Do Aluminium & Steel Pickguards effect your sound?

[Kommerzbassist]

Well I asked my self if thos custom Pickguard made of steel or aluminium actually have any effects on the tone or something...

thanks for any info's on that...

[some_dude]

I've heard that metal pickguards can sometimes have feedback issues, but they can be resolved by padding the underside so it won't vibrate as much.

[Kommerzbassist]

hmm ok

[Xeromus]

I don't see how it would. If anything it would be a shielding benefit and make the guitar quieter

[TwilightOdyssey]

No, not your tone, per se, but definitely affect the sustain.
I have a brass pickguard on my Strat, and it really improved the sustain!
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/a...achmentid=2351

[Kommerzbassist]

Well than I think it's really worth buying

[Gearjoneser]

I'm still undecided about the tone. My blue strat has an engine turned aluminum Fender guard, and while it looks killer, sometimes I wonder if it makes the pickups slightly harsher sounding.....not necessarily brighter, just harder sounding.
Plastic mounted onto wood seems like it would suspend the pickups on a softer surface area, so it makes sense. I'll probably leave it, for looks sake, because the tone isn't necessarily bad or anything.

I will tell you this......before you install a metal pickguard, take black electrical tape and line the whole bottom of it, without overlapping. Trim off the excess with an exacto knife. This will keep the guard from resonating or vibrating, which will cause microphonic squeal. The first time I used highgain, I noticed the microphonic effect, then pushed my hand down on the guard, and it killed it. I had to take it all apart and do the tape trick.

I think the engine turned aluminum looks the best, mostly because it doesn't show any fingerprints.

[Laker_Fan]

I am not sure about the mechanial issues you guys are mentioning. But I do know one thing becuase it is metal you need to ground it. If you ground it, it will help to sheild the guitar electronics, if not it will work like an antenna. The easiest way to ground it is to sand off some of the paint on the underside around where one of the pot mounting holes is, then this will ground it since all the pots get connected to ground. Make sure the pots have ground wires on them as well.

[Wattage]

I would think magnetic metals surrounding pickups would have at least some small effect.

[BunnyGuitarShredder]

actually on single coils, since i have a diamond plate aluminum pickguard on my strat, has the worst feedback ever when you introduce medium levels of distortion since the magnets of the pickup are further enhanced by the pickguard its one huge antenna, but yes grounding it off works and my strat looks sweet with it on imho

[Stratman]

I am not sure about the mechanial issues you guys are mentioning. But I do know one thing becuase it is metal you need to ground it. If you ground it, it will help to sheild the guitar electronics, if not it will work like an antenna. The easiest way to ground it is to sand off some of the paint on the underside around where one of the pot mounting holes is, then this will ground it since all the pots get connected to ground. Make sure the pots have ground wires on them as well.

I bet you did not consider that the pots and switch are directly connected to the metal pick guard with metal parts contained within the pots and switch….

[Stratman]

I don't see how it would. If anything it would be a shielding benefit and make the guitar quieter

I use aluminum shielding on all my Stratocasters - quiet guitars for sure!

[Kam]

Awesome. Six ****ing years later and the dude who doesn't post here anymore is still getting advice about pickguards.

This place just never stops giving.

[Bass_Medic_05]

I really don't know if it makes a difference or is it purely looks only!