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Post subject: Changing pick-guard/scratchplate on American Standard 'P'
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 12:01 pm
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I've got a 2010 MIA Standard 'P' and I want to change the pick-guard.

Could anyone please advise me as to how precisely I go about doing this, please?

I've heard something about metal shielding (?); having to remove strings and something about being very careful with the jack input..??

Thanks very much in advance.


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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:13 pm
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You don't absolutely have to remove the strings, but it will make it easier.
Sometimes there will be shileding foil on the underside of a pickguard, usually just over the control cavity, it also is not absolutely necessary, but it is still probably a good idea, you should be able to find info on the web about the process of shielding. Basically it involves self adhesive metalllic foil, preferably copper with electrically conductive adhesive such as what you can get at Stewart MacDonad's website.
The only thing about the jack is, you will have to remove it as well as the controls to change them over to the new pickguard, and of course you want to be careful when doing that, especially making note of the ground wire that goes from there to the bridge so you don't break it, else you will have grounding problems and a load of annoying buzz.

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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:23 pm
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I just wanted to add, it isn't all that difficult to change out a P-bass pickguard, basically, remove the strings (again, not necessary, but it will make it easier), remove the knobs, then the screws, remove the controls and jack, be careful to not lose any nuts or washers, and being careful not to break the bridge ground wire,(it's the small wire coming off the jack thru a hole in the body cavity going towards the bridge) exchange the old PG for the new one, by first reattaching the controls and jack (hold onto the controls jack while tightening the nuts) then replcing the mounting screws and strings. Tune, play and enjoy.

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'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
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'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:24 pm
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...


Last edited by REDLAWMAN on Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:33 pm
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I really appreciate your input there Bathead, but you've managed to instill the fear of God in me now!! :)

Could anyone please take me through the procedure (step-by-step) for an American Standard 2010 'P' please...??


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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:51 pm
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Sorry, didn't meant to spook you. I'ts really not that hard (as I may have made it sound, I was just trying to be precise) to change the pickguard, just be careful.

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'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Post subject: Change a P-bass pickguard
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:40 am
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Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
Place the bass on a padded table top, face up and do the following:

1. remove strings
2. remove control knobs with screwdriver or allen wrench, whichever is applicable,
3. Use a socket wrench to unbolt the volume pot, tone pot. and jack from pick guard.
4. remove screws from pick guard and store them in a small container for safe keeping.

Lift up old pick guard and allow the controls and jack to fall into the body cavity.
Before installing the new pick guard add shielding tape to control area and around the pickup for better performance.

Place new pick guard in place and attach the controls and jack to it using the socket wrench to tighten the controls and jack in place while being careful not to break any wires.

Test the bass output before reinstalling the pick guard.
Reverse procedure to install pick guard screws and strings.

Have fun. Its really pretty easy.


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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:44 am
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Much better than my attempt, BC. The only thing I would add is to hold onto the controls and jack when tightening the nuts so they don't spin around.

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'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:17 am
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Thanks very much guys.

Just one thing I don't understand or know how to do:


Before installing the new pick guard add shielding tape to control area and around the pickup for better performance.



Can I assume that the new pickguard won't come with the back shielded then and that the old shielding I'm going to find when I take off the original pickguard will be damaged/useless then? The bass is only a few months old.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:00 pm
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REDLAWMAN wrote:
Thanks very much guys.

Just one thing I don't understand or know how to do:


Before installing the new pick guard add shielding tape to control area and around the pickup for better performance.



Can I assume that the new pickguard won't come with the back shielded then and that the old shielding I'm going to find when I take off the original pickguard will be damaged/useless then? The bass is only a few months old.

Usually they don't come already shielded. The only thing about the old shielding is you won't be able to remove it from the old PG and put it on the new one, it's stuck there for good. You would only damege it beyond use if you try. Quite frankly, I wouldn't worry about the shielding all that much, since the split-coil pickup on a P-bass is a humbucker, noise is not all that big a deal. If it really does bother you, it's not hard to put it on, if you don't feel confident i n doing it, 'm sure you could find some tech who would do it for you, it probably would be relatively cheap.

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'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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