Anyone use the Allparts L5 inspired pickguard?

[tfling]

I have a Loar LH-700 on the way, and if it looks/sounds good then I will be wanting to add a pickguard

is the Allparts one decent?
is it the longer variant or the shorter size (20’s era, mounted near the 16th fret)?

is the Fox-Guitars one head and shoulders better?

also looking for opinions on tortoise vs black
- which looks more “period correct” - trying to give the Loar that classy old time look

any photos would be greatly appreciated

[floatingpickup]

I have installed the Allparts Tortoise guards on a few L5’s. I like them a lot. The size, shape, color and binding looks correct for an L5. I also like the way the binding is slightly yellowed/aged looking. I attached a couple pictures of ones that I have installed.
Keith

[tfling]

Those do look good!

thanks for the quick response

does the Allparts guard come with the mounting hardware?

[pcjazz]

Hey Keith,

What is the length and maximum width of the Allparts L5 guard? I’m wondering whether it would be a good fit for my16” noncut L7.

Paul

[wintermoon]

Those do look good!

thanks for the quick response

does the Allparts guard come with the mounting hardware?

No

[sgosnell]

But you can order the mounting hardware when you order the pickguard. They have it in stock.

[floatingpickup]

Those do look good!

thanks for the quick response

does the Allparts guard come with the mounting hardware?

No, Allparts pickguards don’t come with hardware. In my case, I was replacing old deteriorating pickguards that were on the guitars and just used the existing Gibson hardware. You also have to drill the holes and cut out any openings for pickups, etc.
Keith

[floatingpickup]

Hey Keith,

What is the length and maximum width of the Allparts L5 guard? I’m wondering whether it would be a good fit for my16” noncut L7.

Paul

Hi Paul:
I don’t have the guitars with me at the moment, so I can’t measure them. I am sure you could get that information if you contact Allparts.
Keith

[floatingpickup]

But you can order the mounting hardware when you order the pickguard. They have it in stock.

Aftermarket pickguard brackets are not exactly the same as real Gibson ones.
Keith

[floatingpickup]

Aftermarket pickguard brackets are not exactly the same as real Gibson ones.
Keith

A little background on my comment:

If we are talking about the vintage-style brackets with a threaded rod and nuts, most aftermarket brackets have “acorn” nuts. Gibson uses a flat nut. The thread size is also different. It’s not easy to find an original Gibson bracket though and aftermarket ones will look ok.

Gibson used a simple bent bracket in the seventies. That one would probably be easier to replicate.

Keith

[Brian B]

@pcjazz. Allparts L5 guard I mounted on my '48 L7N.

Just about 10" long by 3 15/16" at its widest.

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[Brian B]

A little background on my comment:

If we are talking about the vintage-style brackets with a threaded rod and nuts, most aftermarket brackets have “acorn” nuts. Gibson uses a flat nut. The thread size is also different. It’s not easy to find an original Gibson bracket though and aftermarket ones will look ok.

Gibson used a simple bent bracket in the seventies. That one would probably be easier to replicate.

Keith

I came across a vendor that sells brackets with a flat not acorn nut. Can't recall at the moment, and I ordered it online on my work PC. I can track it down tomorrow. IIRC it was Pickguardian, but not positive.

If you zoom in on my pics above you can see it. I did use the "shoe" from the original 1948 guard (the rod and nuts had been replaced) with the new bracket rod I bought. The hole on the shoe on the replacement bracket didn't line up with the hole on the rim of the '48, and I wasn't keen on drilling a new hole.

Edit; if you want a better pic of the bracket/rod/nut, I can take one. I also ordered a spare rod/nut set (they had them available seperately) and can pull that out for a pic as well...

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[floatingpickup]

I came across a vendor that sells brackets with a flat not acorn nut. Can't recall at the moment, and I ordered it online on my work PC. I can track it down tomorrow. IIRC it was Pickguardian, but not positive.

If you zoom in on my pics above you can see it. I did use the "shoe" from the original 1948 guard (the rod and nuts had been replaced) with the new bracket rod I bought. The hole on the shoe on the replacement bracket didn't line up with the hole on the rim of the '48, and I wasn't keen on drilling a new hole.

Edit; if you want a better pic of the bracket/rod/nut, I can take one. I also ordered a spare rod/nut set (they had them available seperately) and can pull that out for a pic as well...

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Brian:
I also found a vendor who had brackets with flat nuts a few years ago. I ordered one for a guitar that I was working on. I recall that, although it looked authentic, it had a different thread size than my original Gibson ones. Fortunately, it came with the little threaded plastic piece that attaches to the underside of the pickguard. If you are using a brand new Allparts pickguard, you can glue the new plastic piece on the bottom and everything will work out fine. As you said, you can even use a Gibson “shoe” with it, because it isn’t threaded. You can’t mix old and new threaded parts though.
Keith

[Brian B]

Brian:
I also found a vendor who had brackets with flat nuts a few years ago. I ordered one for a guitar that I was working on. I recall that, although it looked authentic, it had a different thread size than my original Gibson ones. Fortunately, it came with the little threaded plastic piece that attaches to the underside of the pickguard. If you are using a brand new Allparts pickguard, you can glue the new plastic piece on the bottom and everything will work out fine. As you said, you can even use a Gibson “shoe” with it, because it isn’t threaded. You can’t mix old and new threaded parts though.
Keith

Bingo.

