SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Well, a batwing pickguard is hard to do without.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

They do make SGs routed from the back with no guard, like the Derek Trucks SG. Probably one of the best SGs you could get these days.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Do a google search for Sg images.

I've just done this recently as I'm about to do a carved top SG scratch build.....you have to have the right type of SG for no guard to work.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Yeah,
I did search google "SG images". Thing is, my spinal disease (the long part). I can play upright for about an hour if my
Guitar is 6 pounds or less. I weight relieved my LP jr. From 7 pounds to 6 pounds ( a lot of weight relief). A lot.
My SG was 7.5 and I have got it down to 6.6, yes, I really can feel it.
If I keep the pickgaurd on I can remove all the wood under the pickgaurd and get to 6 pounds. If my groceries are more tha 6 pounds, it hurts to take them home. Heavier guitar, I spasm up and have to sit. I must stand to feel the music onstage and interact with the audience and band. I am crippled, yes, but I do not want to sit.
I hate the idea of removing the wood, and like the look of both, with or without. Guess it's up to me. Derek's looks cool w/ no pickgaurd, but I thought I'd get some really strong views on how one look is cooler than the other. I guess by talking out loud to you folks makes me realize if I don't lose that weight I won't play it. So thanks for helping me think.
BTW - I have a broader edge one side pickgaurd that looks much more snazzy than the short beveled one. I like the wider bevel showing more white edge. Well, OK, thank you,
Steve Buffington
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Under such circumstances the question of pickguard or not is moot: do what is comfortable! I don't think you'll find any SG fan who hates this look:

SGAYACNH_An_g1.jpg


Have you considered getting one from Warmoth, or from a similar supplier? You could probably get one in lighter wood then.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Forget the SG and get a Johnny A. 6.0 lbs as is. Rock your socks off.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Thanks all,
It would coast a lot to have Warmouth do it. And I can no longer justify, at my age, another $1,000.00 in total or more with new p'ups, etc, painting costs, etc. etc. but thanks for the recommendation.
Think I'll go with that small "Cream era" pickgaurd with the wider white 3 ply edge, the more I think of it the more I like it.
It does belong there, after all.
Steve Buffington
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

In my opinion, the look of the pickguard isn't the issue. SG's teeter on the edge of being neck heavy by design. If you remove wood from the body, you run the risk of ending up with a neck heavy guitar. Then, you'll see that using your fretting hand to hold up the neck will cause you more pain than a guitar that's 1/4 lb. heavier.

The weight distribution on an SG is due to the thinner body, strap button position, and Grover tuners, unless it has lighter Klusons.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

In my opinion, the look of the pickguard isn't the issue. SG's teeter on the edge of being neck heavy by design. If you remove wood from the body, you run the risk of ending up with a neck heavy guitar. Then, you'll see that using your fretting hand to hold up the neck will cause you more pain than a guitar that's 1/4 lb. heavier.

The weight distribution on an SG is due to the thinner body, strap button position, and Grover tuners, unless it has lighter Klusons.

Both of mine, third on the way, have Klusons. Most SGs do I think. I think he could remove some weight in the body and just move the strap button to the back of the upper horn to compensate.
But it NEEDS a pickguard. NEEDS! SGs without them are not right. :bigok:
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

I solved the neck drop a long time ago.
I screwed on a small flat really long piece of hardware aluminum, then scored it till the top was even with the 17th fret or so, where the stop button is on a les Paul for example. Look at the horn button on a Strat, look over in a straight line and you will see the button it self lines up about the same place, on the 17th or 18 fret.
I put my strap lock there right across from my SG's neck at the 17th fret, and I can't make it drop. Not only that, it now does not bend away from my body, but keeps the top of the body tight to my body.
I rested a half pound of weights on the neck to be sure, and it still wouldn't drop. I painted the aluminum a satin black, the strap lock too, and you can't even see it. Check out my FB page, and there are a couple shots with the bar on it. You can see it if you look. If not FB me for a while as I have many shots of it to be found. I did not put the photos up, my friend Sherry did
It for me, or I would post a picture here. I don't know how to do it, last time someone told me how I had to call apple.com for help to get my Mac running again.
I hope you get the idea. I tried to explain this years ago, got made a little fun of, one posted a picture of his attempt, which was like mine, but crude and he gave up. Mine is streamlined, it's beautiful and I am proud of myself.
Thank you (if you wanna friend me, look then unfriend, there will be no harm done, just put the word forum or something so I know who it is) or message me your name then I will friend you, for as long as you need.
Steve Buffington Oh, and yeah, I agree now: PICKGAURD!
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

