Thanks. I painted my stock black one with a color changing paint so it appears blue/green/purple depending on angle and lighting.
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Pickguard/Body Shape Aesthetics
- Thread starter M-Mittlesteadt
- Start date
Kinda looks like a B2 Bomber landed on the bass. I see 4 points, but I don't see the point.
Just like the 1930s had Art Deco, seems like the late 1940s through the early 1960s had a kind of airplane/rocket theme popularity. Look at fins on cars, boomerang Formica on tables, etc etc. I feel like the Precision and the Strat and later the Jazz are tuning into that. Even the name Stratocaster shows this.
So seems like a persons feelings for these body types will probably track how they feel about that “50s” style in general.
So seems like a persons feelings for these body types will probably track how they feel about that “50s” style in general.
If someone asks me if my Jazz is 60's or 70's pickup spacing, I can confidently say "Both, and 3 other spacings as well"
As a retired professional artist (after 40 years), I find that shape and contour either work with or against the overall design.
The upper part of the pickguard works against the shape of the upper body leaves me wondering "What were they thinking?" It's almost like they had two design teams, one team worked on the shape of the body and one on the pickguard, but they never got together to discuss. LOL.
The Warwick Fortress is my favorite body shape i've found. Not only is it extremely balanced with no dive, it feels comfortable standing or sitting and i think looks killer.
Some of my favorites:
Yamaha BB1024X
Peavey T-40
I think black/black is the best color combo for these.
My recently commissioned pg for my modified Peavey G Bass
Yamaha BB1024X
Peavey T-40
I think black/black is the best color combo for these.
My recently commissioned pg for my modified Peavey G Bass
I really like how they follow the body contour.
It's just my opinion of course, but if a pickguard is to be added, there should be some sense of the overall intended design...follow the contours of the body outline, but also how pickups/bridges and controls are aligned as well.
Those are some good examples of well thought out pickguards.
Ah, damn, exposed....If Batman had a bass, it would be this one.
Yes, you are of course, right, I admit, I am Batman...
But don't tell anyone else, promise?
I will only refer to you as either Bruce, or Mr. Wayne.Ah, damn, exposed....
Yes, you are of course, right, I admit, I am Batman...
But don't tell anyone else, promise?
Personal taste can change too - I used to hate on the original ‘51-‘54-style P, thinking it looked “old-fashioned”… and what was up with that anemic little “deflated balloon” headstock? Now, I dig it… probably because *I’m* old-fashioned.
One of my opinions that hasn’t changed (yet) is my distaste for the “standard” P pickguard. I just don’t dig that dangling appendage for the controls, like the state of Florida. Chop it off! (Sorry, Floridians.) And I’m not into a J with a control plate and no pickguard - looks like a puzzle with a missing piece. (Sorry, Jaco.)
My ideal would be a contoured P body with no pickguard and a side jack. A P is such a beautifully minimalist instrument, it doesn’t need any extra stuff cluttering it up.
I totally agree with you on the dangling appendage and puzzle with a missing piece.
Back in 2000 I purchased the original ESP/LTD F-204 and my friend Rick Valles, who played with Pissing Razors, called it a Batman bass as well. So that cracked me up when you said the same thing about the FL-4.If Batman had a bass, it would be this one.
Now I have to admit that there was a time where I couldn't stand the looks of Fender Basses, Fender headstocks, Spector bodies and Spector headstocks. Funny thing is they say that as you get older your tastes changes. Well I now own 5 Jazz Basses, 2 P Basses and 2 Spector basses which I never would have believed if someone had told me I would 20 years ago.
So now I'm afraid to say that I can't stand the looks of a violin bass or a tele bass headstock in fear that I am going to own one in the future.
Different strokes for different folks. I'm pretty conservative usually, but this one is just crazy enough to look good to me:
I see what you're saying, but I also think that the iconic Fender designs (which I would argue are the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz, Precision and Jaguar/Jazzmaster) are, at this point, classics, and pretty timeless as a result.
I like most offset bodies but I don't always like playing them. I love the T-Bird shape, but it's horribly awkward for me to play. A standard scale Jazz or Jag is just too big for me to be 100% comfortable playing them standing up. Doesn't stop me from owning them, though.
The Mustang/Musicmaster shape gets two thumbs up for looks and comfort. The control plate and pickguard on a Mustang looks great.
Also, another vote for the T-40 pickguard here. It's very purposeful, almost logical, even though the face of that bass is crowded with the huge bridge and all those knobs and switches.
The Mustang/Musicmaster shape gets two thumbs up for looks and comfort. The control plate and pickguard on a Mustang looks great.
Also, another vote for the T-40 pickguard here. It's very purposeful, almost logical, even though the face of that bass is crowded with the huge bridge and all those knobs and switches.
No argument, those are all classics. I guess I should say "first impression", for people that are coming with no prior knowledge. (Assuming there are any--they are indeed pretty well known.) MAYbe the Jag could be said to have the styling in question, but to my eye, the Tele is not part of that.
Edit: 51P more Tele than later P's.
