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Sometimes I like to leave off a pickguard, especially on a finger style guitar, like an OM or OOO. I'm finishing up a round shouldered dread and I'm trying to decide if I should put on a pickguard. Would a dread look funny without one? Some players get very agressive with a pick and can really scar up a soundboard. This one is not a commission.

What's your opinion on pickguards?

PS - I'm waiting to finish this one before I post photos...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Personally I don't like them....I don't use a pick, but since guitars I build for myself are used as demo guitars for prospective clients I add a clear pickguard to them all.As far as a dread without a pickguard that would be a matter of preference, traditionally it is a part of the dread look but if it is your guitar....do what you like.

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Blue Ring Acoustics
blueringacoustics.ca

I've only used clear material. On most guitars I prefer seeing the wood but some do look very attractive with a quality PG. Even for finger style it's an area that can be prone to marking. I rest my pinky on the pick guard when playing finger style. How aggressively do you play Steve?

I guess my opinion's not the norm. Seems most guitars have coloured guards. One of these days I would like to try one that Mario Prouix makes.

I'm pretty controlled when i play, so don't really need a pickguard. I'm just wondering if a dread would look odd without one...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

If you google "dreadnought no pickguard", you can get images of examples by a number of manufacturers. Personally, I think they look fine.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

The pickguard on your personal guitar isn't for you, it's for your friend who wants to take for a spin.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

I'm in the clear pickguard camp.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I believe, as pointed out the pick guard is not necessarily an appearance component (I've seen some beauties) -- it has a real function. I prefer clear, but no matter what material is used it has to be attached in such a manner as not to restrict the expansion and contraction of the sound board which can cause cracks.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Dr*ads often are played pretty hard and put away wet meaning they are not typically..... there are lots of exceptions of course, finger style guitars. As such function in my view should override the appearance that one may wish and a pick guard might be advisable.

On the other hand if you know that the instrument will be in your charge and played in a manner including by you with good control that would not need a guard go for it.

If you have no idea where it may end up a guard is advisable.

Personally I think that dr*ads have a certain look to them that we have come to expect and that includes a guard. For OMs and smaller instruments guards can be a detracting element IMO and I'm not always a fan unless I know that function has to override appearance.

Clear guards are a nice option because they can preserve a look and still offer some protection.

The cool thing though is since you built it you can do what ever you like!

Personally, I don't like Dread-nots, but I would be in the Tortoise camp if I did. It's traditional.
I'd say do what you like.

I don't like the look of clear guards, especially after the area around it begins to get worn. Either go without and accept the wear, or use a proper guard, it is what it is.

Sent fra min SM-G920F via Tapatalk

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Heres my dread with and without ... eventually put the gaurd on (brown tortoise )and am happy with it

Might be in my head but i think it very slightly deadened the sound.. but might be in my head.. sounds a little softer/warmer (no bad thing)



Excuse my feet!

I don't care for them. Somagyi uses a nice clear one that you can barely see that also protects as well as (if not better than) a traditional pick guard. I removed one off of a factory 12-String that I have and refinished the top. I never put it back on and I think it looks fine.

I think a dred looks great without one. I use clear kling-on pick guards. They nearly disappear and they do not have any adhesive. They have some cut for a D size SS as well.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I just installed some of those super thin, super clear pick guards from Stew Mac. Good luck finding it.

If you decide to use it, I'd suggest rotating it clockwise a few degrees. If you're keeping a tally, my vote is for it.

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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement.

Hey Steve. I promise not to scratch up your guitar. It is a tough call. I wouldn't want to see it scratched up, but I wouldn't want the pickguRd to detract from the rosette. I really like What you have done with the rosett and purfling on that particular guitar


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I have always liked a good looking pickguard of appropriate size. The Greven Tortoises are my favorites. Medium on a dred and small teardrop on an OM. Nothing on a size 2. Just does not look right. Have not seen Mario's.

I generally leave them off new builds and let the buyer decide.

For some weird reason I hate clear ones, kind of the worst of both worlds in my eye.

I love seeing one of my guitars come back a little beat up with some pick scratches and a few dings here and there.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I like the Greven Tor-tis guards, but I like Mario's more. Thinner, and nicer colors IMO. I buy them in sheets and cut them myself, its a bit of a pain as they like to break easily (you have to heat them), but the results are nice.

Agree...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I ended up using the Stew Mac mylar pickguard. You can't even see it unless the light catches it at a certain angle. Seems like a good solution...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Nice looking guitar! Personally I think a coloured pickguard would have ruined the look of that. They belong on traditional instruments and don't go well with more modern looking ones in my opinion. I never understood the need for them anyway - even when I strum as hard as I can, the pick never comes near the top, but I guess other people have different playing styles.

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Great looking guitar.

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina