I asked this question in my other thread and I think it was missed. So since this is a slightly different topic I started a new thread. I am about to purchase a new guitar and would like your opinions on pickguards. A couple of guitars I really like don’t have them. My question is, since I mainly strum chords right now and haven’t learned fingerpicking yet, will I scratch up my brand new guitar and render it unsightly? Do I get what I want and don’t worry about it since it is just character (e.g. Willie Nelson’s “Trigger”)?

Most guitar shops sell clear cling-on material pick guards.
They also sell self-adhesive pick guards.
Try StewMac for parts.

https://www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=pickguard

https://www.guitarsalon.com/store/p2595-klingon.html

If you’re strumming chords it may help.
With time your hand & pick movement becomes more accurate & efficient and they aren’t much needed.

In theory, a pick guard will dampen tone. With practice you can both strum and fingerpick without touching the top. I'll use the corner of the bridge as a guide, but I've seen players who can keep their hand in position without. Even with *gulp* metal thumb and finger picks. Search: wayne henderson

If the bridge saddle [the plastic or bone strip which the strings sit on] has a sharp edge, rounding it is one of the first things I'll do. Same, even more so, on a mandolin. The ebony 'saddle' has to have a rounded edge.

So by not touching the top you'll improve tone and enhance the value of your instrument. Yes, I do rest my forearm on the edge, but try to keep the back off my body to allow the entire instrument to produce tone unimpeded.

I don't have a pick guard on my Martin and personally, I don't care. The guitar shows it's age, but sounds incredible. That's all that counts. I actually like the wear.

I have to wonder ,
Out of 75 trained or Professional musicians ,
How many of them could listen to two , $3000.00 guitars

Or two $1,500.00 guitars, for that matter,

And discern between the instruments that do or don't have pick guards.

Bendable, no two guitars sound the same anyways. To be a true control, you’d have to use the same guitar and record a sample without and then with the pickguard, and even then, it would depend greatly on the guitar. It probably makes less of a difference than one would imagine it does, but I’ve met and worked with a number of players with such a sharp ear, they can tell you what frequency bands are different in an A/B, and in detail that would surprise you.

Honestly, it makes less of a difference than practically all other considerations at this point in your playing career. Woodman has the correct answer, though: with proper technique and good form, a pick guard is only added insurance against scratches and wear. If you’re into loud strumming folk music or think you’re Pete Townshend, it’s probably a good option to have. Anything short of that, and my suggestion is to build your technique around not having one, and even then, it's still my suggestion.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
I have to wonder ...

An admirable quality.

When a major dealer in AZ began selling Gibson guitars in 2016 or so, I visited twice [in February 2017] and played each of the 21 guitars over 7-8 hours. Every guitar had a different tone, sometimes considerable, sometimes slight, even two *identical* models.

Good replies guys! I really appreciate the help!

As a general rule, so to speak, I do not like, do not own, and do not want a pickguard on my guitar.

This is true whether it's electric or acoustic, inexpensive or expensive, pickguards are mostly lame.

Key word: mostly.

I do concede that some guitars just look right/best with one, so if you care it can work.

But unless it's somehow crucial to the very look, skip it.

If you really like a guitar and it doesn't have a pickguard, don't worry, just get it. I've been playing for nearly 30 years and I have never scratched a guitar by strumming it. Now, I have put dents and scratches on them in every other way. I really don't think anyone can hear the difference between having or not having a pickguard. There are too many other more important variables to consider.

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
As a general rule, so to speak, I do not like, do not own, and do not want a pickguard on my guitar.

This is true whether it's electric or acoustic, inexpensive or expensive, pickguards are mostly lame.

Key word: mostly.

I do concede that some guitars just look right/best with one, so if you care it can work.

But unless it's somehow crucial to the very look, skip it.

Strats look gooney-bird stupid without one.

Like most things, it depends.

Some Fenders, plus the Charvels and Jacksons and Schecters and PRSs are fine (even better) without one.

