thoughts
Where Have All The Pickguards Gone?
Is it fashion? An attempt to update the style? It can’t be cost-savings — how much does a piece of plastic cost? Still I have to wonder, where did the Les Paul pickguards go? Over the last couple of years they seem to be disappearing. I recently looked at the Les Paul Standards available on the Gibson website. Out of ten finish options, only one had a pickguard: the Ebony finish.
I can understand that some players think Les Pauls look better without a pickguard, but not me. I guess after thirty years of playing Les Pauls, I think they look better with pickguards. I’m sure I could get used to one without a pickguard, but if I was going to spend over $2000 on a guitar, I would want a pickguard! What do you think?
Reader Reply: I removed mine one afternoon for cleaning purposes. The grain that it was hiding had to be exposed — that was 15 years ago. - Greg
Reader Reply: I think the pickguard is what makes a Les Paul a Les Paul. Just like the V8 engine in a Corvette makes it a Corvette. The pickguard separates it from an Epiphone or some kind of knock-off brand because you can always see that the guitar was made by Gibson by the way the pickguard accents the guitar, and even vise versa. I have a gold mirror pickguard on my LP and I wouldn't have it any other way. - Alex
Reader Reply: Wow. That's a very interesting point. I think it's a trade off between the fact that taking away the pickguard reveals more “skin” — and thus making the ax sexier — and scratching the gorgeous AAA-grade Flame Maple finish. On top of that, I think this lack of pickguard trend is attributed to Slash who is one of the biggest names in modern Rock and Roll. PS: Great site btw! - Sean
Reader Reply: I think, in regards to the comment about pickguards on the Gibson Les Paul, that they should at least put one in the case when they send it to you to let you perform the modification and not have the ugly screw holes in the guitar. Some colors don't look good with one. - Tim