Question that might be very easy to answer : a lot time ago I broke the original pickguard on my 4001 and replaced it with a chrome pickguard.

Would this chrome addition have modified pickup performance in any way ?

I don't think so but was curious to hear from the community.

Thanks !

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Playing RICs since 1980

In a word: no!

One possible (and positive!) side-effect of your chrome pickguard might be that it acts as an extra shield against electromagnetic "noise" sources, provided that it's connected to ground - which should already be the case as the pots are fitted directly to it.

It rather depends on the type of "chrome" pickguard.

If it is made of any ferrous metal, like steel or mu-metal, then it would help with electromagnetic noise, which often originates in the power transformer of amplifiers. These sources tend to be more "close at hand" and die out rather rapidly with some distance.

As it happens, most bothersome noise in guitars is radiated from things like dimmers, florescent ballasts, monitor screens, switching power supplies, or motor brushes, so these electrostatic nuisances might be reduced by a plastic or brass pickguard with chrome finish. Fortunately, a ferrous metal plate will also help with these as well.

Thank you for the feedback, good learning. The "Chrome" replacement pickguard dates from the mid to late 1980s, bought at a RIC dealer store then in the Hair Metal Era. I would suspect more a plastic with Chrome, without tearing a piece of it to be entirely sure.

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Playing RICs since 1980