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[Dennis D]

.......And just for a heads-up, these furniture pads w/ adhesive backing work well for adding support / shimming from underneath the pg...Once you've fitted the pg, these can be attached to the underside of it, and the felt protects the top.....

https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Round-...F6KERBHMYVGJSP

..and easy to cut and trim and really can't be seen once fitted...........

[Brian B]

I came across a vendor that sells brackets with a flat not acorn nut. Can't recall at the moment, and I ordered it online on my work PC. I can track it down tomorrow. IIRC it was Pickguardian, but not positive..... <snip>

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Sometimes I should trust my instincts....lol

Brackets | Pickguardian

[floatingpickup]

Sometimes I should trust my instincts....lol

Brackets | Pickguardian

Wow! Those look great. And it says “standard Gibson thread”. This is great news. I was never able to find an aftermarket one like this. Thanks for sharing.
Keith

[tfling]

Just curious - how is the front of this pickguard supported/held down ?

all of the archtops I have had before have had a screw that went through the top of the guitar to anchor the front of the guard (which I am not a huge fan of drilling into the top)

am i I missing something about the installation of this?

[wintermoon]

You can add a block in that area and screw it into the side of the fingerboard extension.

[Brian B]

Here's the original block on my '48. Originally glued, it came loose prior to me getting it and was secured using double sided tape. Here you can see how much my original guard was cupping/warped.

Which is why I got the Allparts guard.

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[wintermoon]

Here's the original block on my '48. Originally glued, it came loose prior to me getting it and was secured using double sided tape. Here you can see how much my original guard was cupping/warped.

Which is why I got the Allparts guard.

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Brian, The original guard and block would have been tortoiseshell plastic, the one you replaced is a replacement as well.

[Brian B]

Brian, The original guard and block would have been tortoiseshell plastic, the one you replaced is a replacement as well.

On an L7?

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[wintermoon]

Yes

[Brian B]

Yes

Huh. Did not expect that. I didn't think the L7 got tort guards...thought the 5 ply BWBWB plastic was original.

Wonder how long ago it lost it's original then...there's no trace of damage typical of one gassing off on the finish.

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[wintermoon]

Huh. Did not expect that. I didn't think the L7 got tort guards...thought the 5 ply BWBWB plastic was original.

Wonder how long ago it lost it's original then...there's no trace of damage typical of one gassing off on the finish.

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It could have been removed before it gassed too much. Some folks don't even like guards and take them off. The only difference between an L5 guard and an L7 is the amount of binding layers

[wintermoon]

Black guards w the beveled edge came on ES175s and others.

[Brian B]

Black guards w the beveled edge came on ES175s and others.

Good to know, and unexpected. Now I don't have to feel so cheezy about putting a tort guard on it...akin to putting Z28 badges on a base Camaro coupe...lol

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[wintermoon]

Looks nice on your guitar, I had a nice blonde '48 as well, the guard was just starting to go when I sold it. One of the better L7's I've heard, but then early post war acoustic Gibsons are generally punchy and full sounding for some reason.

[JazzNote]

I have a Loar LH-700 on the way, and if it looks/sounds good then I will be wanting to add a pickguard

is the Allparts one decent?
is it the longer variant or the shorter size (20’s era, mounted near the 16th fret)?

is the Fox-Guitars one head and shoulders better?

also looking for opinions on tortoise vs black
- which looks more “period correct” - trying to give the Loar that classy old time look

any photos would be greatly appreciated

Here's a pic of my 1970 L5 with one of the allparts pickguards . It looks good, altough i would prefer the semitransparency of the original. No way for me to use a black PG for an L5 and i think the Loar also would look nicer with tortoise.

[Max405]

JazzNote, that is a REALLY beautiful guitar.
You keep your stuff nice. I love it.
Joe D

[customxke]

Just wanted to point out that the binding on the AllParts pg isn’t quite right. On most Gibson L5 pick guards, the first layer of black (from the outside going in) is thicker than the rest of the black layers. On the AllParts version, all the black layers are the same. They’re great guards, and I have one on my 55 L5CESN, but thought it might matter to some.

[JazzNote]

JazzNote, that is a REALLY beautiful guitar.
You keep your stuff nice. I love it.
Joe D

Joe, thanks for the praise :-), i love my guitars, love to play them and try to keep them in good shape.

[deacon Mark]

The price of these has got to point I cannot make them and earn a profit. I see some with 5 layers of binding for less than $60 and whatever they are doing is sure efficient because it still takes time and material. I have to get $80 or it is not worth the effort. The good thing is that some pickguards have to be fashioned indvidually for the guitar. The stuff I have been using is also twice a thick and works fine most of the time. In the end though just running a price check on ebay for L5 pickguards there are lots of good options that are not expensive. The price has definitely come down on them. It does not have be be exact just pretty close.

[rolijen]

Another vote for the Allparts guard. I’ve used 3 of them with great results each time.

[floatingpickup]

Huh. Did not expect that. I didn't think the L7 got tort guards...thought the 5 ply BWBWB plastic was original.

Wonder how long ago it lost it's original then...there's no trace of damage typical of one gassing off on the finish.

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My 1947 L7 had the original guard on it when I got it. It was tortoise with a single ply of binding. Unfortunately, it was beginning to deteriorate, so I had a perfect replica built for it by Leroy Aiello (I didn’t want to use an Allparts guard because they don’t make one like this). I attached a picture of the replica, which looks identical to the original.
Keith