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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Who here has put clear pick guards on their guitars? Once you DID, were you happy with your decision? Was there any substantial change in tone after the pick guard was installed? I know it's been done before ... if I DO decide to have a pickguard installed, what should I know beforehand? Thanks in advance, and I hope it's not a dumb question ... although I have MANY of those! ;) |
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February 2008
Posts: 747
| I'd say it depends on the guitar, your playing style and whether or not you are damaging the instrument enough to worry about it.
I'm mostly a flat picker and in countless years of playing I've never had issues with digging holes in the guitar so I wouldn't bother with it but I'm also a race car driver so that might negate my views on the subject in the eyes of the purists and cognoscenti..lol |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I originally got a clear self-adhesive no-glue for my first Ovation.
I later decided that I did not need them.
I got mine from evilBay, and they were cheaper two years ago.
This one is for a center-hole guitar... It come with two guards.
They also sell a square sheet to cut your own for multi-hole Ovations. |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | My 32 yr old Takamine has a pickguard on it that looks like a pick has never even hit it. It was my only guitar for 20 years and I did strum, not just fingerpick. I don't understand how a Willie Nelson gouges holes in his guitar...does he miss the strings entirely? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | If the guitar came without a p/g it still is without one If I still have it.
I've switched to clear on some but they came with one already so no tone change. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I have a beautiful Collings OM sunburst cutaway that I ordered with the pickguard in the case (just because I thought I might change my mind and want it installed down the road).
Then I got to thinking......did I buy this guitar to play or to try and keep pristine so that I could sell it later.
PG is still in the case and I play the hell out of the OM. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I like the idea of having a pickguard because it makes it easier to remember which way to hold the guitar - pickguard down. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by stephent28:
I have a beautiful Collings OM sunburst cutaway that I ordered with the pickguard in the case (just because I thought I might change my mind and want it installed down the road).
Then I got to thinking......did I buy this guitar to play or to try and keep pristine so that I could sell it later.
Like putting seat covers on your car, savin it for the next guy.... |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | if you have good technique you don't need a pickguard |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I agree with Al, it is about technique. When I bought my legend my technique was terrible (I'd only just started playing) and I was wearing through the varnish and heading towards the wood. I got a luthier to fix the varnish and install a clear pickguard. I didn't notice any change in tone.
By the time I got my first Adamas, my technique had improved and it only gathered some faint pick scratches. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by alpep:
if you have good technique you don't need a pickguard Same goes for thumb strummers!  |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I have crappy technique still don't need a pick guard. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Whether you need one or not is a different question, I just like the looks of a nice high quality pickguard. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Dave,
I agree just not on an Ovation. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Capo Guy:
I agree just not on an Ovation. That's what a meant. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I thought so. I was just building my post count. :D |
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March 2009
Posts: 715
| Ut Oh, I'm in trouble! My pick guard is pretty beat up.
Michelle |
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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Hi, Michelle. I'm in trouble too. My techinique stinks and I don't have any pickguards. I don't worry so much about me scratching my guitars, it's other people scratching my guitar ... like a drunk relative at a family barbecue ... well, one of OUR family barbecues, anyway ...
:) |
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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Hey, Darkbarguitar,
I think that a large percentage of the time, Willie DOES miss the strings entirely. ;) |
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March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by WillaMuse:
Hi, Michelle. I'm in trouble too. My techinique stinks and I don't have any pickguards. I don't worry so much about me scratching my guitars, it's other people scratching my guitar ... like a drunk relative at a family barbecue ... well, one of OUR family barbecues, anyway ...
:) Willa, you must have some wild BBQs in your family!
I didn't know that I was doing anything wrong. I figured that a pick guard is supposed to get scratched and protect the guitar underneath. Why else is it called a pick guard?
Michlle |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I primarily flat-pick arpeggio style and only occasionally strum. When I had an expert critique my style a few years ago, I was told that the marks on the pick guard were caused by slight brushing of my fingernails when I did strum with a pick. In my case, my nails touch the pickguard so lightly that the added height of the pickguard itself makes a difference. My 1651 Ltd, which was my only guitar for 20 years, has no pickguard and only very slight nail marks. I've had the Tak EF75 in the rotation for only about two years and it has both a pickguard and nail marks. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by darkbarguitar:
I don't understand how a Willie Nelson gouges holes in his guitar...does he miss the strings entirely? I just watched a dozen YT videos of Willie, and he doesn't even beat on his guitar. (Nowadays)
Maybe he had a mean streak in his younger daze.
Or maybe he plays different when he doesn't have a Huge band behind him. :confused: |
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March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I primarily flat-pick arpeggio style and only occasionally strum. When I had an expert critique my style a few years ago, I was told that the marks on the pick guard were caused by slight brushing of my fingernails when I did strum with a pick. In my case, my nails touch the pickguard so lightly that the added height of the pickguard itself makes a difference. My 1651 Ltd, which was my only guitar for 20 years, has no pickguard and only very slight nail marks. I've had the Tak EF75 in the rotation for only about two years and it has both a pickguard and nail marks. BB, thanks for this. I'll definitely have to check and see where my nails are touching the pickguard the next time I play.
Michelle |
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On the subject of pick guards
