Weird metal plate under my pickups??

[gobearbass]

I have a fender 57 reissue p bass. I'm in the process of putting a nordstrand np4 in and in taking out the stock pickup, i found the stock pickup was soldered to a metal plate under the pickups. I've never seen anything like it. I was wondering if anyone knew what it was. I'm waiting to install the new pickup until i know what this is or if the new pickup has to be soldered to it as well

thanks for any input.

 

[stingray96191]

Its to ground the pickup and all of the electronics in the bass together.

 

[gobearbass]

Do I need to solder the new pickups to it?

 

[line6man]

It's a ground plate. They are generally only used in an effort to be vintage-correct.
Solder your grounds wherever you want, as long as they interconnect.

 

[gobearbass]

So it's not needed per se?

 

[line6man]

So it's not needed per se?

It doesn't do anything, so no.

 

[Hopkins]

So it's not needed per se?

No, not at all. Just like cloth insulated wire, its entirely pointless and just gets in the way. I never understood the reasons to be "vintage" when modern is better, and its something you cant see from the outside.

 

[Growly Lytes]

Its got it on the Fender Deluxes Lytes too.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

It doesn't do anything, so no.

It adds a some shielding, which is what it's there for.

 

[nik max]

They are coming out when I put my new Bardolini's into my Fender Lyte