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I have never scratched a pickguard on any of my archtops, or flattops, for that matter. I do utilize the finger rest aspect, though. My ideal would be a 1" - 1 & 1/2" strip of a nice hardwood shaped to leave the lower f-hole un-obstructed.
I also manage quite well without a PG, so there you are.
Final answer: Convenient, not absolutely necessary. Your choice.
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07-18-2020 08:41 PM
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Yes. Always. Electric, acoustic, archtop or flat top. Never waste an opportunity to look awesome and get girls.
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I took them off the two archtops I have that came with one mounted. My ES came without one, and there is significant wear where it would have been, but I don't mind. They just feel in the way for me.
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Pickguard on, absolutely! I keep them in my Les Pauls too.
That’s the way they were designed to be. The guitar is naked without it!
And the pickup covers on!
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Only if it did not block the F hole would I keep it on. The strings on a Arch Top are a good distance from the body. So unless you have poor control of your picking then why use it.
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Wes always seemed to be joyful in photos and videos.
Originally Posted by neatomic
that's exactly why wes had some logo/medallion on that section beyond the guard/rest
cheers
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You'd be smilin' too if you could play like Wes! Originally Posted by Cunamara
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Pickguards, fingerrests are really nifty to put some little reference marks to help you with playing harmonics.
just sayin’
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It depends on your technique, I tend to rest my hand when I flat pick so I need a finger rest. I don't need one if I finger pick. An example of one who anchors his picking hand is Martin Taylor and I wish I had his "poor" technique. Or own Jack Zucker is another one who rests his picking hand on the finger rest and there is nothing wrong with his technique. If you don't need a pickguard/finger rest to facilitate your technique than get rid of the pickguard. Myself, I need one if I flat pick and on some guitars I like the look of a well shaped pickguard.
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I float my right hand, so I don't need a pickguard...but they don't get in my way either. Every now and then you get a pickguard that leads to buzzes but that's not usually a problem with newer guitars. Overall I prefer not to have them (currently only my Collings has one; neither my Trenier nor my Slaman do) but if they're executed nicely and not too large then I have no problem with them.
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Exactly. I don't anchor at all. But my little finger just kinda lightly grazes across it as a reference point. If I don't have one I feel like my hand is going to fall through the guitar. Like having the rug pulled from from under you, as that saying goes. Of course on a guitar like the PRS, where there is little space between the top and the strings, it's not necessary. Originally Posted by GTRMan
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I personally prefer to have the finger-rest on the guitar. Mostly for the aesthetic - I'm used to having it there. Since I play with a free wrist on my right hand, I don't anchor at all - so there's little need for one from a functionality point of view.
That said, I've had to remove one from one of my guitars as the celluloid is breaking down. Having played it since, it's surprising how much it choked the sound of the instrument. The guitar sounds better without it!
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Oh, and where would I keep my picks without a pickguard?
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Oh, so that's how it guards the pick.
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Gotta have one. Not to protect the guitar. Not to rest my fingers. Just as a reference point that I occasionally touch. One less thing to be insecure about!
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what do they get in the way of?
Seriously, i've played for 45 years with a pickguard but wish I played floating style. I still fool around with not touching down but i've never been 100% successful in switching.
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What's a pick guard?
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For some its a pinky (rest) anchor
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Warren Nunes raised his pickguard on his L5 up almost to the level of the strings, or maybe even with the strings.
He then lightly rested the fingernails of his middle and ring fingers on the pickguard, which helped anchor his hand for his blinding speed.
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johnny smith also was a proponent of using the pickguard for rest strokes when playing the high E string. Sandole advocated using the pickguard.
Is it necessary? No. I wish I hadn't gotten used to it but playing floating is a very different sound. I don't think you can get the same sound floating as you do resting. Neither one is better. Just different. One difference, you can always float even if you have a pickguard.
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