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Removing the pickguard for more tone?

#62
jasonbraatz said:
Seriously though guys, these have made a huge difference on all my basses.

http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=NOB_C37_C
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wtf_1.jpg
 
#65
jasonbraatz said:
Seriously though guys, these have made a huge difference on all my basses.

http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=NOB_C37_C
Click to expand...
Please tell me that site is a joke.....

All our installations use Audio Consulting’s .5mm Silver solid core wire. The wire is coated with an ultra thin layer of Polyesterimide enamel which is choosen specifically for its sonic properties. Also, additional unbleached cotton may be used for extra insulation which actually improves the sound of the wire. Once again the sound is really due to the choice of material and construction as not all silver wire sounds bright as a majority of us have heard.
Click to expand...
 
#67
Thank you for turning me on to referenceaudiomods.com. Ever since I read their descriptions of how the various products work, I feel that I am living in some sort of alternate universe which I only sensed the existence of in the late 60's after much over-indulgence in various illegal substances.
 
#69
ok the hell with it. im playing tonights gig without a pickguard.

TO HOLLAND, MI HERE MY UGLY PICKGUARDLESS MM COMES! (somebody put a bangs head smile here)

no seriously. One thing i noticed already was that the bass resonates a little more mids without the pickguard in place. it was stopping at least a natural unplugged tone from coming through. However, we'll see if that comes out live.

My hartke head is back from the shop too, so this will be a pretty even comparison.
 
#72
morebass! said:
The response to this thread has been a little odd :hmm: , especially on a board where some people claim thin veneers and fancy finishes make a tonal difference.
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A thin veneer on the neck makes all the difference in the world. That's physics. Or popular opinion, maybe, but that's pretty much the same thing. So get with the program, you heretic!

:hiding:
 
#73
joelb79 said:
\ One thing i noticed already was that the bass resonates a little more mids without the pickguard in place. it was stopping at least a natural unplugged tone from coming through.
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So you're saying if I want a really great scooped tone, I should maybe put three or four pickguards on my bass? ;)
 
#75
joelb79 said:
I was talking with the bass play from rare earth the other day after an open mic jam, and he told me that he removes the pick guard from all of his basses now, due to the fact that the pickguard eats some of the tone up.

has anybody tried this and can confirm? I would love to think that my musicman would sound any better without the pick guard, but i dont think it will look any better.
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I'm surpised no one has thought of this yet...it might be obvious, but apparently not...

Ummm...by chance is the pickguard over the strings?

That might be causing the problem. Try removing the pickguard and the strings. Then screw the pickguard down before you put the strings on.
 
#77
lpdeluxe said:
Wow! Thanks, man! I'm gonna blow off the new pickups and order some pickguards.

BTW, what kind of pickguard works best to remove? Is there a special color or material I ought to look for?
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I have a 1960's Jazz bass pickguard that really made my bass sound awesome when I removed it. You can have it for $10,000. :D
 

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