Official Luthiers Forum!

I like the pictures that members post of the guitars they have finished....these are really beautiful guitars. You guys do amazing work!
One thing that I have noticed is that it seems the guitars almost never have a pick guard installed. I do like the way they look without the pick guard, but isn't there a concern with the soundboard getting scratched?
For those that do install pick guards, do you prefer wood or plastic?

Some players don't do much damage to the top. If you like the clean look you can try a clear pick guard. I just experimented with a pick guard on my last guitar. I laminated a walnut burl to black plastic. Then on top of that I laminated clear Mylar pick guard material. It came out OK but not great.

A clear pickguard, if applied properly, will be near invisible- for example, I was playing some lowdens for the first time about a year ago, and it took me over half an hour to realise that they had pickguards!

_________________
"Anything that happens, happens. Anything that in happening causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that in happening happens again, happens again. Though not necessarily in that order." Douglas Adams

Did somebody say pickguards?
Cool's the rule!


-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

It seems to me that pickguards are just another expression of the makers personal
style and taste. Some guitars seem to just look better with a pickguard, others
would look odd with one. I sometimes struggle with what would look best so just
lay in down or tape it in place to get a feel for the final look. If it looks like it compliments
the guitar, I'll use it. If not, go without.
Some commissions require pickguards as the players are pretty "maverick" with the pick (I just love that term now that's it's been made famous by a political comet on the public scene).

Also, the wrong pickguard can do really nasty things to the aesthetics of a guitar so care in choosing the right one is important.

Best holidays to you all.

Bruce

_________________
Bruce Herrmann
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Wow Chas, those are cool! Where do you find your pick guard material?

Thanks,
Joe

I use the clear mylar .. almost invisible. Why hide a pretty rosette ??? And if the guard doesnt go to the soundhole edge, eventually that will wear with a lot of players.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Most dreads will have pickguards as they need a lot of protection for the type of music they are intended for. Strumming. The majority of guitars on here are smaller bodied, intended for finger picking. Of course, there are exceptions with all styles of guitar. If you know the guitar will be for a fingerpicker, I would leave the guard off. If it is for a bluegrass strummer or heavy flat picker, I would definitely use the guard. If you don't like the look, go for the clear.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

-Freeborn makes or his wife makes their pickguard material. It is cool stuff here is their website:
http://www.charlesfreeborn.com/BeauGuard.html

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

Thanks for the link Steve!

Joe

Yes, we make it in house.
We're going to take a try at Leopard binding stock today.
-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Thanks everyone. As Ron pointed out, most of the pictures I've seen here have been the smaller guitars, not dreadnaughts, so perhaps that is why most didn't have pick guards. Must be a lot of finger pickers out there!

If I find some especially nice looking wood, I may give that a try. However, I think that I'll check into the clear pick guards mentioned for the dreadnaughts and perhaps just leave the pick guard off of the OMs.

Thanks again!

Alan

I typically use Greven pickguards on mine...
Justin

Thanks for the tip Todd. So the water will not cause a problem for the adhesive on the clear pick guards frpm LMI?