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Post subject: Pickguard on VM Fretless J bass?
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:46 pm
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This is a really stupid and probably obvious question, but i'll ask anyways...

Will a standard jazz bass pickguard fit on the Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass?

(maybe there is some kind of difference in the neck pocket or something that will change the fit. i just want to be sure before i buy a pickguard)

i just picked up the VM Fretless because i decided to get into fretless bass...
i am very very happy with it so far! very good quality considering its price.

but i am really into "tradition"...
it just doesnt feel like a jazz bass to me unless it looks like one.


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:36 am
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Well, my first thought is why would you want to cover up that nice finish? But since you've decided to anyway, I don't know of any reason why a standard Jazz cover wouldn't work.


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:22 am
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Here's a message i got from a fellow on TB about this issue:

Quote:
That pickguard is from Fender for a '62 re-issue. It was a little tight around the neck so I had to do some sanding to get a good fit. Five minutes with a Dremmel with the drum sander thing was all that took. I had to relocate the control plate to get it to line up with the pickguard also. I had to re-drill the 3 holes for the control plate. Not the plate itself, just re-drilled the body. It was no big deal as there is lots of room in the cavity for you to slide the control plate where you need it and just run a drill bit down through the plates holes into the body. Sounds scarey, it wasn't at all. Fifteen minutes total.


hope that helps.


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:05 am
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ally wrote:
Here's a message i got from a fellow on TB about this issue:

Quote:
That pickguard is from Fender for a '62 re-issue. It was a little tight around the neck so I had to do some sanding to get a good fit. Five minutes with a Dremmel with the drum sander thing was all that took. I had to relocate the control plate to get it to line up with the pickguard also. I had to re-drill the 3 holes for the control plate. Not the plate itself, just re-drilled the body. It was no big deal as there is lots of room in the cavity for you to slide the control plate where you need it and just run a drill bit down through the plates holes into the body. Sounds scarey, it wasn't at all. Fifteen minutes total.


hope that helps.


i was hoping that the control plate would be drilled in a standard place like on a regular jazz bass.
but i guess its no big deal to redrill it.
re shaping the neck pocket is the tough part for me...
i tend to shave too much off when i sand...

mastermold,
i was hoping to find a clear pickguard, but i can find any other than having it custom made...
i will probably go for a tort shell pickguard.

there is just something about the bass that just looks different without a pickguard,
i guess having traditional looks is just a pet peeve of mine.


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:17 am
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line6man wrote:
mastermold,
i was hoping to find a clear pickguard, but i can find any other than having it custom made...
i will probably go for a tort shell pickguard.

there is just something about the bass that just looks different without a pickguard,
i guess having traditional looks is just a pet peeve of mine.


I'm all about tradition too, but this is a fretless Jazz -- and remember that Jaco Pastorious guy? He took the pickguard off his Jazz fretless!! :D

Dig this!
http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0196208800


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:34 pm
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I have been told you dont HAVE to reposition the control plate and that you can just mod the PG.

Either way youll have to mod something though. No biggie mind :)


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:02 pm
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Mastermold wrote:

I'm all about tradition too, but this is a fretless Jazz -- and remember that Jaco Pastorious guy? He took the pickguard off his Jazz fretless!! :D

Dig this!
http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0196208800



jaco's beat up old jazz bass looked cool.
but with a new clean finish i dont know, its just missing something without a pickguard.

like i said, a clear pickguard would be tottally awesome, but i cant find one.


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:06 pm
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Well, make it how you like it, with or without the pickguard. You've got to love what you play! And I suppose if you can't find a pickguard you like, you could relic your new bass yourself! :wink:


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:55 pm
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line6man wrote:


jaco's beat up old jazz bass looked cool.
but with a new clean finish i dont know, its just missing something without a pickguard.

like i said, a clear pickguard would be tottally awesome, but i cant find one.


I took mine off to trace it so I can send it to pickguards.com but when I had mine off my VM, I thought it looked cool, even with the holes. Right now I have it naked w/o the pickguard and I like it. The center p/u has a big opening around it but I still dig it. For a clear one pickguards.com should be able to custom make one for you. Good luck.

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:50 pm
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PowerJazzBass wrote:
line6man wrote:


jaco's beat up old jazz bass looked cool.
but with a new clean finish i dont know, its just missing something without a pickguard.

like i said, a clear pickguard would be tottally awesome, but i cant find one.


I took mine off to trace it so I can send it to pickguards.com but when I had mine off my VM, I thought it looked cool, even with the holes. Right now I have it naked w/o the pickguard and I like it. The center p/u has a big opening around it but I still dig it. For a clear one pickguards.com should be able to custom make one for you. Good luck.


how much would such a pickguard cost me?
i read somewhere that its like $80 an hour and a strat pickguard takes 2 hours...
no way am i going to spend $150 on a piece of plastic.

what part of making a pickguard takes up so much time?
it seems pretty easy on paper, 2 hours of work for a strat pickguard is very time consuming IMO.


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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:36 pm
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line6man wrote:
how much would such a pickguard cost me?
i read somewhere that its like $80 an hour and a strat pickguard takes 2 hours...
no way am i going to spend $150 on a piece of plastic.

what part of making a pickguard takes up so much time?
it seems pretty easy on paper, 2 hours of work for a strat pickguard is very time consuming IMO.


on www.pickguards.com they give u a price for what ever guitar you have, but if it's different, like they don't have Squiers, they'll take a tracing of your pickguard(and the holes have to be put on the paper too) and it'll cost a few $ more - mine was going to be $55 for the smoked mirror pg.

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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