I greatly prefer rear routed bodies, myself.

But things like this, though not my style, look nice/better without one:

All of my acoustics with the exception of my Hummingbird have pickguards. The Hummingbird was a gift from a friends mom. The pickguard fell off, I suspect it was stored in heat while he was away during military duty. It's a very unique pickguard but I managed to salvage it. Going to get some double sided tape and put it back on as it's a pretty good looking pickguard.

I think sunburst guitars look better without a pickguard so the 'burst can be shown.

I realize this is splitting hairs, but I'd consider those "Super Strats" and their own thing. That first Charvel you posted isn't really all that different from the USA made Ibanez I used to own.

I'm talking more like this:


Rigby, something to consider is that if you get a guitar that comes without a pickguard, either acoustic or electric, you can always add one later. There's stick-on pickguards for acoustics and a number of companies that make custom pickguards for electrics. Bear in mind, though, that should you install one and decide to leave it, you've permanently modified the guitar by either adding screw holes, or in the case of a pickguard on an acoustic, you'll have a spot underneath it where the finish will not be as exposed to UV light and it will leave a "shadow" if you ever decide to remove it. There's a lot of Les Pauls floating around out there with a screw hole on the front of the guitar by the neck and one on the bottom edge from folks removing the pickguard. I've seen more than a few acoustics with a light spot where a pickguard used to be for years until the owner decided they wanted to take it off.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
When a major dealer in AZ began selling Gibson guitars in 2016 or so, I visited twice [in February 2017] and played each of the 21 guitars over 7-8 hours. Every guitar had a different tone, sometimes considerable, sometimes slight, even two *identical* models.

A number of years ago, I came across a barely-used Anderson electric guitar in a Guitar Center that I just had to have, and they were having a promotion where you got, I think, 40% back in store credit, so I decided to put my store credit towards my first acoustic.

I went in thinking I wanted a mahogany 000 or maybe full size cutaway, but playing them, I couldn't get past the tone of the classic non-cutaway dreadnought spruce-and-rosewood Martins. I played every acoustic they had out in the store and eventually settled on one that was around $2000 as having the tone I liked the best out of all the guitars under $3000 - by a substantial margin.

They said they had a brand new one in a box in the back and asked if I wanted it instead of the one that had been hanging on the wall forever getting scuffed up. I said sure, but let me play it first.

The grain on the top wasn't as tight and straight and the guitar sounded completely dead. Exact same model - not top-of-the-line, but certainly not a cheap one - from one of the premiere acoustic makers.

I took the scuffed up wall hanger home. It happens to have a pickguard, but that wasn't a deciding factor and I'd be just as happy if it didn't.

At the time I wished it had matte back and sides rather than gloss, but the finish has grown on me.

Oh sure (strat vs super and such). ^^

Consequently, most Teles look dumb without one, IMO.

Lately I've been looking hard at an all-mahogany WL-14 from Waterloo / budget-Collings (depression-era parlor style for those who are unfamiliar with the model).

They show up without pickguards often enough and are the business.



I take them off of Gretsch electrics, ES-335s, Les Pauls, and similar, all acoustics.

Actual Fender Strats and Teles usually look better with them, I do agree. It can work without, but it's rare.

I’m gonna leave it without. I really went back and forth on a guard on my Breedlove, I contemplated a clear one. I don’t want to risk a tonal change and once you put one on ( with the adhesive back) you risk damage if you want to remove it. I’ll let mine age with honest use. https://imgur.com/a/GFqxMzT

Nice. Natural relic-ing, the only good kind.

Thanks for all the helpful advice! I decided to go with one that has a pickguard, but that isn't why I chose it. As soon as I began playing it I knew it had the tone and the depth I've been looking for. Because of the help in this thread I went in open to purchasing a guitar even if it didn't have a pickguard. But in the end, it was how it sounded that won me over. Thanks again!