Pickguard, or not?

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I just don't care for the look of pickguards on my acoustics, but I prefer Gotoh 510 tuners over the stock Taylor tuners. Only my vanity can be validated.    

[Jersey tuning]

I actually like the look of a small teardrop pickguard, but I think removing the pickguard on my Tacoma during refinishing may have contributed to the guitar's better tone and increased volume post-luthier

[cpmusic]

Several years ago I had to replace the pickguard on my 615 because the original was curling up at the points. Taylor was kind enough to send me a new one gratis, but I left the old one off for a while to see if there was any difference in tone. At first it seemed so, but when I put the new guard in place it didn't seem to make any difference, so I could only attribute the difference to a psychological effect.

When I ordered my Taylorstock 355 I asked for a clear pickguard because the top is so incredibly pretty (incredible silking) but that guard started attracting dirt along its edges that I couldn't remove, so the guitar is now guard-less.

[Earl]

Thanks guys.  I will get one of these static cling pickguards and start using it.  All of the comments were positive, so the idea seems very worthwhile.

JJR:  while I am no longer active, I retired from flying with 1000 hours of PIC time in Alaska plus 100 search and rescue missions.  Let's talk off line about the "pilot" part of your handle.

[Montesdad]

when possible, I have Taylor install a clear pick guard, their thinner, more flexible and easy to replace if they get a little scratched up.  don't think they have an effect on the soundboard vibrations.

[zeebow]

I have a cedar top 914ce, no PG, since 2012, not even a scratch

but I'm not a very aggressive strummer either.

I also have a 2011 414Ce with a PG, no scratch on it either

[jrporter]

I'm not a hard strummer but try to keep my guitars in good shape. I vote for pick guards.

[andyi5]

My GC3 has no scratches after a good couple of years of frequent play, the finish seems to be very tough. I much prefer the non pickguard appearance.

[chuckie egg]

Hey guys sorry to resurrect an old thread but I did a search first...

Anyways I've had a GAS attack 😳 ...plan to order the 712ce 12-fret (current model).  Went to local dealer yesterday and they quoted a fair price & i'm tempted to go for it.   I see there are pickguard options... standard brown,  clear, or none? Which would be most advisable? I'd prefer not, but is it ok to have no pickguard?? 

Thanks in advance 🙂

[zeebow]

Hey guys sorry to resurrect an old thread but I did a search first...

Anyways I've had a GAS attack 😳 ...plan to order the 712ce 12-fret (current model).  Went to local dealer yesterday and they quoted a fair price & i'm tempted to go for it.   I see there are pickguard options... standard brown,  clear, or none? Which would be most advisable? I'd prefer not, but is it ok to have no pickguard?? 

Thanks in advance 🙂

depends on how heavy your attack is. i'm a light to medium strummer and don't have any nicks...except a couple on my cedar topped guitar. cedar is softer wood - but they are tiny

the lutz on the 714ce isn't soft so you should be ok. i would get the clear pickguard if you're worried but want the clean looks, and you can get it loose in the case. this would mean you would have to order it, bc by default it comes with it

if you're ordering it, i would consider the gotoh tuners

i would ask if they could do it with adirondack bracing

then i would consider if i needed a cutaway or electronics and remove them if you don't

the western sunburst looks good on these...but i always end up with a natural finish

to put my money where my mouth is, i ordered a lutz/cocobolo GC 12 fret with no pickguard

[shorty]

You could always purchase the "cling on" removable pickguard from Taylor. They work pretty nice...just sayin...

[donlyn]

Here's another morsel for thought. I have a Taylor 818e with a rosewood pickguard. Would a wooden pickguard be different from a plastic pickguard in terms of impeding response? Would a wooden pickguard change response if added to a guitar without a pickguard? Would anyone notice in either case?

Just for the record, I have 1 guitar (walnut jumbo) without a pickguard. I also have 1 guitar (512ce) with a cutaway. Of the rest, only my Epiphone EJ200 has a large intrusive pickguard. My Gibson J200 has a small Martin-style pickguard (standard with that particular J200 model). All of my guitars were purchased as-is based on how I perceived their sound. I may not notice the difference with/without a pickguard (and maybe never will), but pickguards are not a deal breaker for me. Personally I like the idea of a pickguard, though I feel I don't really need one since I don't use a pick. And sometimes a guitar looks a little naked without one, especially a natural spruce top, even an older 'tanned' one.

Just my 2 cents.

edit> I mentioned the cutaway, only because that's a whole other sonic topic. Didn't stop me from buying it.

Don

[chuckie egg]

Thanks for all your thoughts ... I just found this comment by Bob Taylor on his 'ask' blog...

Ask Bob: Pickguard vs. No Pickguard

Question: I’m from the UK and walked into my local guitar shop in Harlow, in Essex. I’ve fallen in love with one of your guitars. I noticed it doesn’t have a scratch plate. Can you tell me why some of your top-range guitars do not have a scratch plate? Is it due to sound? Aesthetic reasons?
Tich

Answer: Tich, it’s purely aesthetic. Nothing else. Most guitars don’t need pickguards, because most people don’t harm their guitar with a pick. We make thousands of guitars without them each year, and people don’t have trouble. Even those with pickguards have them for cosmetic reasons.

https://blog.taylorguitars.com/ask-bob-pickguard-vs-no-pickguard

I don't play heavy so think I'm tempted to go for None, and use the Clear 'cling on' if necessary.

[timfitz63]

...   I see there are pickguard options... standard brown,  clear, or none? Which would be most advisable? I'd prefer not, but is it ok to have no pick guard...?? 🙂

depends on how heavy your attack is. i'm a light to medium strummer and don't have any nicks...except a couple on my cedar topped guitar. cedar is softer wood - but they are tiny

the lutz on the 714ce isn't soft so you should be ok...

More to the point, Taylor's finish (which is covering the wood) is pretty durable.  I'm sure repeated scuffing with a pick would eventually create scratches, in even Taylor's finish.  But I wouldn't worry so much about getting marks from occasionally swiping a pick across it.  The caveat here is the thinner finishes on Taylor's newer models is more susceptible to getting marks.  I don't rightly recall if the new 700's have the thinner finish like the current 800's, though...

In the end you're probably fine going without the pick guard (or a clear one installed); or having it provided loose in the case as "zeebow" suggested.  I'm a moderate strummer and don't have any problems with marks on the tops of my Taylors -- even the ones without pick guards.  So I guess I'm a testimonial for Bob's response to the question of pick guard or no pick guard.

[jrporter]

I'd prefer to have a scratched pick guard on my guitars than a scratched top. I've gotten used to the look in the same way that I've adapted to automobile bumpers and bulky winter coats....