New Les Paul - Pick Guard On Or Off?

Yes, some LPs have nice wood that shouldn't be hidden. My Epi Traditional Pro III Plus LE.

And with the arched top, if you're careful with the pick you shouldn't need it.

On my latest I prefer the classic look with cream PG and poker chip, so it depends on the guitar.
The OP LP is beautiful wood and shouldn't be covered.

 

My vote is for off, until its time to put it on.

 

I get carried away and play with a little too much follow-through sometimes and my darned pick can inflict damage quickly. I have a beautiful LP that came without a pickguard, and within the first hour on it I whupped it. The next day it received a nice scratch plate, and under that plate is a nice scratch.

 

I've always liked the look better without, especially if the top is nice and yours is nice. Ditch the guard. If you get dings or crazing, that's just character and a well loved & oft played guitar deserves a little character, don't you think?

-m

 

Yea, this. Not liking that big white slab of plastic. I'd be curious to see it photocopied with an aluminum guard.

 

Sweet! Off

 

Off... Always off, Its the first thing I do before I change my strings. LP's and Gretsch's

 

+1 for pickguard off, PokerChip off and top-wrap!

 

That's a rather nice/interesting plain top IMO, and I like this one with the guard off. I almost always like the guard off of LPs when they have open bobbin pickups, and the guard on with covered pickups. The gold lampshades look nice on there, but I'd be tempted to throw some gold reflectors on there for a classy late 70s/early 80s look.

 

Since I play with a heavy hand I leave them on. In your case the guitar looks great with it off or on.

 

i normally like pick guards in bht rather it off on this one, its a very nice looking les paul.

 

Hubby said “on” is like a bikini model wearing a muumuu....LOL

 

I didn't read other responses, but I'm a pick guard on guy because when I was a kid I'd draw pictures of Jimmy Page and he had the pick guard on. On the other hand sometimes it's nice to see the wood patterns.

 

I vote off If you can't decide, clear is always a good option

 

I like the look of your LP without the pickguard. Dunno why.

I had two LPCs, a white 1974 (which I sold) which I left the pickguard on, and a black 1972 LE reissue of a 1954 w/ P90s (which I still have) which I took the pickguard off. To me, the white LPC looked better with the black pickguard on as it accentuated the other black trim items (witch hat knobs, black/white binding, black headstock faceplate). The black LPC to me looks better with the black pickguard off (blackout look with a bit of gold trim). I don't use a pick BUT still I find my nails do come into contact with the top and that will eventually start to whittle away the finish. This hasn't had much effect on the LPC so far, but on my old ('61) Guild Starfire (also pickguard off) this has resulted in some wear to the finish near the treble E string. There's not going to be enough time that I will ever make it resemble Trigger, and as others have stated it is a sign of character and a well favored instrument.

 

C,

As you can clearly see, it's a personal preference thing.

The guard, from the photos, seems to pretty much match the white/cream color of the PU surrounds, and the salt & pepper PU covers.

Just my opinion, but the guard does ad nice detail to an other ''plain looking guitar''.

Besides, better to ''pick scratch'' the guard, than the top of the guitar.

Just me.

A poor example, I'll admit, but ''Old Black'', somewhat saved by a pick-guard...

BIB.