I wanted to add why this works,
Moving the strap button so it is parallel the 17th fret changes the CENTER OF GRAVITY.
Thanks again.
Steve Buffington
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

I know Tony Iommi moves his strap button to the horn. I think your way sounds more 'safe', but I am sure he can replace cracked horns very easily.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Mincer,
My thin bar has 2 screws attaching itself to the back of the body, which I used Titebond ll so it is really on there,
and does not put any strain on the horn at all. Like I say, I love the way it now tilts toward me like a Strat, no more looking "over" to see the frets.
Thanks every one, as far as weight goes, the amount of wood taken off, and I measured a piece of mahogany a little bigger than the pickgaurd is only 1 ounce, so I'll leave that alone. The band I'm in does not do subtle very much, so I lay on the
bridge all the time. The pickup weighs about 4-5 ounces, making it ideal to save a little back strain. This is like lightening the
LEM for the moon landing! Anyway, if I can't figure a decent looking way to remove the neck p'up, then I will just do as is
The small pickgaurd is the wide bevel one and looks very cool. Way better than the small angle it came with.
Thank you all,
Steve Buffington
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

I solved the neck drop a long time ago.
I screwed on a small flat really long piece of hardware aluminum, then scored it till the top was even with the 17th fret or so, where the stop button is on a les Paul for example. Look at the horn button on a Strat, look over in a straight line and you will see the button it self lines up about the same place, on the 17th or 18 fret.
I put my strap lock there right across from my SG's neck at the 17th fret, and I can't make it drop. Not only that, it now does not bend away from my body, but keeps the top of the body tight to my body.
I rested a half pound of weights on the neck to be sure, and it still wouldn't drop. I painted the aluminum a satin black, the strap lock too, and you can't even see it. Check out my FB page, and there are a couple shots with the bar on it. You can see it if you look. If not FB me for a while as I have many shots of it to be found. I did not put the photos up, my friend Sherry did
It for me, or I would post a picture here. I don't know how to do it, last time someone told me how I had to call apple.com for help to get my Mac running again.
I hope you get the idea. I tried to explain this years ago, got made a little fun of, one posted a picture of his attempt, which was like mine, but crude and he gave up. Mine is streamlined, it's beautiful and I am proud of myself.
Thank you (if you wanna friend me, look then unfriend, there will be no harm done, just put the word forum or something so I know who it is) or message me your name then I will friend you, for as long as you need.
Steve Buffington Oh, and yeah, I agree now: PICKGAURD!

By chance do you have any pics? Thanks.
 
Re: SG's - Pick guard or no pick guard. Heritage Cherry,

Pic's I don't know how to post.
But you can see them on my FB page. Someone else put them up for me.
Friend me long enough and there are many pictures of this, believe me I swear to the god that be. In fact please friend me long enough to prove every word I said is true. When I tried to explain this maybe 4-5 years ago no one understood me, or said I was trolling or I was just plain poo-poo'd and fobbed off. One guy put up a pic that was like my idea but it was messy and I was shamed enough to drop the post. Read me carefully as you have done and throw in the fact that it changes the center of gravity to the neck pick up, and the guitar also now leans toward you, I swear, this is a million dollar deal. It could be added with a buy-able mod, but for now have to use 2 screws, but I bet there is a way to do it with no screws.
Every one, I dare you, in a friendly way, grab your SG, leave the end pin on the butt alone, and just for purposes of proof, tie the top end of your strap, use string if needed, on the 16 or 17 fret, and wham - NO MORE neck drop.
I don't know any other way of explaining it. Frustrating, as I am extremely proud of it.
Thank you,
Steve Buffington
 
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