P basses without pickguards

[Jefenator]

I had a ‘78 with the trench and the PO tried to make it more like a Music Man. It was not good. IMHO trying to cover or fill in that trench is a lost cause.
But there are more suitable bodies out there if one wants to explore that concept.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Fender currently makes two PBass models without pickguards, the Boxer and the Duff.

Personally, I don't mind the pickguard, or scratch plate as it's called in some locales, because mine do get scratched and they're cheap and easy to replace. It's also an easy way to change the look.

Not all pickguards are plastic, either. My '79 P wore a chrome metal guard for much of the 80's.

 

[ShawnG]

A solid-color P without a pickguard just doesn't get it for me, seems "unfinished," somehow. Some pickguardless "coffee table" topped Ps do work for me, I guess I just need a little eye-candy.
I do get the desire for a more "seamless" look without the contrast that most pickguards provide. I submit the following as a compromise:

 

[ACRock]

 

[Panek]

Anybody love how the P bass looks without a pickguard? There are some seriously nice pieces of ash being hidden underneath that large piece of plastic.

We could of had the best of both worlds if the controls went through body, and guard was removable like the pickup and bridge metal covers.
View attachment 4225027
78 P bass btw...

Sorry, but with that rout going straight to the pickup, that is simply not nice...
My '75 is the same; that's why I'll never play it without a pickguard...

 

[hennessybass]

Parts build I did years ago. Traded it (foolishly).

 

[Krizz]

Rear routed, just seems right.

 

[ELG60]

 

[Krizz]

View attachment 4226105

 

[knigel]

I added the boomerang but this was supposed to be pickguardless.

 

[porterbass]

Does a clear guard count? ;-)))) This is my Fender MIJ '54 Reissue Blue Flower P. And it isn't all fluff. I was shocked when I received it that it is such a great player! Resonate and super comfortable. Great tone.

 

[Ric5]

 

[Ekulati]

Agree, I always thought P pickgaurds were u...err, no wait. I can't say that word or I'll get flagged again. For expressing an aesthetic opinion.

 

[Jack Deth]

Anybody love how the P bass looks without a pickguard?

Fender Boxer fulfilled my desire to own both a P and a J in one fell swoop, absolutely rocks it without the pickguard.

 

[GaDawg78644]

 

[Iridescentone]

We could of had the best of both worlds if the controls went through body, and guard was removable like the pickup and bridge metal covers.

Someone actually did just that, surprised me when I opened it up. The controls are rear mounted, and the guard has large holes to lay flat over the pot shafts and nuts. The guard is a dead-balls perfect fit, so I'm not sure if the builder planned it this way, or if it was an afterthought, or what. Never seen a guard mounted this way. Both basses are from the same builder, same time period, and same model....just different paint, bridges,and fretboard woods.

Same rear control cavity on both basses.

 

[Iridescentone]

Let us not forget that some dude had the idea years decades ago. He sup'd up the pickup while he was at it, just for good measure.

Not satisfied with that, he later went even further (not mine). Full Monty!

 

[jd56hawk]

One of the few I could see myself playing.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Do PJs count?

 

[Hot Rats]