Pick guard - or no pick guard?

[guitarvoodoo]

Custom w black guard - ON.
Standard etc w white guard - OFF.

/GV

 

[MrBurst]

Sage advice

Taken very literally, but of course, its all over the place. In general it is most definitely a more modern trend than it had been....sign of the musical shred punk times I guess. I find that all the kids at the rehearsal space are really eager to pull the guards, where most others don't even think of it as anything but part of the guitar and what reason would there be to start dismanteling it. All from where you look at it for sure.

Getting old and loving those memories of why I fell in love with the finest of electric guitars as a teen in the 70's! It always looked "right"

I go back and forth all the time though, I see one on a nice Burst and think that looks great maybe I should put it back on. Then I see the Peter Green and Koss shots and think "no that's it". It's torture but I'm going no guard for now.
It also depends on were your comfortable with your picking hand and were you rest it. I pretty much rest right over the bridge & tail piece so I'm fine. But some of the shot's of Gary Moore's burst and even Koss really disturb me. Gary has a huge divot were the guard normally is.

 

[Ad_02Std]

Well I've been playing for a number of years without a guard and haven't noticed any extra wear in that area. For me it has become uncomfortable to play an LP with a guard. It does get in my way somehow, but I'm sure it's like anything else; if I was forced to do it I'd adapt.

Aesthetically there's something about that bit of carve that is otherwise hidden under the guard. Particularly under stage lights it shows up the carve nicely.

 

[MrBurst]

Well I've been playing for a number of years without a guard and haven't noticed any extra wear in that area. For me it has become uncomfortable to play an LP with a guard. It does get in my way somehow, but I'm sure it's like anything else; if I was forced to do it I'd adapt.

Aesthetically there's something about that bit of carve that is otherwise hidden under the guard. Particularly under stage lights it shows up the carve nicely.

I agree I love the top carve, something I always wanted when I was stuck with the pancake tops of the late 70's.

 

[Black58]

I like the look of 'em on a cherry sunburst. Unbursts, darkbursts and other colors, not usually. :2cool

 

[pist0lpete]

I don't think that one of the most important questions has been answered. The gentleman was also asking for pick guard installment advice, and in truth this is something I had always wondered myself. I bought an 07 R9 with a beautiful chevron pattern but the pick guard wasn't installed. Now, because I live in a relatively small out of the way city and our resources are limited and that means even if I wanted to instal my pickguard it would all be one giant guessing game as far as the bracket angle and anything else involved. So has somebody posted in another thread a breakdown or step by step process for pick guard instillation.

I like to switch back and forth when it comes to pick guards. However, the look of Duane's gold top really struck me and I took off the pick guard and toggle switch washer of my classic gold top.

here are my two R9's one with and one without, really just another reason to post pictures of them. Hey, this thread could use a few more pictures of everybody's guitars yes?

 

[MRG]

Shall we move on to 335s now?

 

[Shetland Jonny]

Thank you everyone for your valuable input – I really appreciate it. MrBurst’s agony of guard or no guard hits the nail on the head as to how I feel about it at the moment. I’m a lover of all types of music, however I do tend towards the heavier stuff. I subscribed to Total Guitar for a number of years and went through my pile and you are all correct about the pick guard and present day shredders. Not a lot of pick guards to be found. Slash’s new signature LP doesn’t have one – he’s seen on stage mostly playing a LP without a pick guard. Dcooper830 video post made me smile as he picked away on his Zakk Wylde signature guitar – they don’t have guards either. This I must admit influenced my choice quite a bit.

However, the king of Les Paul - ball breaking guitar riffs – one James Page, uses a LP with a pick guard. His new signature LP Number 2 (think that's what it's caled), has a guard. So that’s good enough for me!!!!! The only problem is that it’s in the Classic style and mine is not - aaaaahhhh

I’ve ordered a pick guard and nickel bracket and will decide what to do when it comes. I may just install it and play with or without, depending on how I feel – at least I have the option. A couple of little screw holes don’t worry me.

As pistOlpete mentions, I wouldn’t mind a schematic of how the pick guard is installed if it’s out there. I may try Gibson. If all else fails, it’ll be printing of photos and guessing.

Thanks again to you all.

 

[guitarvoodoo]

Hey, this thread could use a few more pictures of everybody's guitars yes?

Yep.
I can't see any good reason to cover a large part of my R0 with a pickguard.

 

[Classic]

I'm a big fan of NO pickguard. However, it does depend on the guitar. The top on some LP's don't look right without a guard. The majority are better without.

 

[pit_s_xroad]

pickguard on... always... :biggrin: :dude:

without a LP looks incomplete in my eyes...

PIT... :salude


PS: same with pu-covers for me... :ganz

 

[pist0lpete]

Yep.
I can't see any good reason to cover a large part of my R0 with a pickguard.

DAMN that's sweet :salude

 

[dgood]

.

 

[Burrmanchu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW5sEF5lPuQ
:biggrin:

 

[D'Mule]

Yep.
I can't see any good reason to cover a large part of my R0 with a pickguard.

Lefty: OFF
Righty: ON

 

[Billy Porter]

What? Hide the only bit of flame on my 5 pce top Norlin! Any weight relief has to be a good thing.

:couch .......just joking :wah

I simply got fed up of having to tighten the bolt so left it off.
I’ve both a cream and the original black. I think on black customs Yes, on original 52-61 yes. On mongrels like mine – doesn’t really matter

 

[pist0lpete]

Lefty: OFF
Righty: ON

could not help but notice that on this finely flamed guitar that a pickguard once covered it up. That or you just drilled a hole where the pickguard should have been? :biggrin:

 

[Tele52]

I like mine with the PUP covers and guard. The holes had already been drilled. I don't think I'd have drilled them.

[/IMG]

My Gary Moore Signature LP doesn't have binding or pickup covers. It looks like Gibson's response to Hamer. It looks much better without a pickguard.

If it had binding and pickup covers, I think I'd prefer it with a pickguard.

It's similar of like asking how you like your hotrod- fenders/no fenders, hood/no hood...[/QUOTE]

 

[SlyStrat]

I like the look of both.
The best thing to do is own at least two Les Pauls, and have one ON, and one OFF.
My Axcess came without one, and I'm leaving it that way.

 

[Angry Steve]

It never occurred to me to take the pick guard off my TV Yellow Special. I've taken the pick guards off of every other LP I've owned.
Angry Steve, got any pictures that you're willing to share?

David -
Sorry it took so long to reply. But here you go. If the pic doesn't show up, follow the link.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/photo.php?pid=2614680&id=736173449&fbid=132241138449