Pick guard and/or pickup for Loar LH-600?

[PiousDevil]

I'm looking at putting a pickup on my LH-600. I'm considering a Benedetto S-6 Suspended Jazz Pickup, which appears to mount to a pick guard, which does not come standard on an LH-600. Can anyone suggest a pick guard that will install easily on this guitar? I'm also taking suggestions for other pickup options. Hit me, AGF!

[Mandobart]

I bought this pickup, this pickguard and these controls from StewMac. All pretty easy to mount on my Eastman with an elevated fretboard. I did devise my own mounting system for the pickguard. The pickup mounts right to the neck so a pickguard wasn't required.

[tdq]

Good timing. I'm mooting a floating pickup for my LH-700, basically the same guitar. I'll be curious to know what you decide. I wonder if it's possible to mount with the need for a pickguard?
EDIT: Actually I see that it isn't, from the previous post. I may have to look into this...

[Steve DeRosa]

You've got what amounts to a copy of an early Gibson L-10/L-12...

Period-correct (materials/color/design) early Gibson-style pickguards are available from archtop.com, as is the requisite bracket in either antiqued or bright gold/nickel...

Harry DeArmond started making add-on pickups in the mid-30's, and many an older Gibson was given new life with the addition of a Rhythm Chief. FYI Guild has reissued both the Model 1000 "Redhead" in nickel or gold (the current Gretsch New Yorker archtop uses the Gretsch-exclusive "Brunette" blacktop/nickel version) and the adjustable-polepiece Model 1100 (gold only) - either of which would be, along with a set of Martin Monel MM13 strings and the aforementioned pickguard, a perfect period-accurate tonal/visual complement to your guitar; while the Benedetto, Kent Armstrong, Gibson Johnny Smith et al. are each fine pickups in their own right, there's just something about a DeArmond on an old (or vintage-recreation) archtop that evokes images of smoky basement jazz clubs, big bands at the Paramount, and frontline USO tours - and to this day many knowledgeable archtop players still consider the DeArmond Rhythm Chief through a low/mid-powered 1x12"/1x15" tube combo to be the ultimate jazzbox setup...

[PiousDevil]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

You've got what amounts to a copy of an early Gibson L-10/L-12...

Period-correct (materials/color/design) early Gibson-style pickguards are available from archtop.com, as is the requisite bracket in either antiqued or bright gold/nickel...

Harry DeArmond started making add-on pickups in the mid-30's, and many an older Gibson was given new life with the addition of a Rhythm Chief. FYI Guild has reissued both the Model 1000 "Redhead" in nickel or gold (the current Gretsch New Yorker archtop uses the Gretsch-exclusive "Brunette" blacktop/nickel version) and the adjustable-polepiece Model 1100 (gold only) - either of which would be, along with a set of Martin Monel MM13 strings and the aforementioned pickguard, a perfect period-accurate tonal/visual complement to your guitar; while the Benedetto, Kent Armstrong, Gibson Johnny Smith et al. are each fine pickups in their own right, there's just something about a DeArmond on an old (or vintage-recreation) archtop that evokes images of smoky basement jazz clubs, big bands at the Paramount, and frontline USO tours - and to this day many knowledgeable archtop players still consider the DeArmond Rhythm Chief through a low/mid-powered 1x12"/1x15" tube combo to be the ultimate jazzbox setup...

Awesome, thanks Steve! I think the “monkey on a stick” (right?) will be the winner. Might still go with the Benedetto pick guard, I like the look of it though it might not be period correct.

Do you know if there is a production hard case that will fit this guitar? I’m not a fan of soft cases, which it came with.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by PiousDevil

...I think the “monkey on a stick” (right?) will be the winner...Do you know if there is a production hard case that will fit this guitar?

Here's the link for the pickups (note that these are the "short-stick" versions popularized by D'Angelico in the '40s, that attach to the side of the fingerboard much like the Johnny Smith pickup, rather than the "long-stick" type that clamped to the strings between the bridge and tailpiece):

https://shop.guildguitars.com/produc...-mount-pickup/
https://shop.guildguitars.com/produc...0-pickup-gold/
https://shop.guildguitars.com/produc...0-pickup-gold/

- and the wiring components:

https://shop.guildguitars.com/produc...0rhythm-chief/
https://shop.guildguitars.com/produc...me-knob-amber/

Elderly recommends these cases for 16" archtops:

https://www.elderly.com/accessories/...uitar-case.htm
https://www.elderly.com/accessories/...uitar-case.htm
https://www.elderly.com/accessories/...uitar-case.htm
https://www.elderly.com/accessories/...ase-110851.htm
https://www.elderly.com/accessories/...uitar-case.htm

The archtop.com website also lists a line of dedicated archtop cases - although somewhat more expensive as a whole they might be a better fit...

If you're simply interested in a smaller-size pickguard, I've seen mini-versions of the Loar-era PG; don't know the maker(s), but IMO they'd be a far-better match for your circa-1930-looking LH-600 - I think once you take a look at it, that Benedetto guard will look as out-of-place as foot-wide 22" wheels and 40-profile radials on a classic Duesenberg SJ cabrio...