Thinline ATL no pickguard?

Anybody have an idea? I want to build a thinline ATL-1SW with no pickguard. Anybody done that?

Thanks in advance guys!

Never done a thinline but anything without a pick guard usually looks better IMO.
That said, there may be some pickup mounting & routing holes to hide. Just need a bit if creativity to figure that part out, even if it is by using a small part of a scratch plate.

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yeah, on a thinline, the tone controls are "floating" on the pick guard. Probably have to just trim back the stock plate... wondered if anybody had done that. Thx.

Maybe not on that kit, but if you dig through the build diaries you will find examples of this with other kits.

None needed for the bridge pickup if you use a standard tele bridge. You could use a pickup ring for the neck pup, like this...

Attachment 31159

But I am not sure what you do about the control cavity. If the top will be a solid color there are ways to do it, but if not there's no way you can match that grain.

You could see if you can find a fender Jaguar control plate or a Jazz bass control plate that will cover it...sort of like Jaco Pastorius...

Attachment 31160

Or maybe make one out of 3mm ply wood for the control cover rout. It would look just like a 3 ply plastic one if you bevelled the edges but could be stained to match top or in any colour you like.

Chrome plate idea also has merit but with that slight curve there might not be enough coverage from the metal plate.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody!

Why not have the control cavity in the back? It would be a custom order but I'm sure this could be accommodated.

I like Waz's idea... I also wondered about doing a rout to put a contrasting wood cover over the pickup cavity (and maybe up to the neck pup) that you could make flush with the top. Sort of like Victor Wooten's yin-yang bass.Attachment 31166

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What's the delta in price for a simple custom order like control cavity in back? Anybody got an idea? I haven't bothered to request a quote, just figured it would be $$$ ??

Might not be too much more other than a few more months waiting for it to arrive.
Obviously a few extra dollars but certainly worth asking the question.
In fact, it begs the question for PBG to make all future orders with rear control routs to help show off the top, and not just on this kit either as there are many others that would look so much better without scratch plates hiding the added veneered tops.


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Well, I fully support the idea of asking questions and getting it done your way...

Nevertheless, I also think s red mother-of-toilet-seat pickguard as comes with this kit can look plenty cool too ;-)



Attachment 31181

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Each to their own.....just not a fan of those red scratch plates.

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Chrome or mirror would have been my pick instead of red on that black bass.

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There is no accounting for taste ;-)

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I have a Fender Coronado II in the Antigua finish, and lots of Knicks and cracks. I I think it is so ugly it's kind of cool. Others think it's just ugly. Some thinks it's just cool.

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