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I have two archtops. One is a Gibson ES-125 that came without a pick guard. The other is an Aria Pro II PE-175, from which I removed it. Don't miss pick guards, think they get in the way. What do you think?
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07-18-2020 10:35 AM
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I can't play without one. Seriously.
Originally Posted by Phil59
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Nope, horrible rattly things
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On archtops, pickguards are useful for mounting pickup controls, and not much else, at least for me. I mount my controls in the treble f hole, which works just as well if not better. Once in awhile I put the pickguard back on one of my archtops, play it for awhile, and then remove it again. I don't pick so violently that there is any danger of hitting the top. Pickguards on archtops are often referred to as fingerrests, and some people like to use them for that. I don't. It's an individual preference, and if you don't like them, there is no law requiring them, AFAIK.
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I'm another guardless player. Back in the day I even took them off my Les Pauls.
For me the only reason to have one is if it's got a pickup hanging off it. That's why it's still on one of mine. It's very small and I'm fine with it, though I might be slightly happier if it was set up as sgosnell describes. I've taken them off both my archtops that have set pickups.
Lot's of of folks ditch them. Julian Lage for EG doesn't have one on his very very expensive Manzer. I prefer the look. Others prefer the look of it on. Some use it to anchor or reference their position.
As for actually guarding anything, you have to be on the verge of a Townsend Windmill to actually do damage to a typical archtop.
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I had a Les Paul for a long time. Beautiful sunburst. I never understood why a plastic pick guard should cover up that great-looking wood. Still, I kept it on. Originally Posted by ccroft
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i don't need a pickguard on an archtop..and furthermore prefer to have the lower bout f-hole unblocked
cheers
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yes, need one for sure
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Munisteri is some sort of in-betweener. He had a custom guard made to expose the f-hole for his 20's L-5.
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Most jazz players won't tear up their guitar without a pickguard. Some will. One of the luthiers I met years ago referred to it as a finger rest. That was an "aha" moment for me. That seems more appropriate. And no, it is not mandatory.
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My picking on an archtop doesn't need it to be guarded, but I like the "finger rest" function
I have an ES125T that came without guard, and I tried to build me one, but it's too flexible so that it's only a pickguard, not a finger rest.
I'm used to the position of my right hand with a "finger rest" but I could probably get used to a position without this.
I love the look of my ebony finger rest on my Eastman AR503 or the maple one on my Sweet 16
So, to sum up : not essential but useful
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Only if you play rasqueado!
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pickguards were invented to prevent damage to the tops on archtops as well as flattops, not to rest a finger on.
the only reason I can think someone might prefer the look of one is because it's unusual not to see one on an archtop. they've been conditioned to seeing them for so long that a guitar w/out one looks like it's missing something.
if it helps you play more easily because you anchor your pinky there then fine, I guess it becomes a finger rest, but all they really do is muffle the sound on an archtop.
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"Finger rest". I don't really anchor though, so it's a very light touch kinda thang.
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Took one off my Heritage 575; liked it better.
Left it on my Sadowsky Jim Hall; it just seems to fit and is unobtrusive. Never think about it.
Bought a new one for my 1944 L7 so I can mount a DeArmond and drill a hole for a volume control.
So I guess, for me, it matters which guitar.
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Gibson called it a "fingerrest." I prefer to have them on all my guitars.
Danny W.
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The pickguard on my 1974 ES-175 had to be removed because it made so much noise. That... and the fact that it now looked like Pat Metheny’s Gibson!
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yes gibson did indeed call it a fingerrest...in their ad for the 1937 es-150..."brown celluloid fingerrest"
and about 10 years later, the ted maccarty fingerrest pick up!
nobody used it as a fingerrest like wes!!!...and beyond!
cheersLast edited by neatomic; 07-18-2020 at 06:28 PM. Reason: cl-
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For me on archtops, not essential. I have two with, one without.
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I like keeping pickguards on my archtops.....yes I admit it.
Can't imagine how my technique could ever get so bad as to scratch the top without one, so for me its not there to be guarding anything.
I do have the tendency to occasionally lightly contact the guard by brushing it with my pinky finger. Guess it keeps my right hand floating at the right height or something. I suppose I could get by fine without one after awhile.
I'm very particular about pickguards being set up about 1/4" below the strings and following the string angle.
I dislike warped guards and will go to great trouble to find ways to straighten them.
I do confess that I care about the aesthetics.....and that some pickguards seem to be well integrated with the guitar's shape and style and others not so much.
And it bothers me sometimes when they're missing or if I see something like a perfectly functional Kay pickguard on a Gibson for example.
Or vice versa for that matter!
So there it is.....
But to the OP's question....no, a pickguard is not essential.
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Pickguards or Finger rest is all a matter of personal taste as well as playing style. It also depends on the arch or lack of arch to the guitar's top near where one picks or fingers as they play.
On some guitars, mostly archtops, I need a pickguard. I have large hands and need a bit of support underneath my right hand to maintain the proper position...for me. Also, some pickguards just look so right on certain guitars...others not so much.
Some players like Henry Johnson must need a pickguard as a finger rest, because from the looks of it, he wears his out.
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Although much of their literature refers to them as pick guards, my 1981 replacement parts catalog calls them fingerrests throughout. When the Custom Shop made me a smaller version for one of my guitars the paperwork referred to it as a fingerrest also. Originally Posted by neatomic
yes gibson did indeed call it a fingerrest...in their ad for the 1937 es-150..."brown celluloid fingerrest"
and about 10 years later, the ted maccarty fingerrest pick up!
nobody used it as a rest...and beyond the guard...like wes!
cheers
Danny W.Last edited by Danny W.; 07-18-2020 at 07:39 PM.
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"Some players like Henry Johnson must need a pickguard as a finger rest, because from the looks of it, he wears his out. "
Not to mention the top of the guitar next to it.
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I love the "fingerrest" on my Super 300 - I use my thumb and add in fingers as needed . So I move on and off the "fingerrest" as needed
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that's exactly why wes had some logo/medallion on that section beyond the guard/rest Originally Posted by wintermoon
cheers
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