Pickguards; Yay, or Nay

[Wellington]

I’m sure this thread has been done about a million times before i joined, possibly after, just thought it would be fun to see it polled. Yes, we all know that in some cases you may or may not like pickguards, while in other cases the opposite, but overall are you a pickguard person or not one?

I for one am, in fact if I wasn’t able to add pickguards after the fact, it would almost be a deal breaker for me if a guitar I wanted had no pickguard...

[RP]

As I near the seven decade milestone of my life, my preference for no pickguard has increased as my concern about and ability to see finish scratches have decreased. Here's my newish Taylor 327 sans pickguard...

[alien]

I prefer them. For me, it makes the guitar look complete.

[Rosewood99]

Depends on the guitar and the pickguard.

[Wellington]

Originally Posted by alien

I prefer them. For me, it makes the guitar look complete.

Good way to put it, I totally agree.

[Dbone]

You should have had a 3rd option: Indifferent

It also depends on the guitar sometimes for me....the vibe of it in terms of looks...so I guess this could have been a 4th option: Depends on the guitar ;-0

[Brucebubs]

I find it difficult to answer.
Some guitars do look great with their guards and others look great with none.
I love the ornate guard on the Gibson SJ-200's but really don't like these 2 versions with double guards - it's overkill, just too much.



I'm a strummer but my pick choice and technique doesn't scratch up guitars - I guess I'm sitting on the fence on this one.

... and then there's the clear pickguard like my Huss & Dalton.

[Parlorman]

Looks pretty complete to me. Thankfully Froggy Bottom ships the pick guard in the case, not on the beautiful guitar

[tbeltrans]

To me, they look silly. I much prefer a guitar top with as little stuck on it as possible.

Tony

[Guitarplayer_PR]

All my current guitars don't have pickguards, but one. On some guitars, I want them with pickguards, on others, I don't. For example, I'd want pickguards with Taylor, but not with Ovation (my two brands right now).

[The Bard Rocks]

If there is to be a pickguard, I'd prefer it to be clear. Why have great wood, then hide it?

[Monts]

Originally Posted by RP

As I near the seven decade milestone of my life, my preference for no pickguard has increased as my concern about and ability to see finish scratches have decreased. Here's my newish Taylor 327 sans pickguard...

thank you, i think I want to take the pick guard off of my Taylor 317, this helps!

[Kerbie]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

I much prefer a guitar top with as little stuck on it as possible.

I agree with Tony. I prefer to see as much of the gorgeous top wood as I can.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Parlorman

Looks pretty complete to me. Thankfully Froggy Bottom ships the pick guard in the case, not on the beautiful guitar

I never understood why more manufacturers did not just do like FB and include it in the case. Let the player decide if they want it or not.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Monts

thank you, i think I want to take the pick guard off of my Taylor 317, this helps!

I previously owned a 317, and it looked far better IMO without the pickguard....