Les Paul Pickguards?

I dont like the look of big pick-gaurds.... personally

I think it depends on the Les Paul... What it wants to do... Kidding, but it does depend on the Les Paul. Putting a pickguard on a les paul with a premium plus top is a sin in my book.

Pickguards have their place on an LP, but IMNSHO, it's on classic looking cherry sunburst plaintops, black customs, and pretty much nothing else. I wouldn't use a pickguard on a flametop, you gotta let that show!

However, that also takes into account that I don't need the pickguard, there are some players who would hit the body and scratch it all up, and for them, it actually has some practical value.

The Les Paul is designed so its almost impossible to hit the body. When I was trying some out before I got mine, I tried a nice one with premium plus top, and a pickguard. I asked the store owner (he was showin' me around) if that could be taken off, and he said "Yeah, but I wouldn't recomend it, you'll scratch the body." Baffles the heck out of me.

The Les Paul is designed so its almost impossible to hit the body.

How?

I just bought a Les Paul Standard that has a beautiful quited top and I would NEVER consider putting the pickguard on it. However when you want that classic look, you gotta go with the pickguard.

Ariez,

Let me rephrase:

"With the Les Paul's design, it is impossible to hit the body" is what I should have said.

The body bulges right under the strings, inbetween the pickguards (not actually bulges, but it arcs there. So the parts NOT under the strings, are much lower than the strings, thus being nearly impossible to hit while playing.

Taso wrote:
The Les Paul is designed so its almost impossible to hit the body.

How?

I'm not sure exactly, although I think it has something to do with the spirits of dead luthier's coming out of their grave..... :shock:

:D

ahhh I see :D

Ariez,

Let me rephrase:

"With the Les Paul's design, it is impossible to hit the body" is what I should have said.

The body bulges right under the strings, inbetween the pickguards (not actually bulges, but it arcs there. So the parts NOT under the strings, are much lower than the strings, thus being nearly impossible to hit while playing.

Well then I have done the "nearly impossible ." My 1981 vintage Artist model has a small depression worn into it right between the pick-ups where my pick hits it during heavy down-strokes . The pick-guard is about 3/4" too short to be of any help . I have always favored a Fender Heavy pick so it's my own dang fault .

How do you manage to get inbetween the pickups? lol.

It's all Rock and Roll's fault . The strings clear the top of the guitar by plenty but somehow I manage to dig the point in . Oh well !

lol. SHEESH, you may want to reconsider your attack ;)

I'm not a LP fan...simple question , my simple answer is "I don't like Pickguards".....just a matter of personal aesthetics....It's a great, classic design, though, and shouldn't be spoiled by a cheap-looking piece of plastic....

Vic

And IMHO, the pickguards on hollow-body epiphones are the worst of all....