Also celluloid is very flammable which made it dangerous. Its this thin film that looks worn and faded, not the pickguard itself, and its meant to be removed. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Even though its clear, you can tell if its still there because it imparts a dull sheen to the pickguard and might even have started to peel, wrinkle or bubble on its own. But technically you dont have to have one. The Telecaster is the other most famous Fender guitar. FREE shipping, ad by Puhpowee Place two small release paper tabs back on each end of the pickguard. That style of playing gives you a lot less control and invariably leads to the pick hitting the body which will cause scratches and damage to the finish. STORMGUITAR FREE shipping, 98.39 Guitar Inside Out is my way of sharing hat love and passion with the music community and hopefully inspiring and helping others to enjoy it as much as I do. Whether you're new to the guitar and looking to learn or an old hand we aim to give you the guidance and help you need. Because it looks like the wings of a bat! 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. Ad from shop GuTang Place a couple of pieces of temporary masking tape to show where the final placement should be. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. FREE shipping, 93.40 The pickguard is sometimes known as a scratchguard or scratchplate. 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. If theyre mounted to the pickguard then the pickguard becomes essential to the guitar working. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Be sure you buy one that fits the position for pickguards on your guitar! Original Price 26.15 It wont take long before for the scratches and marks appear. 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. Because most new guitars and basses come with a protective film of clear plastic covering the pickguard. The Stratocaster is arguably the most famous guitar. Acoustics are constructed and use pickguards with this in mind. While holding the release paper tabs, align the pick guard placement, and let it sag slightly in the center to begin the application. 37.36, 49.82 Great! CustomMetalPickguard BURNYBLACK A pickguard on a guitar is a piece of material, usually plastic, that is screwed on to the body. Ad from shop Bluecer And one that matches the pickup configuration. Ad from shop alexanderspickguards Be very careful not touch the adhesive side with anything but smooth release paper. Although it does still happen. 44.03, 58.71 Read our Cookie Policy. From shop BURNYBLACK, 123.29 Maybe thats because its what we are used to but either way most people prefer the look of guitars with pickguards. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. 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. Ad from shop PickArtPickguards Gibson Les Pauls have a floating pickguard that isnt attached directly to the body but floats over it. Acoustic guitar pickguards are usually smaller than electric guitars and are glued in place rather than screwed. With a soft cloth remove all polish and wax in the area the pickguard is to be installed. Why? We are so used to all types of guitars coming with a pickguard that they dont seem right if its missing. Bluecer Pickguards are usually made from plastic. These are pickguards. Another reason for pickguards is that on certain guitars the pickguard covers the electronics and hides the routing. And thats why the likes of Gibson chose to go with floating pickguards to reduce the affect it had on tone. From shop HandmadeByBodzi, 74.42 alexanderspickguards Rub across the narrow part of the pickguard with your thumb in both the left and right direction. 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. Cookies and similar technologies are used to improve your experience, to do things like: Without these technologies, things like personalized recommendations, your account preferences, or localisation may not work correctly. (25% off), 32.99 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whilst the pickguard is roughly in the same position different types of guitars do have different places for their pickguards. Ad from shop isembardgifts You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings. Please. Dont rub too hard or the finish will scratch. I began playing somewhat late compared to a lot of people. And of course what you like the look of. Ad from shop HandmadeByBodzi LegendsofDuna With all speed, peel that film off. If you dont the guitar still works the same way and it wont stop you playing. Click here to see Fender's selection of pickguards. Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. Its a much smaller pickguard than Fenders. 34.86, 43.58 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). From shop Printiau3D, ad by BURNYBLACK You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. If youre uncomfortable doing this then take your guitar to a luthier who will be able to do it for you. Fender PlayThe #1 guitar learning platformTRY FOR FREE. Its pickguard covers roughly half of the body nearest to the neck. So pickguards were used to stop the pick from doing any damage. