Photoshop Help Requested

[Jeff K]

I have this P-Bass for sale in the Classifieds. For some reason, it hasn't gotten a lot of interest, so it looks like I'll be keeping it. Since she'll probably be staying with me, I'm thinking about trying a different look just for something different.

The first two pics are how it looks now. I'm wondering how it might look with a different pickguard. My initial thought was a Cream-colored pickguard similar to the one on this red St. Blues bass I used to have (3rd pic). Other possibilities would be either Brown Tort or a more Reddish Tort.

So if any of you Photoshop masters could work your magic to give me a better idea of how those three options (Cream; Brown Tort; Red Tort) might look on this bass, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks!

 

[mongo2]

For that 'burst and neck color I'd go with brown tort.

 

[Brio]

I'm a fan of tort but it doesn't look right on the '51/'54 style. I'd go cream, or without a guard personally.

 

[Jeff K]

I'm a fan of tort but it doesn't look right on the '51/'54 style. I'd go cream, or without a guard personally.

Can't go "guard-less" because it does have that hole underneath.

 

[Brio]

Can't go "guard-less" because it does have that hole underneath.

Ah, the CNC hole? That's a bummer.

 

[Jeff K]

Ah, the CNC hole? That's a bummer.

Yeah. From the "Damn Shame" Department:

 

[Microbass]

What about gold anadoised?

 

[Jeff K]

What about gold anadoised?

Yeah, Gold Anodized would look good, but would probably cost a fortune to have one made because of the non-standard size of the pickguard. The stock black guard actually DOES look really good up close. But from a distance, it blends into the black edges of the burst and makes the body look tiny. Yeah I know - first-world problems, huh?!

 

[Maxdusty]

I would say whatever tort this is. Not the same bass of course, but you can see the colors blend together pretty well.



I can't find an example of the cream one but here's a picture of the bass with the white pickguard. I think it's still better than the black as the black blends in with the edges of the bass too much and gets somewhat lost. The white would look retro if anything.

 

[jbybj]

Yeah. From the "Damn Shame" Department:
View attachment 2780716

Lose the pick guard, fill the hole with abalone, or a crystal.

 

[Brio]

There's always the Cabronita pickguard.

Also, regarding gold anodized, I had Pickguardian make a gold guard for my bass VI that turned out great. Its the old Gretcsh style, gold paint under acrylic. It obviously doesn't age and tarnish the way anodized metal will but it looked the part of a new gold guard.

 

[Callused Finger]

Super quick ps.

Cool bass. good luck with it.

 

[two fingers]

1) Fill hole.
2) Burn guard.
3) Paint black.
4) Rock.

 

[Marko 1]

So far imo the black pickguard looks better than the others, but I think I like the no-pickguard best-- I'd put a concho or sumfin over the hole, still the hole looks better than that huge piece of plastic, imo.

 

[Jeff K]

I can't find an example of the cream one but here's a picture of the bass with the white pickguard. I think it's still better than the black as the black blends in with the edges of the bass too much and gets somewhat lost. The white would look retro if anything.

View attachment 2781474

Here's an example of a Cream guard. This was on an old St. Blues bass I used to have. I think I'd like the Cream better than the White.

 

[Jeff K]

Lose the pick guard, fill the hole with abalone, or a crystal.

Ha ha! Kinda' like a good-lookin' woman with a jewel in her belly button??!

Super quick ps.


View attachment 2781613

View attachment 2781618
Cool bass. good luck with it.

Thanks! Now that I see it, I'm not so sure I DO like the Cream as much as I thought I would. Thanks again for your help!

1) Fill hole.
2) Burn guard.
3) Paint black.
4) Rock.

Ha ha! But no. The ash is too nice. But maybe a natural finish and keep the black guard. Hmmm...

 

[Jeff K]

There's always the Cabronita pickguard.

Also, regarding gold anodized, I had Pickguardian make a gold guard for my bass VI that turned out great. Its the old Gretcsh style, gold paint under acrylic. It obviously doesn't age and tarnish the way anodized metal will but it looked the part of a new gold guard.

I'm also liking this idea. Thanks, Brio...

 

[two fingers]

Ha ha! But no. The ash is too nice. But maybe a natural finish and keep the black guard. Hmmm...

If I had a dime for every time a good looking piece of ash clouded my vision.....

 

[Callused Finger]

Here's a white one.

 

[Maxdusty]

... keep the black guard. Hmmm...

You know, the more I look at your picture, the more I realize the pickguard isn't cut correctly. I'm assuming it's a BWB pickguard, you can't see the white on the edge as much as most black pickguards I've seen so you can't make out a white outline that would certainly help in this case and define it against the black color in your finish. It looks like the edges are cut at too deep of an angle, should be angled in such a way that the white shows. This is what I mean.
Here's a black pickguard that's cut correctly.