Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

[Jeff_H]

On your Les Paul....on or off?

I think I want to install mine, but I have to find one that matches the pup rings. The rings are cream, but the guard has that pinkish tint that throws it off. All of the Allparts rings I can find have the pinkish hue....yuck. The only Gibson one's I can find locally are historic parts, and they wont fit my standard.

Any suggestions (from anyone please) where to get the real cream ones? Even if I have to buy the pickup rings as well, I don't care.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

Mine is currently off on that R8. Not sure where to find them. allparts or stewmac?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

Thanks Scott.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

Jeff, I've noticed that Gibson does something peculiar on purpose. On most new Standards and Prem Plusses, they don't install the guard, and for some F'ed up reason decided to make the pickups rings and guard a different shade of cream. I think they did that to dissuade people from drilling the necessary holes to install it. I can't figure out any other reason. On mine, I left the guard off.......and partially because of that reason.

 

[benjaturner]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

I recently bought an Epi LP and one of the first things I did was take the pick gaurd off. They make such an otherwise beautiful guitar look gaudy and horrible, I think.

 

[grams]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

I recently bought an Epi LP and one of the first things I did was take the pick gaurd off. They make such an otherwise beautiful guitar look gaudy and horrible, I think.

+1 If the top is nice, then I dislike a pickguard. On "solidcolor" LP's it's ok...

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

Jeff, I've noticed that Gibson does something peculiar on purpose. On most new Standards and Prem Plusses, they don't install the guard, and for some F'ed up reason decided to make the pickups rings and guard a different shade of cream. I think they did that to dissuade people from drilling the necessary holes to install it. I can't figure out any other reason. On mine, I left the guard off.......and partially because of that reason.

That's EXACTLY what I'm running into. Most people would never notice the difference in color from 3 feet away, but I sure will. It's one of those QC issues that we've all been talking about. For a $2k guitar, all the **** should match. I've been looking for replacements, and don't care if I have to buy rings and pickguard, but everything seems to have that pinkish tint to it, as opposed to pure cream...Yuck.

I really am a traditionalist when it comes to the look of a Les Paul, and want the pickguard on....call me crazy. I'll post up some Pics of the LP tonight, and see what you all think.

 

[Old Ghost]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

I really am a traditionalist when it comes to the look of a Les Paul, and want the pickguard on....call me crazy.

+1 Same here. You're not crazy Bro, the Les Paul was designed with a Pickguard. It also adds to the Vintage appeal of the instrument. And that's the way it should be. It has a purpose. Famous players took the pickguards off on their LP's simply because it gets in the way of their playing style and not for "looks". Well, to each his own I guess, you can do whatever the heck you want with your guitar, it's yours.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Scott - What Did You Decide On The Pickguard?

I like the look of the pickguard on cherry sunburst, gold, and black. Traditional colors.

I like it better without the guard on most non-cherry flametops like honeyflame, blue, red, gray, etc.

If I were to install the guard on yours, I'd get the cream guard, rather than getting the tan/pink pickup rings. Gotta be tradional cream or nothing. That new tan color sucks!