Split pick guard on early 80’s 400X’s, Why?

inhuien · Post by **inhuien** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:30 am

It's strange the things you can't get out your mind and this is one of them. Can anyone tell me why the pick guard on the early 1980 (82 to 84 perhaps)400X was split in to 2.

Knowing this will ease my mind.

lars · Post by **lars** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:33 am

I believe it's because the truss rod adjustment is done from the body side. Easier to remove only half of the pg.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:51 am

Look under the truss rod cover and you'll find out.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:48 am

Lars is correct. This was a feature on early 4003 basses. Later in the '80s, the truss design was changed again, with the adjusters under the TRC, so they returned to the one-piece pickguard.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:17 am

I love the look of the 2pc guards.

ustabawannab · Post by **ustabawannab** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:40 am

"I love the look of the 2pc guards"...Phlemmy

You must like the seam on the back of black silk stockings,too.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:05 am

guilty.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:42 am

Here's my '80 4003LH:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/iamthebassman/DSC00193-1.jpg

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:49 am

brutal!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:40 am

Beautiful wood and burst on that FG, Ronn. What is the little Rick made of?

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:46 am

Thanks, I love that bass, had it many years. It's older than my wife!
I got the little plastic lefty Ric bass at Beatlefest a few years back.

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:11 am

'It's older than my wife!' - You lucky thing! Heh heh heh.

I meant lucky to have an older bass (someone please take this spade off me!).

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:09 pm

I thought the split pickguard made it easier to change the batteries?

:p

inhuien · Post by **inhuien** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:00 am

Thanks for that information, it never occurred to me that it was to gain access to the truss rod.

Cheers gentlemen.