"Pickguards ruin the tone"

[Jeff Scott]

Imagine a lead pickguard?

Or, a rhythm pickguard................................?

 

[Pbassmanca]

Or, a rhythm pickguard................................?

.......A headless pickguard......

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Maybe an oversized guard on a Martin D-28 would have some effect, but not too likely on a slab body bass.....

 

[lavmonga]

It's really the pickguard and the finish that make the entire tone! Read a book!

 

[BigEarl]

Why not? Heck, I changed my straplocks and the bass sounded different!

 

[twc1313]

I have my pickguards soncially realigned every month. It is a highly labor intensive process which requires the tort to be hyperbolicly chambered with frequencies aligned to the Schuman Resonance. After, the pickguard's chakras are centered in tune to a ratio similar to the Fibonacci Sequence.

After this, my R-5-R riffs often bring me to the Astral Plane.

 

[Two-Spirit]

Doubt it

 

[inanimate_carb]

Once somebody can post an audio file or video that is an undebateable example of the iconic "no pickguard" tone, I'll buy into the idea 100%!

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Mine all have pickguards so I hope not!

 

[Two-Spirit]

Too many great basses with pick guards and pickguards are thin.

 

[Two-Spirit]

This reminds me of the rumour that pickups sound better screwed into the wood. Almost every guitar has pickups hanging from a screw and spring g.

 

[Badwater]

I played a lot of finger style acoustic guitar, and depending on the sound board, and how big the pick guard is, it can alter the tone. I wouldn't go so far to say it ruins the sound, it just sounds different. For example, a Martin 12 fret with slotted head and mahogany top will be affected by the pick guard. Not a lot, but it is noticeable. That's because the mahogany is a dark sounding wood, and adding a pick guard dampens the wood around the sound hole that should vibrate the higher tone. On the other hand a Martin D28 with 14 frets and sitka spruce top is much brighter and louder so the pickguard may not have any noticeable effect on tone or sound. Consider most acoustic Spanish or Classical guitars have no pickguard for a reason.

It also depends on the player and how hard they attack the strings. And if it's finger picking or strumming. More noticeable with finger picking vs strumming. Unlike a bass, sustain on a acoustic can be much more variable depending on the soundboard.

As for solid body electrics, IME a pickguard has no effect on tone.

That's my take on pick guards.

 

[alder]

Pickups ruin the tone.

 

[hsech]

Any pickguard besides tort or gold anodized sucks the tone right out of a P Bass. If you believe that, I have a nice plot in the Everglades for sale.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Consider most acoustic Spanish or Classical guitars have no pickguard for a reason...

Some classical, and a great many Flamenco guitars have a pickguard on the table, but since they are clear/transparent, there is no affect on the tone.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

That explains why the top end of this bass positively sparkles.
Its not Tort-tured nor weighed down by that fatty pepperoni .

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Not yet, but I'm sure it would work swimmingly. Yes, horrible - I know.

Whoah that's deep.
I just had to take the plunge.
I'll just float on by.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I think I have a marketing idea for "Sound Enhancing Pickguards". I'll come up with some pseudo-scientific reason why stock Pick Guards inhibit tone.

Well static charge can build up when the pickguard is polished in a dry climate with a synthetic cloth. Really, no joke.

 

[TrevorR]

I'm absolutely gutted reading this thread. I never realised until just now how awful my Wal bass sounds. Look at the scratch plate on that... tone suck city!

Anyone willing to take it off my hands for 10 bucks? You know, like just as a project bass, or for parts or something?

 

[MojoPenguin]

Well it all depends on which tonewood you have...