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Posts: 4
| Why do most Ovations not have a pick guard? My 6778lx doesn't but I am considering it to protect the guitar. Any suggestions on why not and where I could order a factory one? |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Welcome to the OFC julesvan :)
With Ovations not having a pickguard, your guess is as good as mine. At that time, when I got my first and only O, to me the absence of the pickguard made the guitar's beautiful design and texture more visible. It was definitely pleasing to my eyes. Now the bottom part of the soundhole is filled with scratches from too much strumming action. I have since abandoned the idea of installing a pickguard, and (as I previously posted) accepted the scratches as some form of "mojo."
As for finding a pickguard, try these sites ... they just might customize one for you if you can't find what you're looking for.
http://pickguards.us/
and
http://store.pickguardfx.com/section.php?xSec=8
Good luck |
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Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I'd look for a clear pickguard....one of the things that attracted me to Ovations is the beauty of the design WITHOUT a visible pickguard. Pictures of Ovations that have had Martin-type pickguards added......ugh........not a pretty thought.....
You probably can find a sheet of clear stick-on plastic and cut your own protective pickguard out of it.
Roger |
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Posts: 180
Location: Chicagoland | For the most part, I started learning guitar on my Ovation celebirty. So from an early age, guitar wise, I learned to avoid hitting the top. Even when playing loud, hard, and fast I rarely graze the top.
I also like how thye look without the pickguard. Awhile back I got a 12 string balladeer from the 80's that has a pickguard on it...*shivers*. Problem is I probably can't take it off becuase there would be who knows how many years of difference in finish color between where the pickguard was and the rest of it. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | The finish is hard enough that you usually don't need one. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Even for older guitars, since the finish is a catalyzed polyester, pretty easy to buff out any scratches caused be a heavy pick. Swirl Remover #4 from StewMac takes it out in one pass. |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think Ovation makes a big mistake by not putting pickguards on their guitars. Especially the black finish ones (my favorites) get a lot of pick scratches. As you can see below I have put a pickguard on my black Country Artist. Dave
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | GORGEOUS!!!
Did you have those custom made?? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I cut it myself with a Dremel tool. That's why it's a little ragged in some areas. But it does the job and I get a lot of positive comments about it. Dave |
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Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | The ONLY Ovation I've seen that I can actually tolerate a pickguard on. Is that the "to-be-announced" Everly Brothers' edition????? ;)
Roger |
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Location: SoCal | It's amazing what can be done with photoshop and some time.... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | 1... 2... 3... you know the rest. |
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Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | What a crime, a pickguard on an Ovation. I have been playing for years, and have never put a scratch on my guitar with a pick. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | In case you haven't figured it out, the people here hate pick guards. I even removed mine from my tele (but put it on when I sold it. For some reason some people seem to like pick guards. Go figure.) If you wanna be cool bro', then no pick guard. |
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Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I guess I'm just too traditional for my own good.
Personally, I'd never own an Ovation that had a pickguard. I even passed on a '72 Country Artist a few years back that was in otherwise pristine, mint condition, but the aftermarket pickguard sombody stuck on it killed it for me. On the other hand, I'd be hardpressed to own a Martin without one. |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | if you need a pickguard you have bad picking technique |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by alpep:
if you need a pickguard you have bad picking technique Then why does almost every acoustic guitar except Ovation come with a pickguard? Do all these other brands target buyers with bad picking technique? |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | probably tradition...was done in the past and few want to make any radical change.
also, the O's have a far stronger finish to protect the wood (catalyzed polyester is a lot stronger than lacquer). the raised rosette (on most of the O's) also protects. |
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Location: NJ | dave
have you ever seen a pickguard on a classical guitar?
your honor I rest my case. |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Al, As soon as I can fire up Photoshop you'll see a pickguard on a classical guitar (ha ha). But, I agree with you. My point was, does that fact that almost all acoustic gutars have pickguards mean that the makers recognize that 90% of the players in the world have bad technique? I agree with Tony, it's probably tradition more than anything. A Martin looks as bad without a pickguard as an Ovation does with one. Dave |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Personally I think it started as a decorative idea.
With arch tops the top sort of buldges so maybe people thought it was necessary.
I think we can all trace it back to mother maybelle carter who had that scratch sort of playing and you got some percussive sound off the top with the fingers or picks on the top.
I still stand with my statement. If you have good technique you don't need a pickguard. I had lessons in college from a classical guitarist so I tend to hold my hands more in that manner, those big scratches you see on electric guitars are a real pet peeve of mine. it is just a lazy left hand and arm. it serves no effect on an electric but I can see some with an acoustic although it is not my preferred method |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Peekguards, peekguards?! We don't need no steenkin' peeeekguards! |
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Location: SoCal | I'm always amazed at the treble side epaulets of Ovations that have been shredded by bad picking. |
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April 2004
Posts: 234
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Well, Willie Nelson doesn't have a pickguard and it's not like he's hurt his guitar any by not having a pickguard. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Willie could use a pickguard to cover up that hole in the top. Guess it reminds him to watch where you walk when loaded. :eek: |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | willie is the perfect example of someone with horrible picking technique. he must be so high that it hurts to move his arm |
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Location: NJ | ". . Do all these other brands target buyers with bad picking technique? . ."
. . . well, . . now that you mention it . . |
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Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Flat picking on a Nylon String guitar, no wonder he's got a hole dug out, on his guitar. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | no pick guard
nose pick guard
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No pick guard