Members Etienne Rambert Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Just in time for Guild to enter another guitar into the competition. Thus far, it looks like it's down to either Gibson or Guild. Can Gibson top that? I think Gibson is dominating in the ugliest white pick guard category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted February 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Gibson has always had championship-caliber ugly red pick guards. But for some owners, one ugly red pick guard is insufficient. So they buy a second after market pick guard, to ugly it up some more. After looking at these pick guards, I think the mustached bridge actually looks beautiful. Martin is a late-entrant into the competition. But I'm not counting them out. This custom pick guard on a D-28 is at least as ugly as the others - maybe more. Can that truly be a pick guard? Or do I have it wrong? It looks like a blister on the wood. --- Wow! Martin is coming on strong late in the match! Oh the horror! The Porter Waggoner Wagonmaster D-41. And that one is stock baby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jimmy Chaos Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I like the pickguard on that guild. In fact the whole guitar is a real beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I like the Guild and agree that the pickguards on those Gibsons and the Martin are hideous. Less is more IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoddy Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Just in time for Guild to enter another guitar into the competition. Thus far, it looks like it's down to either Gibson or Guild. Can Gibson top that? Oh man...that's one of my favorite acoustics...I love that pickguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members panhandler Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Shitboxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wooglins Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 How about this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted February 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 wooglins: "How about this one?" Wow! That silver pattern would look good if it were a tight dress on a shapely woman. It looks like a time-warp vortex on a natural Spruce top of a dreadnought. I almost expect a spaceman to emerge from it and say "Klaatu, Barata Nikto". Martin is coming on strong late in the game! I thought Gibson had a lock on this competition. Not anymore. I'm not giving my vote away. But that Porter Waggoner D-41 fills me with sheer horror. I thought it was Martin's Count Dracula's tribute edition. From what I've seen it comes down to Martin's Wagonmaster and this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I really don't get it. Do the guitar makers really believe that these are attractive? Why on earth would you make a pickguard so big that it obscures all that beautiful spruce? Why not just make a plastic top and be done with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I like the pickguard on that guild. In fact the whole guitar is a real beauty. Indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar_stringer Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I dunno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members melandy Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 How about this one? What is that, unicorn vomit? -A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Backlund Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 The shape of the Guild's pickguard is fine for a big hollowbody archtop, it's just that the stark white draws the eye too much, is a visual 'hot area' that overwhelms the whole package. In a more subdued or complimentary color, the deco-ish stepped pickguard would look perfect on that instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar_stringer Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 The Guild archtop pickguard, looks like an art deco design, similar to John D'Angelico's New Yorkers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djuna Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Gah, white pickguards, I hate them. I know someone here has that Everly Bros. model with the black pickguard, and that makes quite a difference--at least on a black guitar it blends in. I'd say the Martin wins this race--makes me think of Edward Gorey illustrations, and not in a good way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wooglins Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 What is that, unicorn vomit? -A Hey thats my beloved Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members melandy Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Hey thats my beloved Martin Sorry. You caught me in a cheeky mood. -A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wooglins Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Sorry. You caught me in a cheeky mood. -A I hope yall caught on that the picture was a photoshop job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I hope yall caught on that the picture was a photoshop job. Good one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 And a late entry from Blueridge: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Melodeous Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Pick guards. Nasty blotchy things. Have I mentioned before I hate pick guards? Well, just in case I haven't let me say I hate pick guards so they all qualify for the prize in this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted February 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 And a late entry from Blueridge: Definitely ugly. Is it a prize-winner? Here's another color-coordinated stunner from Gibson's design team.You can buy it at MF. Gibson is a veteran in these competitions. In fact, a cottage industry has sprung up around the Gibson tradition. If you don't think your Gibson pick guard is ugly enough, you can customize one to make it even uglier. It's just my opinion, but I'd say that Team Gibson is the New York Yankees equivalent in ugly pick guards on acoustic guitar competitions. Can Blueridge compete with Gibbys or Martin's Wagonmaster? It looks like Guild simply can't compete anymore. TAH nominated this Guild's pick guard in an earlier thread. He said it's both ugly and useless. He's right. But this is a minimalist approach to ugliness. Guild is getting timid. It is definitely not competitive in this competition. Guild can't even manage to make a double pick guard ugly. Here is their lame attempt at ugliness on a double-pick guard model. But taking up Guild's slack is Yamaha. This looks like the Batmobile tribute model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 I always think "That Girl" when i see one of those guitars. I'm an old fart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoddy Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 Definitely ugly. Is it a prize-winner? Here's another color-coordinated stunner from Gibson's design team.You can buy it at MF. That is absolutely gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Backlund Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 I may be entirely off-base, but I would think that those giant, double-sided plastic 'pickguards' would tend to be a sound-killer on an acoustic guitar top...or doesn't it matter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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