Why? Be sure to leave the release paper tabs on until the pickguard is applied and smoothed to within about 1/2 from the tabs then remove the tabs by pulling directly away from each of the pickguard. Ad from shop Printiau3D Its just most people like the way guitars look with them and prefer not to scratch their guitar if they can avoid it. From shop LegendsofDuna, 29.99 FREE shipping, ad by Puhpowee Gibson Les Pauls have a floating pickguard that isnt attached directly to the body but floats over it. Acoustics are constructed and use pickguards with this in mind. You may have noticed that guitars have colored bits of plastic attached to their bodies. Learn more. The pickguard is sometimes known as a scratchguard or scratchplate. From shop CustomMetalPickguard, 1.00 Original Price 26.15 Many playersespecially newcomersdont even notice the protective film; it doesnt occur to them to remove it because they dont realize its there in the first place. So the purpose of the pickguard is mainly protection and decoration. So pickguards were used to stop the pick from doing any damage. Original Price 58.71 Also, and this is more personal preference, most guitars look odd without a pickguard. Its a much smaller pickguard than Fenders. With a medium guitar pick rub through the paper over the pickguard to secure it in place and to remove any remaining tiny air bubbles not removed by the thumb rubbing. They tend to be below the strings and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. With all speed, peel that film off. Ad from shop alexanderspickguards On an acoustic guitar you will need to apply some heat to the pickguard to loosen the glue. You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings. Start adhesion from the center only. Captcha failed to load. Great! CustomMetalPickguard Or they do notice it, but they dont know its supposed to be removed. The Telecaster is the other most famous Fender guitar. On an acoustic guitar it can do. Be sure you buy one that fits the position for pickguards on your guitar! Another reason for pickguards is that on certain guitars the pickguard covers the electronics and hides the routing. It was considered a mistake because over time celluloid shrinks, warping the pickguards on many acoustic guitars or cracking them if they were screwed down on electrics. A place where I could talk about the gear, techniques and general awesomeness that is the best instrument. Before removing the release paper backing, pre-determine the correct placement of the new pickguard by aligning it with the strings and the grain of the top visually/aesthetically. Some claim that having the pickguard resting directly against the body, like Fender guitars do, affects tone. Use a small amount of paint thinner or Naphtha for this process. Ad from shop STORMGUITAR Since then like so many before me I've become an addict and gone through more guitars, amps and gear than I care to remember. It started my lifelong love of music and playing in general. Dont rub too hard or the finish will scratch. Ad from shop HandmadeByBodzi Easy as that. Saying no will not stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. Fender PlayThe #1 guitar learning platformTRY FOR FREE. (25% off), If you don't want others to see this collection, make it private. I'm Andy and I've been crazy about music, and specifically the guitar, for longer than I can remember. And lastly pickguards make up part of the look of a guitar. Acrylic or PVC are very common nowadays. Click here to see Fender's selection of pickguards. The inside radius of the pickguard must be carefully aligned with the outside of the large rosette ring. While holding the release paper tabs, align the pick guard placement, and let it sag slightly in the center to begin the application. BURNYBLACK Because most new guitars and basses come with a protective film of clear plastic covering the pickguard. There are many more guitar brands but that should give you an idea of where the pickguards are found on different types and styles. We are so used to all types of guitars coming with a pickguard that they dont seem right if its missing. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Take a Strat or Tele and remove the pickguard it looks so strange! Acoustic guitar pickguards are usually smaller than electric guitars and are glued in place rather than screwed. Also celluloid is very flammable which made it dangerous. FREE shipping, ad by Bluecer Original Price 49.82 alexanderspickguards Ad from shop Bluecer Charvel, PRS and Ibanez amongst others make electric guitars that dont have pickguards as standard. Its this thin film that looks worn and faded, not the pickguard itself, and its meant to be removed. The Stratocaster is arguably the most famous guitar. These are third party technologies used for things like: We do this with social media, marketing, and analytics partners (who may have their own information theyve collected). If you dont the guitar still works the same way and it wont stop you playing. FREE shipping, 93.40 You dont have to have a pickguard and so its more about how important your guitar remain scratch free is. It is found on electric and acoustic guitars but not classical as they were designed to be played with the fingers, not a pick. From shop alexanderspickguards, 42.00 Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. From shop PickArtPickguards, 199.06 When you strum with a pick it can catch and scratch on the body of the guitar. Basically, if you click on a product link on this site and buy that product we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. In order to give you the best experience, we use cookies and similar technologies for performance, analytics, personalization, advertising, and to help our site function. From shop STORMGUITAR, ad by LegendsofDuna Similarly on some guitars the pickguard actually holds the pickups in place. