Pick guards: Acoustically Transparent?

[Jules]

I know Cliff Williams' basses were discussed in another thread, but I realized last night after having watch the Let There be Rock concert from 1979 for the 1598th time since 1985 that Cliff's MM was missing the pick guard even way back then.

It it possible that the wooden instrument reflects/resonates differently when not impeded by a piece of plastic?

 

[keko]

It it possible that the wooden instrument reflects/resonates differently when not impeded by a piece of plastic?

Yes!

 

[Jules]

Yes!

I think I will put the theory to the test. I wish I could order a MM without one when the time comes (SOON!).

 

[jlepre]

I'm sure it makes some difference without or without a pick guard, but considering that these instruments are active, I'm sure to the human ear there would be little difference. JMHO

 

[keko]

I'm sure it makes some difference with or without a pick guard, but considering that these instruments are active, I'm sure to the human ear there would be little difference. JMHO

That's right too!

I made some tests many years ago and I can hear the difference, ...but only at home in quiet room, ...difference in tone is most noticeable when bass is unplugged!

Anyway, ...I don't believe that anyone could hear the difference at live gig!

 

[JMD]

I would agree with that! There is always the subjective question weather or not the change in tone reflects a change in quality (as in ?better, ?worse). I love the look of both.

 

[Jules]

I would agree with that! There is always the subjective question weather or not the change in tone reflects a change in quality (as in ?better, ?worse). I love the look of both.

Maybe they should make clear pickguards!

 

[five7]

they do and I have made several of my own.

 

[Golem]

`

Furstuhvawl ... unlike a hollow acoustic, the top of a solid
body is not an acoustic projector [not a "speaker cone"].
The body resonates with the string vibes, and it "colors"
those vibes and feeds them back into the strings ... thaz
why 'hog sounds different than ash.

Butttt ..... the top of the body, the glossy hard finish in
the case of an EBMM, reflects the string vibes back to
the strings ... another element of the overall sound of an
ax ... and the PG will reflect differently than the the hard
glossy finish. So there's a difference. Not that one way is
declared superior, and the difference is not large.


`

 

[bovinehost]

If you guys start talking about the sonic differences in 9v battery types, I'm banning all of you, I swear.

 

[dukeplaysbass]

If you guys start talking about the sonic differences in 9v battery types, I'm banning all of you, I swear.

Just 'cuz YOU can't hear it doesn't mean it isn't real....

As a long-time remover of the hated EB/MM pickguard, I can say with certainty that I did it for aesthetic reason, not acoustical. But when you look good, you sound good -- capice?

 

[MadMatt]

If you guys start talking about the sonic differences in 9v battery types, I'm banning all of you, I swear.

<humor>
What? And I thought EBMM used Duracell batteries to compensate for the pickguard effect
</humor>

 

[Golem]

If you guys start talking about the sonic differences
in 9v battery types, I'm banning all of you, I swear.

Danelectro actually supplies their own brand of 9v battery
with the claim that it's a 'vintage type battery for vintage
sound'. What truth there MAY be .... is that it's an older
type, carbon-zinc, battery that will age differently than a
lithium or alkalin battery, and the voltage/amperage of the
battery at mid-life jusy might, mebbe a teenzy lil bit, when
used in toadally analog circuits, sound more "vintage" than
a more modern battery would at its own mid-life. This is,
acoarst, my giving their claim a most generous "benefit of
the doubt" !!!


`