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A Strat pickguard I can actually get behind

  • Thread starter Thread starter SlartiBartfast
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SlartiBartfast

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I'm not a fan of top-routed guitars. I know that must sound like sacrilege to the Fender purists out there, but having a hunk of plastic on the top of a guitar just doesn't feel right to me. While my preference will always remain to have rear-routed guitars, I saw this while browsing on eBay and thought it was actually pretty cool. While this is too pricey for me, I think it's an awesome option for my very specific tastes!


Screen shot 2014-12-21 at 6.24.32 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flaming-Maple-Wood-Veneer-Pickguard-Strat-Style-Boutique-Warmoth-Quality-AAAA-/251761728633?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a9e2b1c79
 
It is a beautiful pickguard that is for sure! Could make a fun build if you every stumble upon a top route. Nothing wrong with rear routes either though  :toothy11:
 
There's been a few people kicking these out for a few years now. I avoid top routes too, but this would solve my peculiar problem: the reason I REALLY don't like them is that I often play when it's very quiet, real early in the morning (late at night?), unplugged. And the sound of relatively thin electric strings bouncing off of plastic is pretty, well, plastic.
Can't figure out why... :icon_scratch:
 
How does it defeat the purpose of a pickguard? They exist mainly to guard the finish from your pick, hence the name. Does that one not do that? I understand that on many guitars they're also a mechanical necessity to the design for mounting various components, but that one handles that duty as well.
 
Cagey said:
How does it defeat the purpose of a pickguard? They exist mainly to guard the finish from your pick, hence the name. Does that one not do that? I understand that on many guitars they're also a mechanical necessity to the design for mounting various components, but that one handles that duty as well.
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Pickguards are more for cosmetic appeal than "guarding" the guitar from your pick. In fact, of all my electric guitars, only two have a "pickguard", as they are really not necessary unless you just like the way they look.

And on a top-routed guitar body, what is it really protecting? That big cavity in the middle of the guitar??
 
If you have a poly finished guitar, you may be right.  A pickguard is not strictly necessary and probably confers minimal benefit.  But on guitars with more fragile finishes, the pickguard really can spare you alot of wear and tear.  My green telecaster is finished in finished in lacquer and my fingerpicking has chewed it all to hell. 
 
Bagman67 said:
If you have a poly finished guitar, you may be right.  A pickguard is not strictly necessary and probably confers minimal benefit.  But on guitars with more fragile finishes, the pickguard really can spare you alot of wear and tear.  My green telecaster is finished in finished in lacquer and my fingerpicking has chewed it all to hell.
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Yeah, that's a very valid point.
 
Nice pick-guard that someone spent a lot of time and effort constructing. However a decimal thickness for an unshielded 5 ply pick-guard would be nice to know if installing a 22 fret neck. And...IMO the demo body color should have been white or black...anything but a washed out orange.
:party07: :cool01: :guitarplayer2:
 
Not too fond of these, just like I'm not into tortoise pickguards and stuff like that.

However, I do imagine a blue quilt maple top with red quilt pickguard would look pretty good.

But then again, I'm a solid color finish guy, and like plain colors like white, red, black and so on  :icon_biggrin:
 
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