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. Blackstar Amps Guide: Are They Good and What for? When the pick guard has been applied, take the release paper, which was removed from the pickguard back and align it perfectly over the new pickguard. It depends. This is especially true if you are a hard and aggressive strummer. 37.36, 49.82 Although it does still happen. A pickguard on a guitar is a piece of material, usually plastic, that is screwed on to the body. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. From shop Printiau3D, ad by BURNYBLACK From shop GuTang, 32.23 It wont take long before for the scratches and marks appear. Printiau3D Italy | English (US) | (EUR), remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy, remember your login, general, and regional preferences, personalize content, search, recommendations, and offers, to ensure that sellers understand their audience and can provide relevant ads. GreasyGroove The Gibson SG has a very unique pickguard that is often referred to as batwing. Whilst the pickguard is roughly in the same position different types of guitars do have different places for their pickguards. But if you have a guitar without a pickguard, or remove one, then you quickly see how important they are. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. If you glue a piece of plastic to the resonating soundboard its not a huge shock that it would impact the tone. Over time though the types of finishes used on guitars, especially electric guitars, changed. As the finishes on guitars are now a lot stronger than they were in the past they are less necessary. The main reason for a pickguard is protection it stops the finish of the guitar getting marked when playing with a pick/plectrum. Be very careful not touch the adhesive side with anything but smooth release paper. HandmadeByBodzi Place a couple of pieces of temporary masking tape to show where the final placement should be. Read our Cookie Policy. It has a similar pickguard to the Stratocaster. Either way, there seems to be an inordinate number of players eagerly honing their craft on instruments that still have clear plastic film stuck to their pickguards. Much of it comes down to personal preference though. Place two small release paper tabs back on each end of the pickguard. When you strum with a pick its not uncommon for the pick to hit the body of the guitar below the strings. FREE shipping, 98.39 And of course what you like the look of. Ad from shop isembardgifts Be careful when doing this process not to rub too hard on the extreme edge of the pickguard or go off the edge of the pickguard and dent the top. Maybe thats because its what we are used to but either way most people prefer the look of guitars with pickguards. Puhpowee Many Ibanez guitars dont have pickguards but the RG series does. (25% off), 32.99 FREE shipping, Sale Price 19.61 Then you just gently lift the pickguard away. Virtually all Fenders and Gibsons have pickguards though. Whilst not the most essential part of the guitar a pickguard does play a big role in how guitars look. FREE shipping, ad by Printiau3D Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Guitar Inside Out is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. (20% off), ad by PickArtPickguards Ad from shop GuTang Because it looks like the wings of a bat! PickArtPickguards So now its now a lot less likely that hitting the finish with the pick will cause any scratches or marks. Pickguards are usually made from plastic. Without the pickguard the pickups would have no way of being kept from moving or held in the body of the guitar. It's this passion and enthusiasm about all things guitar that drove me to start this website. The purpose of a pickguard is to protect the finish of the guitar from getting scratched when playing with a plectrum. FREE shipping, ad by GreasyGroove You shouldnt need to remove the control knobs to get all the plastic off, but if you try to remove them anyway and theyre not budging, do not try to pry them off with a screwdriver, knife or other suitably flat implement, because you could damage the finish, the pickguard or the knobs themselves. If theyre mounted to the pickguard then the pickguard becomes essential to the guitar working. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. Women's Short Sleeve T-Shirt, item runs small- size up, Hoodie sweater ( item runs small order a size up). The owner of this website does not guarantee offers on this site, and all offers should be viewed as recommendations only. You only get one shot at the installation and wax, dust, fingerprints or misalignment will ruin the pickguard installation. Everything you Need to Play Electric Guitar: A Guide. isembardgifts By doing this it will enable you to grab and align the pick guard with the designated location marked by the masking tape. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. In the past celluloid was used in many guitars. Ad from shop GreasyGroove Gretsch guitars have floating pickguatds very similar to Gibsons. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. I was 15 years old as it had taken me a while to find the confidence to believe in myself and take that step to learn to play an instrument.