pickguard or no pickguard

[gorymonkey]

when i'm playing my takamine gs330s i don't want to scratch it and don't know whether or not to get a pickguard, i like the fact that it makes the guitar look very "old school" and original without the pickguard, what should it do.

[seven7]

i think a red tortoise pickguard looks classy on that guitar.

[gorymonkey]

i'll look into one

[rock_martyr]

I think...

 

Why cover a beautiful piece of wood with plastic thats only going to get scratched up as well. It's like getting a sprayed on truck liner for your truck...ridiculous. I think a guitar has more character with the marks from playing use, AND if you like the old school look Id leave the pickguard off and let it start looking like Willie Nelson's guitar....lol.

[buddyboy]

Does your style of play put your guitar at risk for sratches? Do you use a pick? I like the look of a guitar w/o a pickguard, myself. Wood is good... Of course I did not use a pick for the past 30 years until recently and I devolopt a gentle technique that does not benifit from a pickguard.

 

I wonder what the origins of the pickguard are, flamingo, maybe even though picks are used?? The boys in the hills around NC call /em (picks) quills. Perhaps feathers preceeded picks...

[RainsongDR1000]

You can get one of those static cling type clear pickguards from Gryphon. That way you can remove it or leave it on at your leisure.

[gorymonkey]

that static one sounds cool

[Carle]

I was told that Stew Mac sells the static type, 11 sheets for $11. Someone else said to go to a crafts shop and get the static cling clear sheets. I am going to try the craft shops first. All you have to do is cut out the shape you want and lay it on the guitar and rub it. After you finish playing remove it and save it for the next time.

[gorymonkey]

would it work on the gs330, since it doesn't have a gloss finish?

[REDNECK WILLIE]

I guess the question is....do you want to look at a blemished pick guard, or a blemished guitar. Personally, I would rather polish out pick marks than change the face of an instrument with a pick guard.

[savethegibbons]

I've never understood this. When playing with a pick, I have yet to scratch a finish. Not only that, but I couldnt imagine possibly ever getting a pick anywhere near the body of the guitar, not on my electric and definitely not on my steel string acoustic (although I play fingerstyle 60% of the time). I mean, I find it unfathomable that people could even manage to hit the pickguard with a pick. I have even tried myself, but I failed.

 

Maybe I just have a really light style.....

[RainsongDR1000]

I'm afraid I'm one of those people who can't help but hit the pickguard when I play, and usually go beyond it. I'm in the process of replacing my teardrop shaped pickguard on my rainsong with one the shape of pickguards on the Gibson Songbird because it covers a bit more area. I understand Red Willie's philosopy, if it didn't come with a pickguard etc. At the same time, As cool as "Trigger" is, I really would rather not have a hole worn in my guitar when I can replace a pickguard every few years.

[joestierman]

i dont have an acoustic yet, but I never seem to have a problem "missing" the wood yet hitting the strings. Maybe I just don't notice it when I play on my brother's because it already has scratches on the pickguard. But the action is high enough that I don't need to strum by the wood. On my electric i have a ton of minor scratches but they are on the top (toward your chest) side of the fretboard... opposite to where pickguards are normally places (or only placed).

 

to answer the question, with or without it's cool.

[solitaire]

I bought a Gibson J-100 that came with the pick-guard unfitted. With a bit of care I intend to leave it that way. Should deep scratches occur i might apply the pick-guard to cover up the scratches. In this case, I'd be more worried about the edge of the lower bout where my arm is in constant contact with the guitar. The acids in the skin is very malign to Nitrocellulose.

 

Bearing in mind my Martin got microscopic scratches beyond its pick-guard unintentionaly, what good was it.

 

Addition: My Martin was a well sounding demo instrument. That may have to do with the occurance of scratches.

[guitarcapo]

I've never scratched my guitars when playing with a pick. I mostly fingerpick anyway. I really have to say that if you're pick is hitting the face of your guitar, there's something wrong with your technique. You're wasting energy. Your pick is on the soundboard and has to take all that extra time to get back up to the strings for the next note. Over and over again. No economy of movement or efficiency. Sloppy man....

[RainsongDR1000]

Originally posted by guitarcapo I've never scratched my guitars when playing with a pick. I mostly fingerpick anyway. I really have to say that if you're pick is hitting the face of your guitar, there's something wrong with your technique. You're wasting energy. Your pick is on the soundboard and has to take all that extra time to get back up to the strings for the next note. Over and over again. No economy of movement or efficiency. Sloppy man....

 

So I guess that would mean Willie is a sloppy player, since he's wore a hole in ole "Trigger"? And I guess that would mean Pete Townsend (and any other player who really get's into their playing) is as well.

[Preacher Will]

Originally posted by RainsongDR1000 I'm afraid I'm one of those people who can't help but hit the pickguard when I play, and usually go beyond it. I'm in the process of replacing my teardrop shaped pickguard on my rainsong with one the shape of pickguards on the Gibson Songbird because it covers a bit more area. I understand Red Willie's philosopy, if it didn't come with a pickguard etc. At the same time, As cool as "Trigger" is, I really would rather not have a hole worn in my guitar when I can replace a pickguard every few years.

 

I'm with you on this one. I've cut up the top of my A&L Cedar something awful--and that's after I installed an over-size custom pick guard. The thing is, the damage isn't from a pick, it's from my fingernails dragging along the sound board! The cedar is just too soft to hold up.

[daman_daman]

My Seagull did not have a pickguard but i put on a clear one. Most people can't see it unless i point it out even when they are playing, or they think that something is on my guitar. Just a thought, some can be seen through very well.

[fingerpicker]

I fingerpick exclusively and still wind up scrathing my guitar w/ a thumbpick. This happens when I am playing a high energy gig and I play a little harder than when practicing.

I don't think it's poor technique, just an aggressive style at times.

 

Anyhoo- If you really don't want to put a pickguard on the guitar the static cling thingy seems to be a great idea. Also do a search on ebay for "inlaid pickguard." There are some fancy ones on there.