Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

Lu_B

New member
Mine doesn't have one and never has, should I put one on?

My other half says its not really a LP if it doesn't have a pick guard....not sure if I agree with him!
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

On a solid coloured LP, I love a pickguard. But on one with a nice figured top, I much prefer it without a pickguard to let it show off the top.
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

If its got a nice maple top, leave it off. Show off that top!

If its a solid color, I tend to leave 'em on.
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

Take them off.

They look slicker without a pickguard. It looks a bit clumsy with them, for lack of a better word.

Your other half is wrong. :D
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

Depends!

Pics please!

I've always felt that nice contoured LP's shouldn't have one. You really have to go some to hit the wood.

If it isn't contoured, then maybe yes, for protection.

then another part of me says. it depends on the colour... Yada yada yada...
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

Les Paul Custom? Always!
I usually don't have them on my standards......Tobacco sunburst with double creme coils looks great with a pickguard tho!
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

not the best pics in the world but should give you an idea. Top is contoured, a little flamed, not quite as red as in the pics and the finish is satin.

DSC_0038.jpg


DSC_0039.jpg
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

Transparent?

I always loved the look of those, even if rare.
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

I wouldn't put one on, see how you like it first. In saying that, I got fed up with double creams and no guard, so I recently put some old nickel covers on the pick ups and the guard back on. Surprisingly I like it more than I thought I would!
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

Took me a long time to decide but I went for it.

I have an R0 that had a pickguard and like the "feel" of playing with it. So I drilled my 2002 Std. and put on an R6 historic pickguard that I shaped for a Std.

I don't think I'll do it to my 1996 Classic Premium Plus however.
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

i have never seen an LP that i like with the pickguard on. it looks terrible. keep that mofo off.
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

+1 as well.

Solid color with a pick guard is a nice traditional look. A pick guard looks wrong on a more modern-looking LP (e.g., flame maple).
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

My personal preferance is without one for the most part. It is all in how YOU like your LP to look. I figure why cover up the Flamed Maple top if it has some on it too?
 
Re: Les Paul Pickguard Yes or No

My LP shaped hollow-body has no pickguard and I wouldn't consider adding one. To be honest I'm not sure why you're considering adding one to that Tokai or why they even have those small ugly guards in the first place.

Does your other half also think it isn't really a Les Paul because it's a Tokai or because it has P-90s? Because all that considered it still looks very much like a LP to me, and I wouldn't want some cheap white plastic covering that gorgeous FMT.
 
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