Pickguard Choice question

[MetalManiac]

Lets say one just got a Soild Koa Strat w/ Koa neck. Furthermore, lets assume that one did not like the plastic pickguard on it. If one wanted to put a wood pickguard on it, and one was thinking of either a Maple (Spalted or Flamed) , a Walnut ( Claro, English , or Black) or maybe a Mahogany ( African / Flamed ) pickguard, what do you think one would be best off choosing?;

SPALTED MAPLE GUARD;

CLARO WALNUT;

ENGLISH WALNUT;

BLACK WALNUT;

OR PERHAPS MAHOGANY?;

FLAMED MAHOGANY?;

 

[Benthedemon007]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Lets say one just got a Soild Koa Strat w/ Koa neck. Furthermore, lets assume that one did not like the plastic pickguard on it. If one wanted to put a wood pickguard on it, and one was thinking of either a spalted maple or a Walnut pickguard, what do you thinlk one wou;ld be best off choosing?;

SPALTED MAPLE GUARD;

CLARO WALNUT;

ENGLISH WALNUT;

BLACK WALNUT;

I'd go with the spalted maple.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

I would go with one that contrasts the wood otherwise it doesn't look right. But then I would have put a black plastic one on it.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

thanks for replies. At this point I am undecided as to the moderate darkness of Claro or the lightness of the Flamed Mahogany. Plus they are also the least expensive. I would be worried that the Spalted maple and English Mahogany would be too much of a contrast in color and also too flamey.. Also I would be concerned that the black Walnut would be too dark, and that the plain Mahogany would be too grainy .

 

[jtougas]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Yeah, I'd do an unstained flame maple or something... something with some contrast...

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

OK, people have mentioned Contrast, and those that have, said that preferred the lighter Maple. But there is also the darker contrast, and I wonder if anyone prefers the stark contrast of the darker woods in particular the darkest of the woods which I guess would be Black Walnut?

Looks like everything contrasts to an extent. I actually think that if I was going to go light color contrast, I'd go with the Flame Mahogany, which if true to the picture, would be somewhat like Flamed Maple?

As far as plastic. Ugh, iDK, for some reason on this particular guitar I cringe when I see plastic on it. Would probably even add wood knobs. even the pickups would have to be plain wrapped fiber.



As you can see, the headstock looks about the same color as the body;

A best match might be a Koa pickguard, but I can't find one . I was also thinking of a total contrast in color tone/ tint/ shade would Dark Ebony, but I cannot find one of them either.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Stain one.

 

[Open lane]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

I also agree that it could look cool with a lighter contrast. The black walnut sounds nice but woiuld it appear far dif from a black plastic one from a distance?

 

[Laimac]

Pickguard Choice question

Dark contrast if it MUST be wood (black plastic looks good) or maybe some brushed metal? Issue with the woods is that the grains will likely clash...
One thing you could do is take a vertical pic of the geetar and superimpose the pickguards. Even with little to no retouching, it will give you a better idea IMO.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Awesome guitar! Love Koa!

How about a Wenge?

View attachment 74259

EDIT: Stained Maple would be awesome!

 

[cvansickle]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

One could get beaten up for referring to one's self as "one."

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Personally I think all the ones you showed are too close in color to the Koa. This is coming from a guy ("one" you might say) who has been selling paint for almost 30 years and has helped thousands of people with color coordination over that time.

When two different pieces of wood are close-ish in color but not quite there, it just looks like you tried to match them but didn't do a good job of it. I'd go for a contrast, and furthermore I'd personally say something like a very light maple guard.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Personally I think all the ones you showed are too close in color to the Koa. This is coming from a guy ("one" you might say) who has been selling paint for almost 30 years and has helped thousands of people with color coordination over that time.

When two different pieces of wood are close-ish in color but not quite there, it just looks like you tried to match them but didn't do a good job of it. I'd go for a contrast, and furthermore I'd personally say something like a very light maple guard.

Excellent point. What would you think of black? I used a black (ebonized Mahogany) on this project:

I like wooden pickguards, have used them in a couple projects. They wear out differently than plastic–awesome look in time.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

I liked the pickguard in the first pic the "Spalted Maple". Not only does it offset the reddish hue of the Koa wood nicely but, adding it to a Koa body which is much like Mahogany tonally, the maple will add a little sparkle and clarity to the tone. Flamed Acacia is very pretty too.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Excellent point. What would you think of black? I used a black (ebonized Mahogany) on this project:

I like wooden pickguards, have used them in a couple projects. They wear out differently than plastic–awesome look in time.

Black would look good too... I'm just personally a fan of light-colored guards on darker guitars.


[emoji450] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

I liked the pickguard in the first pic the "Spalted Maple". Not only does it offset the reddish hue of the Koa wood nicely but, adding it to a Koa body which is much like Mahogany tonally, the maple will add a little sparkle and clarity to the tone. Flamed Acacia is very pretty too.

Not to be argumentative, but I've not experienced any change in tone between wood and plastic pickguards.

Have you experienced it?

Black would look good too... I'm just personally a fan of light-colored guards on darker guitars.


[emoji450] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]

I agree on the light-colored guards on darker guitars, especially when painted. Wood grain opens up a whole can of worms with stuff that clashes with the grain.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

Gold Mirror

:headbang:

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

What about clear to show more of the Koa?

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

If I were sticking with plastic, I'd go tortoise. If using wood then anice burl veneer.
I think that the Koa is light enough to warrant a darker contrasting pickguard that also
comes closer to the rosewood board.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Pickguard Choice question

I'm kinda with the majority on this one. You have darker contrast already, but getting something else dark might be too much so go with a natural plain maple guard.