an option. Only at FMIC does less actually cost more.
After pricing out a Warmoth replacement body, I ultimately went with a sans-pickguard J clone from another builder.
I don’ know how to upload pictures, I’m not a real computer literate guy.
That’s why I don’t have a cool avatar.
At age 67, I was probably over 40 years old before I saw my first Fender bass without a pick guard. To me, those without look like something is missing.
i'm glad it plays for you! it looks great --- congratulations on your new instrument! 
i'm ambivalent = looks good both ways, to me!
I voted WITH PG and am siding with the Dark Torts. But if you find a way to hide the holes, let it be a virgin. It looks great without a PG.
skyline_01
Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
I voted without bc it looks unique and there's no routing to cover. That being said, it does look good with the guard.
What would I do with it (not that anyone is asking)? Well, I'm hopelessly addicted to tort, and I think dark would look great in this case.
What would I do with it (not that anyone is asking)? Well, I'm hopelessly addicted to tort, and I think dark would look great in this case.
If the screw holes aren't already there then maybe no pickguard. But I really don't like how the control plate is just kinda sitting there without the pickguard.
Possibly, but before you double the price of the bass, there's a very inexpensive trick you can try. Oftentimes, when one prefers one set of pickups to another, it has to do with the LCR circuit's resonant peak. Too high (in frequency and/or amplitude), and one perceives the pickups as too bright, too harsh, not mellow enough.
But put a small capacitor (try values in the .001-.005 uF range) across the output jack (between hot and ground), and you can push around the resonant peak, which is like trying a different set of pickups. If you like the frequency of the new peak but find the amplitude too high, you can smooth out the peak with a small resistor in series with the capacitor (try 6.8K or 8.2K Ohms).
And if you try this and still opt for new pickups, this will give you more data on what sort of tonal profile you're after.
Having a bass painted by Pat Wilkins to a similar color. It has a black pearloid pick guard but I may want to update to tort after I see how it looks with the black. Has black hardware.
Nice bass!
Nice bass!
This exactly.
the shape of the control plate is meant to be used in conjugation with a pickguard. without a pickguard the control plate shape makes no sense. the only way a jazz bass works without a pickguard is a rear routed control cavity other wise the control plate is just sitting there with no context.
plus you already have screw holes in the bass body.
I like it better without, but since the holes are already there, I would agree with the dark tort or black.