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. It also acts as decoration on a guitar. Make sure the area is completely dry and completely dust free and do not let dust get under the surface of the pick guard when installing. They tend to be below the strings and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. (25% off), If you don't want others to see this collection, make it private. See our privacy policy. Original Price 43.58 It has a similar pickguard to the Stratocaster. The inside radius of the pickguard must be carefully aligned with the outside of the large rosette ring. It depends. Ad from shop Printiau3D The main reason for a pickguard is protection it stops the finish of the guitar getting marked when playing with a pick/plectrum. If you glue a piece of plastic to the resonating soundboard its not a huge shock that it would impact the tone. This film protects the pickguard during shipping and retail display. 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. The last thing you want is to buy a pickguard and it not fit or be the correct size for your guitar, or one designed for single coils and you have a guitar with humbuckers. FREE shipping, ad by GreasyGroove For a more in-depth look at what a pickguard does, where its found on a guitar, whats it made from and whether you can replace it (amongst more) then keep reading. Taylor, Lowden and Seagull are just some of the acoustic guitar brands that do guitars without pickguards. So you should now understand what a pickguard does, what theyre made from and whether one is really necessary. Also, and this is more personal preference, most guitars look odd without a pickguard. Acrylic or PVC are very common nowadays. But it may be one of those situations where the difference is so minimal you can barely notice. From shop STORMGUITAR, ad by LegendsofDuna 19.61, 26.15 A bit of paint thinner or naptha on a soft cloth or soft paper towel can be used to remove any remaining glue residue. Similarly on some guitars the pickguard actually holds the pickups in place. Use a small amount of paint thinner or Naphtha for this process. From shop alexanderspickguards, 42.00 So the purpose of the pickguard is mainly protection and decoration. Looks like you already have an account! Ad from shop STORMGUITAR Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Policy, Pickguard for American/Mexican Fender Stratocaster Standard, 4Ply Parchment Pearl, Acoustic Guitar Pickguard Pack of 5, Hummingbird and Water Shaped Self Adhesive, The PRS SE Standard 24 comes without a pickguard. isembardgifts FREE shipping, ad by HandmadeByBodzi The clear pickguard can be removed easily if you start by carefully lifting the side near the end of the fretboard with a thin pick and peeling very, very slowly. FREE shipping, Sale Price 44.03 This helps prevent bubbles from being trapped during application. Ad from shop LegendsofDuna Virtually all Fenders and Gibsons have pickguards though. Its just most people like the way guitars look with them and prefer not to scratch their guitar if they can avoid it. FREE shipping, ad by Bluecer From shop CustomMetalPickguard, 1.00 This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. But if you have a guitar without a pickguard, or remove one, then you quickly see how important they are. Printiau3D You only get one shot at the installation and wax, dust, fingerprints or misalignment will ruin the pickguard installation. 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 Puhpowee, ad by alexanderspickguards FREE shipping, ad by CustomMetalPickguard 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. GreasyGroove If a bubble starts, stop rubbing and let it set for five minutes then repeat the application process applying pressure slowly in both directions with your thumb. Instead, try wrapping a cloth like a hand towel around the knobs to increase your leverage in working them loose. PickArtPickguards HandmadeByBodzi The purpose of a pickguard is to protect the finish of the guitar from getting scratched when playing with a plectrum. The placement has to be perfect BEFORE you adhere the pickguard to the guitar. Learn more. Many Ibanez guitars dont have pickguards but the RG series does. Yes, its actually very easy to swap pickguards on a guitar. When you strum with a pick it can catch and scratch on the body of the guitar. When you strum with a pick its not uncommon for the pick to hit the body of the guitar below the strings. (25% off), 80.52 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. From shop GreasyGroove, Sale Price 34.86 In the past guitar finishes were weaker and more likely to get scratched. Much of it comes down to personal preference though. Easy as that. (20% off), ad by PickArtPickguards The owner of this website does not guarantee offers on this site, and all offers should be viewed as recommendations only. Some claim that having the pickguard resting directly against the body, like Fender guitars do, affects tone. It started my lifelong love of music and playing in general. 