"Pickguards ruin the tone"

[40Hz]

^ music...a universal language

Yeah. I got the biggest kick out of those two with that whole anime look going for them gettin' all down and funky slappin' and dappin' with the best of them.

I enjoyed it. And I don't even like slap bass.

 

[4stringsjack]

Well, my new reproduction pickguard for my '73 Rickenbacker 4001 just arrived. It's replacing the cheap and crappy aftermarket guard that's on there now. I'll be sure to evaluate the tone before and after. I expect a massive improvement!

(The new Pickguardian guard is much nicer than the wrong-material Allparts guard that's on it now. It has the proper RIC translucency. More transparent tone?)

 

[steubig]

it's interesting that there are something like 180 responses to this and it seems like very few people have actually tried taking a pickguard off their bass to see if there's a difference (i'm not talking about replacing one with another).

back when i was 24 or so (1980), i took the pickguard off my jazz bass. don't remember why. i was **surprised** that it made a difference in the sound. since then i've chosen to not have pickguards on my basses.

i remember one guy on tb actually tried taking off his pickguard when this came up a few years ago. as i recall, he could hear the difference, but *didn't like it**, as he felt that the pickguard compressed the sound a bit in a way that he liked. he recorded it with and without, and some other people noticed the difference as well.

now, if you're playing super-crunchy metal with a lot of processing/distortion or take all the high end off your bass and compress the crap out of it, you may not hear the difference . . . or you may. you might feel it in your hands.

if you play stuff that's more open, you may find you both hear and like the difference.

so, for me, the difference between having or not having a pickguard . . .

ruin tone: no

change tone: yes.

 

[Bob Rhett]

Pickguard. So THAT's my problem.

 

[4stringsjack]

Well, I confirmed. The pickguard has a dramatic effect on tone. I took the pickguard off of my Ric 4001 and it sounded totally different.

I think it was the loss of the neck pickup.

 

[christanto nugroho]

When pickguard off, the sound more open ( too open actually). So its gonna change your default tone - in more negative way

 

[Chef]

I’ll give $5 to the first guy that can reliably and repeatedly identify pickguard off vs pickguard on in a double blind test.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I’ll give $5 to the first guy that can reliably and repeatedly identify pickguard off vs pickguard on in a double blind test.

Ok I'm in, if the bass is a Guild B301.

 

[Ellery]

I’ll give $5 to the first guy that can reliably and repeatedly identify pickguard off vs pickguard on in a double blind test.

Only five bucks? You don't have a lot of confidence in your position, do you?

 

[steubig]

I’ll give $5 to the first guy that can reliably and repeatedly identify pickguard off vs pickguard on in a double blind test.

how many people can reliably identify any number of basses?

but, again, have you tried it?

 

[birminghambass]

Man, just when I think threads couldn't get more ridiculous.

 

[ThaCoast]

I've always wanted to install just a control plate over my pbass control cavity & leave everything else exposed. But even just playing it without the guard on, it didn't sound nearly as good as it did with a pickguard.

that's far from ruining tones.

 

[mongo2]

Tort, the answer is always Tort.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

how many people can reliably identify any number of basses?

but, again, have you tried it?

I have. The plastic will make no difference.
The sheilding under the pg MAY have some influence as to noticing changes due to a change in Eddy currents.

 

[Count Bassie]

Only five bucks? You don't have a lot of confidence in your position, do you?

Is there an actual "position" to have here? Is this a real conversation?

 

[Iridescentone]

I've always wanted to install just a control plate over my pbass control cavity & leave everything else exposed. But even just playing it without the guard on, it didn't sound nearly as good as it did with a pickguard.

Your avatar explains so much.

 

[steubig]

I have. The plastic will make no difference.
The sheilding under the pg MAY have some influence as to noticing changes due to a change in Eddy currents.

as did i. back in the late 70s. i noted a difference.

 

[Qlanq]

I have. The plastic will make no difference.
The sheilding under the pg MAY have some influence as to noticing changes due to a change in Eddy currents.

Eh, c'mon. Mr. Currents may be going through some changes but I like him.
No need to shield him from the truth.
Nice guy, Eddie. I like him.

 

[DigitalMan]

I’ll give $5 to the first guy that can reliably and repeatedly identify pickguard off vs pickguard on in a double blind test.

Easily done. Just make sure my blindfold is secure before handing me the bass...