Yes or No ?

[Slevage]

You might want to consider connecting the pickups, too.

Sometimes the OUTPUT jack is mounted to the pickguard too- all the wiring is complete.

 

[audreycashin]

Carrots?

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Especially when you boil it.

Nah ... It loses all the flavor that way.

 

[Glazenn]

This one sold by @duke2004 two weeks ago on TB/ebay.

 

[Bodeanly]

Even if you use a pickguard, there is still a small chance of conception. THEY PUT THAT INFORMATION ON THE BOX, PEOPLE!

 

[Robert B]

Aesthetics

I agree. I think it makes most basses more visually appealing.

 

[west al]

I think if you finger pluck play, a PG isn't needed, other than to hide, and cover the body routings.

 

[Mechayoshi]

I agree. I think it makes most basses more visually appealing.

For me it's the opposite.

 

[Cole Louis Allar]

Style bruh style!

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Once again, consider the opposite situation.
If all basses had been built since the beginning with all the electronics attached to the body wood (rear routed) and then some company introduced a modular plate system with all the electronics attached to it for ease of manufacturing and quick component access (besides adding a bit of style), they'd be hailed as geniuses.

 

[raventepes]

I've never been a fan of pickguards. Just my personal taste. I've ripped them off all basses that had them that I could get away with (usually on Jazz basses). I also don't like tort (ducks). I do think that when I'm able to, I'll replace my Jazz, get a Precision (matching, hopefully), and replace the pickguards with aftermarket diamond plate.

I'm with everyone else though. They're mostly just used to hide routing. That's really about it.

 

[bassrich]

Depends my Affinity jazz looks great w/out one but my mim has a hole drilled so it needs one

 

[cchorney]

A pickguard that covers the correct areas protects the finish of the bass. See this picture for how I've hazed the finish on my Jazz bass just from playing finger style.

 

[frsbdg]

I've changed pick guards on my Fender strat and take guitars, and am pretty sure none of the electronics were attached. Wonder why they do it differently for basses?

 

[Rocktometrist]

I've changed pick guards on my Fender strat and take guitars, and am pretty sure none of the electronics were attached. Wonder why they do it differently for basses?

um...wut?

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[Watchootognbout]

I think they make some basses look better, like this:

But I think they make some look worse. Here's a Jazz with no guard:

Much better than usual!

A jazz with no pickguard reminds me of this guy.
So it's all good.
Kudos for posting a King Curtis vid!
My Dad had this vinyl record.Now I have it!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

No. No, man. Spit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.

 

[frsbdg]

um...wut?

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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Could it be that the strat was made in Japan (mid-1980s) and the telex was made in Mexico (1990s). The pick guards came off with taking the electronics with them. I wonder if I also unscrewed the pickups at the same time as the pick guards...

 

[SteveCS]

Could it be that the strat was made in Japan (mid-1980s) and the telex was made in Mexico (1990s). The pick guards came off with taking the electronics with them. I wonder if I also unscrewed the pickups at the same time as the pick guards...

All factory strats and telecasters are like that, with the pickups attached to the guard or bridge plate and not to the body. You turn the adjusters clockwise to raise the height.

 

[Korladis]

I started a thread a few years back (that ultimately went nowhere) with a similar topic. My big question is: Why don't pick guards protect the portion of the body where most pick players actually play? Seems to me most pick users play closer to the bridge than the neck, relatively speaking (the area where the pick guard ISN'T located LOL).

They didn't, always.

I actually tend to play closer to the neck.