Pickguards; Yay, or Nay

[Silurian]

No real preference either way but I'm not keen on ornate ones, Hummingbirds etc.

[Wade Hampton]

Andy, I agree with you about pickguards on mandolins. Of course, on archtop mandolins they’re suspended above the top and are more like finger rests than the pickguards on flattop guitars.

One of my earliest mandolins had a pickguard on it, but I pulled it off because it rattled and just got in my way. The strings are so much higher off a mandolin’s top than they are off a flattop guitar’s top, too, that I just don’t need pickguards on my mandolins, either.

The one other bandmate who plays my mandolins with any kind of regularity has good control over his right hand attack, too, so there’s no danger from that quarter.

As for the sort of doofuses and dorks who’ll just grab your instruments off their stands and attempt to play them without asking permission first, that can be a real problem with guitars, but not with mandolins, oddly enough. Maybe just not as many people consider themselves as mandolinists as consider themselves guitarists.

That’s got to be the reason: there certainly are plenty of idiots who decide to show the world their awesome guitar chops whenever one has been left momentarily unattended....


whm

[Birchtop]

Get both

[RalphH]

It could use an 'it depends' I wouldn't want one on my Koa GS Mini, but a Hummingbird without a pickguard...?

[Mandobart]

I have no pickguard on my 12 string Ovation or my Altamira sel-mac copy. But I added one to my Eastman archtop as it completes the look and gives me a place for the volume and tone controls for the floating neck pickup I added.

I made a pickguard to match the cocobolo fretboard, points and armrest on my cedar topped F4 mandolin. It looks great and protects the soft cedar soundboard.

Both of these are archtop styles that mount to the neck extension and aren't in contact with the instrument top.

I really don't care for the cheap looking plastic pickguards most mfrs glue to the top of the soundboard.

[Jacob Reinhart]

I've never understood the point of a pickguards. I assume they are used to protect the wood from damage. The same wood you will never see because you covered it with a piece of ugly plastic?

[SJ VanSandt]

Originally Posted by min7b5

I prefer no guard. Ten years of flatpciking with not scratches. I guess I've got good aim

I have bad aim. Nobody is going to name a guitar after me, for sure! My next guitar is coming without a pickguard, but it's a redwood top and the clear guards show up and look funky on dark tops, IMHO. I think an opaque guard would ruin the looks of this one (not always the case). I guess I'll have to develop better aim.

[Steel and wood]

Yay for me. (Looks rather than practicality).

Dreadnoughts and jumbo's especially.

[KevWind]

I hadn't thought about it and I guess I am neutral, But as a horse owner I do not like Cattleguards

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by min7b5

I prefer no guard. Ten years of flatpciking with not scratches. I guess I've got good aim

Those are beautiful, and safe to say your technique differs substantially from Willies

[rpatkin]

Don't mind Martin style guards, but really dislike Taylors and most Gibsons, so I vote no guard.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Andy, I agree with you about pickguards on mandolins. Of course, on archtop mandolins they’re suspended above the top and are more like finger rests than the pick guards on flattop guitars.

...snip....

As for the sort of doofuses and dorks who’ll just grab your instruments off their stands and attempt to play them without asking permission first, that can be a real problem with guitars, but not with mandolins, oddly enough. Maybe just not as many people consider themselves as mandolinists as consider themselves guitarists.

whm

Whaaaa ???

NOBODY TOUCHES MY GUITARS AND LIVES!!!!

I've been asked if someone can play my guitar, and last year, I was surprised that two visiting American musicians offered me their guitars to check out - when I've shown interest. but I've NEVER had anyone just "assume" they could pick up a guitar.

..... calming down now - here's my lovely mandolin ... peace.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Jacob Reinhart

I've never understood the point of a pickguards. I assume they are used to protect the wood from damage. The same wood you will never see because you covered it with a piece of ugly plastic?

Exactly! Wouldn't it make more sense to start without one and at some point if it's getting nicked up just put the pickguard over then?

[Ray175]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

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

Because you don't want your guitar looking like Trigger?

[BluesBelly]

Originally Posted by alien

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

This ++++

My only exception is a parlor guitar.

Blues