'75 4001 pickguard alignment

[Kevsy]

Hi all

I picked up a '75 4001 which originally had an unusual (huge) pickguard fitted. A previous owner had replaced this with a more conventional guard as per photo:



However with this pickguard I can't get the pickup poles to align centrally under the strings:



Is there anything I can do to adjust this, for example at the saddles? Or should I be looking at getting a '75 replica pickguard (such as http://www.rickysounds.co.uk/Pickguard% ... 974-75.jpg )

Many thanks!
Kev

[jps]

Are you having issues with the tone and/or string balance on the neck pickup? If not, you could just leave it alone. Or, contact Tony at Pickguardian, he can fix you right up with a properly cut pickguard. As for the extra holes, get them plugged and touched up.

I would not do anything with the bridge saddles as they are cut fine, with the strings correctly spaced on the fingerboard.

[jdogric12]

Yep, as Jeff says, let your ear be your judge, not your eyes. Many Rick basses have alignments that look wonky but sound right.

[Kevsy]

Many thanks! Certainly seems to sound OK so I'll tidy up as advised and get on with playing. Cheers

[ram]

I like my basses to be clean and shiney but from a stage few can see string to pickup alignments. The close up look I worry about is what it looks like when I look down on it while playing it... agree with previous statements about the sound.... that is the true measure!!