pickguard or no pickguard, which do you like

[PHJim]

If you really like it without a guard, try it fora while and if it develops scratches, add one to cover the scratches. That's what I did on my octave mandolin that came with no pick guard and looked cool without one, but after a year or two of playing, it started getting some battle scars, so I cut a guard that covered the scratches.
It looks OK with the guard as well.


My guitars have pick guards, but still have developed battle scars.
This one has 57 years worth of battle scars.

[Bridgepin]

I go with the clear pickguard

[PHJim]

My brother Gary's Eastman dreadnought came with no guard. His is sunburst rather than the brown stain, and I think a pickguard like yours would look good on it.

[The Bard Rocks]

I'd rather see wood than plastic. And I would rather see finished wood than beat-up wood.

For me, no pickguard. I don't need it. I don't anchor a pinky or strum loose or hard and my guitars that have no pickguards are in the same condition as those which have them.

For you - it depends. First, do you need one?

[TJE"]

I am not sure what the point of a pickguard is unless you are some kind of heavy rock strummer like Pete Townshend. I guess they can look pretty.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by TJE"

I am not sure what the point of a pickguard is unless you are some kind of heavy rock strummer like Pete Townshend. I guess they can look pretty.

Most of the worst scratches on the tops of my guitars haven’t been inflicted by me, but by other people. Especially those folks who’ll grab one of my instruments from a stand and start playing without asking my permission first.

The worst incidents of that type have happened in bars, and I no longer play in bars. But it’s happened at church a time or two, and even friends of mine who’ve come to music parties have put some dings and scratches on my guitars too.

I don’t care about a few scratches accidentally put there by my friends - my friendships are more important to me than keeping my instruments completely pristine. But for anyone who likes to hear his guitars played by other good musicians, having a pickguard on the guitar is about the least expensive yet most effective way to prevent needless accidental pick damage.

If you aren’t comfortable having others play your instruments and don’t use a pick when you play, then it’s probably not an issue. But if your music-making is social as well as a matter of self-fulfillment, then to my mind it’s a good idea to have a pickguard even if you don’t really need one for your own playing.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller

[jazzguy]

I like the pickguard and particularly that one. It looks great.

[ataylor]

Given the reverse-belly bridge shape of your guitar, I think a J-45 shape pickguard in the same firestripe pattern would look better than the J-35/AJ shape you’ve got.

Also, I’d leave the stock pickguard on the Yamaha.

[Shortfinger]

I like the clear one on my Yamaha.

[Ed66]

That pickguard just takes away from a beautiful top; I'd leave it bare - or go with a clear pickguard if you're worried about scratches.

[sakar12]

No pickguard or a clear one

[Goodallboy]

I don’t go for appearance as my first goal with an acoustic guitar.

Having plastic dead weight on an acoustic guitar top will certainly effect tone. That might tame a shrill guitar or dampen one that doesn’t benefit by the effect.

I prefer a clear pickguard with virtually no mass that allows the top to vibrate at maximum efficiency.

My wife leaves that up to me.

[menhir]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

....I prefer a clear pickguard with virtually no mass...

As do I.

This guitar has a pickguard...

[IMG][/IMG]

I have a larger, clearer image but it wasn't worth posting because it still doesn't show.

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Most of the worst scratches on the tops of my guitars haven’t been inflicted by me, but by other people. Especially those folks who’ll grab one of my instruments from a stand and start playing without asking my permission first.

The worst incidents of that type have happened in bars, and I no longer play in bars. But it’s happened at church a time or two, and even friends of mine who’ve come to music parties have put some dings and scratches on my guitars too.

You don't try to stop them? Or is this when your back is turned?

The stands I have include a little rubber strap that goes across the yoke at the top. It's there to help prevent accidentally knocking the guitar off the stand, but I imagine it could also slow down these grabby jerks long enough for you to chase them away.

[Arthur Slowhand]

I've taken pickguards off guitars, swapped them and on some I've left the original ones alone. I like fire stripe (or tiger stripe) pickguards and think OPs Eastman looks better with than without... to me it complements and finishes off the top.