Wasabi
Well-known member
What would it look like if I put a clear PG on an SR5? Would the electronics show? Does it depend on the year? Does anyone know a source for one? I'd love to show off more of the blue dawn finish on my SR5...
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Clear PG for SR5?
- Thread starter Wasabi
- Start date
drgroovenstein
Well-known member
The electronics would show. You'd need a partial clear guard, one that is not transparent over the control cavity. I was thinking about coming up with something, but then I bought a solid color SR5 and abalone guard. I wouldn't want to get rid of that abalone!
strummer
Enormous Member
As groovenstein said, you'd see the electronics. I don't necessarioly think that is bad, though, and there is a SR5 on the basscentral webpage with a clear PG. If you want to cover the control cavity you could use adhesive paper or plastic on the back of the pick guard to cover th hole.
Or maybe someone skilled in photoshop can mimick your finish and you can have a photo covering the cavity.
Or maybe someone skilled in photoshop can mimick your finish and you can have a photo covering the cavity.
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
I really think they look silly with a clear pickguard.
Wasabi
Well-known member
Wow! Thanks for the pic. That is BEAUTIFUL!!! (not). I definitely see it couldn't be a completely clear guard. That just looks awful around the controls. I mean, I guess you could do some type of metallic paint or something near the bottom of the guard, but I can't imagine that being an improvement.
Thanks for putting that idea to rest, and in what's likely to be a one page thread! ;-)
Thanks for putting that idea to rest, and in what's likely to be a one page thread! ;-)
strummer
Enormous Member
Wasabi said:
Now3 get yourself a Bongo
drgroovenstein
Well-known member
bassmonkeee said:
But look at how much of that pretty burst is covered by the pickguard. I think the solid color SR are silly with no PG, but the bursts beg for clear.
drgroovenstein
Well-known member
Wasabi said:
Yeah. I was thinking about making a metal plate to go on top of the clear guard to hide the controls. Though, I wouldn't know how to make it, so I gave up before I even started
Wasabi
Well-known member
Actually, I wonder if a clear guard, with a silver or some other paint mimicing the control cover of a SR4, would look okay. You could create a stencil and spray that on the underside of the guard...I don't think it would look good to match the actual shape of the control cavity rout, but to do that sort of banana shape that the 4 has, maybe it wouldn't look that bad.
I agree it's a shame to hide such a beautiful burst, especially on blue dawn, where the lightest part is covered.
I agree it's a shame to hide such a beautiful burst, especially on blue dawn, where the lightest part is covered.
Figjam
Well-known member
I kinda dig the dorkiness of the clear pg. There is a lot of great burst on my SR5 under that pickguard, id love to let it through somehow.
drgroovenstein
Well-known member
Figjam said:
Yeah, I wrestled with getting blue burst or carbon blue. Carbon blue won just because there isn't much burst visible with the guard on.
Figjam
Well-known member
The back of my bass is gorgeous 
Itd be sweet if someone came up with a good idea for the clear guard.
Itd be sweet if someone came up with a good idea for the clear guard.
drgroovenstein
Well-known member
somebody photoshop it!
Hutton
Well-known member
Despite the beauty of some finishes, I just hate clear pickguards. IMHO I think they look cheap and tacky. I wonder if this is why MM don't fit them?
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Wasabi
Well-known member
Yeah...my blue dawn is similar. I do think a clear guard could be painted on the underside using some type of stencil...again, similar to the shape of the metal plate on the 4. Could be a silver metallic spray paint...I suck at doing stuff like that, or I'd try it.Figjam said:The back of my bass is gorgeous
SteveB
Well-known member
Hutton said:
Ahh, but they DO put clear pickguard on the Y2D guitars. Reason: Steve Morse wanted it there.
As for the basses, it may be due to the routing on the front. With the 20th anniversary Silhouette guitar, they rear-routed for the controls and left the tops beautifully nekkid.
Hutton
Well-known member
Hey Steve - I certainly agree that rear routing is the answer to leaving the top exposed in all it's glory. Mind you, I really like the design of the MM pickguards especially the SR4. To me they just wouldn't be the same without a guard. As for Steve Morse - well if he likes it fine. I just couldn't live with it.
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TheDirtyMoocher
Well-known member
if you dont mind some holes/possibly drilling a hole you could do something like this:
http://news.harmony-central.com/News/2003/Disturbed-StingRay-Auction.html
http://news.harmony-central.com/News/2003/Disturbed-StingRay-Auction.html
SteveB
Well-known member
Hutton said:Hey Steve - I certainly agree that rear routing is the answer to leaving the top exposed in all it's glory. Mind you, I really like the design of the MM pickguards especially the SR4. To me they just wouldn't be the same without a guard. As for Steve Morse - well if he likes it fine. I just couldn't live with it.
We've seen beautiful specimens from MusicMan of both front and rear routs, pickguards and figured tops. I love all the experimentation they've been doing lately.
I'm trying to recall if the fabled Mahogany Bongo had a pickguard... I believe it did not. If that's the case, the Bongo looks great either way.
