Pardon my ignorance

[Wootenjr304]

What's the shiny stuff on the back of my pickguard? I switched out pickguards and the old one had the material on the back but the new one doesn't. Is this stuff necessary ?

 

[Runnerman]

Shielding for the electronics cavities probably. If no hum, no problem.

 

[Huge]

Silvery stuff? Shielding tape. It's necessary if your bass hums, but if it doesn't you should be okay.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken.

 

[Wootenjr304]

It's a p bass if that matters. So nothing is gonna get damaged without this stuff?

 

[line6man]

Shielding on pickguards doesn't really offer any shielding benefit. It is there to ground static discharges from the plastic.

Whether or not it is necessary depends on whether or not you have issues with static.