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. GuTang On an electric guitar all you have to do is unscrew the current one on your guitar and screw the new one in place. On an acoustic guitar you will need to apply some heat to the pickguard to loosen the glue. By doing this it will enable you to grab and align the pick guard with the designated location marked by the masking tape. Ad from shop BURNYBLACK It's this passion and enthusiasm about all things guitar that drove me to start this website. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Yes! Puhpowee Captcha failed to load. ad by isembardgifts I'm Andy and I've been crazy about music, and specifically the guitar, for longer than I can remember. 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. If that happens, just loosen the pickguard screws slightly, remove the plastic stuck around them, and re-tighten them. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. Once you know what a pickguard looks like its very easy to identify them on any guitar. And lastly pickguards make up part of the look of a guitar. Start adhesion from the center only. Although it peels off easily, it might get a little tricky around pickguard screws or control knobs. Over time though the types of finishes used on guitars, especially electric guitars, changed. Without the pickguard the pickups would have no way of being kept from moving or held in the body of the guitar. Then you just gently lift the pickguard away. To stop the guitar getting scratched by the pick, guard the electronics and make the guitar look a certain way. FREE shipping, ad by STORMGUITAR On an electric guitar however its less straightforward. You just peel it off, and youre in business. So now its now a lot less likely that hitting the finish with the pick will cause any scratches or marks. FREE shipping, ad by Printiau3D There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. Remove the paper backing from the pickguard. Without it you would be able to see the wiring for the pickups and pots, which would also make them more vulnerable to getting damaged. Want to know more? It has a unique pickguard that covers a large portion of the body and holds the pickups in place. 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. Guitar Inside Out is dedicated to providing you with the best information, guides and reviews for guitars and guitar related gear. Whilst not the most essential part of the guitar a pickguard does play a big role in how guitars look. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. In the past celluloid was used in many guitars. From shop PickArtPickguards, 199.06 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. Or they do notice it, but they dont know its supposed to be removed. Go SLOWLY. 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. Original Price 49.82 From shop Bluecer, Sale Price 37.36 On an acoustic guitar it can do. There are many more guitar brands but that should give you an idea of where the pickguards are found on different types and styles. From shop isembardgifts, ad by GuTang As the finishes on guitars are now a lot stronger than they were in the past they are less necessary. Ad from shop CustomMetalPickguard From shop LegendsofDuna, 29.99 Ad from shop Puhpowee Women's Short Sleeve T-Shirt, item runs small- size up, Hoodie sweater ( item runs small order a size up). Blackstar Amps Guide: Are They Good and What for? Guitar Inside Out is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. A place where I could talk about the gear, techniques and general awesomeness that is the best instrument. First-time instrument buyers are sometimes a little dismayed to notice that the pickguard on their brand-new guitar or bass looks weirdkind of dull, and maybe already scratched up quite a bit. 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. You dont have to have a pickguard and so its more about how important your guitar remain scratch free is. FREE shipping, Sale Price 19.61 Take a Strat or Tele and remove the pickguard it looks so strange! Gretsch guitars have floating pickguatds very similar to Gibsons. The Gibson SG has a very unique pickguard that is often referred to as batwing. Yes, there are both electric and acoustic guitars that come without pickguards. Everything you Need to Play Electric Guitar: A Guide. Once the plastic film has been removed, your pickguard will look like its supposed tonice and shiny and flat and new. Ad from shop GreasyGroove Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. And they are designed to do as their name says: guard the guitar from picks. From shop GuTang, 32.23 This is especially true if you are a hard and aggressive strummer. Original Price 58.71 Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. 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. Charvel, PRS and Ibanez amongst others make electric guitars that dont have pickguards as standard. You may have noticed that guitars have colored bits of plastic attached to their bodies. 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.