Which pickguard for a natural finish?

[Ben Mitchell]

My KSD J6V70 should be getting here soon. I was kind of thinking about replacing the pickguard with something a little different.

Any ideas? What pickguard do you like best on natural basses?

Pictures are a good thing.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

Frankly, I like black.

Barring that, tort. You'll get that a lot on this forum.

 

[neo 7]

black

 

[DeliriumTremens]

black

 

[Kamatori]

black or no guard

 

[Sni77]

I always wondered why there are no pickguards made out of wood. I think it would look cool, but there must be a good reason why they are not popular.

 

[Ian Perge]

For myself the color of the Bass finish as well as the Fretboard wood used goes into consideration regarding a pickguard color/style. My just-sold Music Man SUB 5 in Black had its el cheapo "Diamondplate-On-Cardboard" stock 'guard replaced with a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] pickguard, which "matched" the black while still bringing a variety of colors into the mix. And also the choice of Chrome, Black or Gold Hardware can factor into a pickguard decision for myself as well. For your Natural Finish/Maple Fretboard the black goes well as is, so I'd consider Black Pearloid to give it just a touch of *bling* while still looking "respectable".

I always wondered why there are no pickguards made out of wood. I think it would look cool, but there must be a good reason why they are not popular.

I've seen a few smaller builders use Wooden Pickguards, but I imagine they're far more prone to breakage to shape them at the thin width a pickguard must be as well as beveling & adding screw holes. Plus it adds another woods' figuring and color into the mix, which is why the ones I do remember were placed onto pretty bland body woods such as Alder or non-figured Maple.

 

[cnltb]

none.
I always prefer them without.

 

[felixxx]

I always wondered why there are no pickguards made out of wood. I think it would look cool, but there must be a good reason why they are not popular.

 

[pica]

I really like greasygroove.com Tons of pick guards to choose from. That said, I'd go with a white or black. My FSR is natural wood and came with a tort pick guard.

 

[Jeff K]

Normally I like black, especially with a maple board. If it's Natural/rosewood, I like tort.

But with your Smith, with white blocks, I'd go with a white pearloid or plain 3-ply white.

 

[Ric5]

Tort + natural = good

 

[Sni77]

I think this one would look fantastic on the OP's bass. Where can you find those?

 

[felixxx]

I think this one would look fantastic on the OP's bass. Where can you find those?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/True-Custom-Shop-Solid-WALNUT-WOOD-Pickguard-5-STRING-FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-/140903815105?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20ce8597c1

It is not even that expensive. This one is for 5 strings Jazz bass, but I would expect they have them for 4 strings as well.

 

[ScottTunes]

But with your Smith, with white blocks, I'd go with a white pearloid

+1

 

[Dave W]

Tort + natural = good

+1

 

[jmlee]

I always wondered why there are no pickguards made out of wood. I think it would look cool, but there must be a good reason why they are not popular.

There's a wood pickguard on the new Ibanez ATK800 and 805. Bass Player said it marks up pretty easily if you actually play with a pick.

 

[nutdog]

Mine came with a white pickguard and I thought about changing it but it kind of grew on me. I may get some white vinyl block inlays to match sometime.

I think it really pops when we wear our white jackets.

You've got the white inlays so I agree a white pearloid might look cool. But you've also got the black hardware so you might consider keeping the black guard and getting black vinyl blocks. IMO the white looks best with lots of shiny chrome.

 

[Pimmsley]

My 63 jazz... I like the black on the aged nitro

 

[Ben Mitchell]

Mine came with a white pickguard and I thought about changing it but it kind of grew on me. I may get some white vinyl block inlays to match sometime.

I think it really pops when we wear our white jackets.

You've got the white inlays so I agree a white pearloid might look cool. But you've also got the black hardware so you might consider keeping the black guard and getting black vinyl blocks. IMO the white looks best with lots of shiny chrome.

White looks nice actually... I might try a white pearloid to go with the white blocks and also get a new black one since this one is kind of scratched up, its nice to have options!