Jjunk Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Hi everyone. I'm replacing the pickguard on my L-00 Pro and thought this might make a fun poll. For some reason I just never liked the original dark red tortoise-ish material that Gibson used on these. I've cut two new ones, but can't decide which one I like better! Your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 . No pickguard looks good to me. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I like the one on the right you call tiger, I call fire stripe. I'm curious as to where you got this particular material ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasAK Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Hands down- Tiger (fire stripe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Yeah, fire stripe is the only thing that looks right to me on an L00. Works particularly well on the blonde finish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jjunk Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Thanks everyone! I was kind of hoping to leave it with no pickguard, but can't quite get over the farmer's tan... For those curious, these are from the "tortoloid" material blanks available at StewMac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 It is your guitar so my opinion does not amount to a hill of beans. But if it were me I would pick neither of those two. I would go more in these directions. Again, just me though. Here is a late 1930s Gibson version. A different take on the firestripe - my mid-1930s Schmidt Galiano Jumbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I'm obviously in the minority here; I just can't like tigerstrip guards. To me a pickguard oughta be tortoise, no matter what or where. Nice guitar whichever way you go. Later: OK, the bottom guard on ZW's post I could love!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I may be on my own on this one but I have always liked what I got in the habit of calling Dalmatian pickguards. I first saw one on an old Gretsch Folksinger but Martin used something similar in the 1930s. About the closest I can think of is the scratchplate on the Martin Clarence White guitar. I think Greven calls these light tortoise shell guards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Personally, I prefer the tiger-stripe, but I own guitars with all three patterns and at the end-of-the-day it doesn't mean a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacamartin Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Neither............I'd go black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Later: OK, the bottom guard on ZW's post I could love!! That is the one the repair guy copied when he made a new pickguard for my 1942-J50 (the original was missing and he wanted to go with a firestripe just because he likes them). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 ... I was kind of hoping to leave it with no pickguard, but can't quite get over the farmer's tan... If you give it some time, and a bit of indirect sunlight, the tan line will soon darken. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarjtb Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I like this one: https://reverb.com/item/216706-firestipe-pickguard-for-re-issues-or-1930-s-j-35-aj-l-00-and-advanced-jumbo Full disclosure: Yes, it is mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I do like a pick guard with character! The last pic in Zomby's post ia a perfect example. I must say, and don't be hatin' on me for this, the most attractive PG I've seen in a while is on my Martin HD-28. A blend of tortoise and firestripe! It just explodes when the light hits it! Have a look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jjunk Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 guitarjtb - I swear I went to buy this one a couple weeks ago and somebody had snatched it up just before me! Must have been a very similar one... beautiful indeed. An underlying dilemma: Currently, mine is cut to a radius that covers the sound hole rosette (aligned with the inside diameter). This is how the original Gibson one was, and now I know why... once removed, the craft of the actual rosette kind of sucks. The binding material they used was short by about 1/16" and this less-than-pretty gap was placed at an awkward angle and swept under the rug (or pickguard I should say). I'll never prefer Taylor's or others to my Gibsons, but I really appreciate their attention to detail and how they place these "seams" at a symmetrical angle aligned with the neck instead of attempting to hide them. Sorry... a little OCD there :) Thanks everyone for sharing, and yes, nothing beats those 80-year-old ones... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Tortoise. Tiger clashes with the grain. IMO, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarjtb Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 guitarjtb - I swear I went to buy this one a couple weeks ago and somebody had snatched it up just before me! Must have been a very similar one... beautiful indeed. An underlying dilemma: Currently, mine is cut to a radius that covers the sound hole rosette (aligned with the inside diameter). This is how the original Gibson one was, and now I know why... once removed, the craft of the actual rosette kind of sucks. The binding material they used was short by about 1/16" and this less-than-pretty gap was placed at an awkward angle and swept under the rug (or pickguard I should say). I'll never prefer Taylor's or others to my Gibsons, but I really appreciate their attention to detail and how they place these "seams" at a symmetrical angle aligned with the neck instead of attempting to hide them. Sorry... a little OCD there :) Thanks everyone for sharing, and yes, nothing beats those 80-year-old ones... Sorry you missed the other one. It went to Pennsylvania. This is another one and is one of the last ones I have, and it has a slight blemish. I need to gear my shop up and make a few more soon. I make mine to fit the outside edge of the rosette, the way they were on the vintage ones. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Firestripe JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
father_of_pearl Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I voted tiger-firestripe for the vintage vibe of this model. I was about to ask you "why hide the rosette" but you gave the answer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Out of just those three choices I'd go with the tiger as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarLight Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 No acoustic guitar looks complete to me without a pick guard...and the Tiger pick guard, is the one I find most appealing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jjunk Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 Finished. I trimmed it to the outside of the rosette after all. Also, I know this is a different topic, but this guitar is about 100x more responsive after removing the element pickup! I had a bone saddle installed previously (with pickup still present) that didn't do much at all, but removing that under saddle strip and having a taller bone saddle made to compensate made this thing truly come to life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarjtb Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Finished. I trimmed it to the outside of the rosette after all. Also, I know this is a different topic, but this guitar is about 100x more responsive after removing the element pickup! I had a bone saddle installed previously (with pickup still present) that didn't do much at all, but removing that under saddle strip and having a taller bone saddle made to compensate made this thing truly come to life! I think it looks great. Good choice. It looks much better in this picture than in the original picture you posted. Congrats. Saddle fit is very important to the sound. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gasman Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I was the guy who bought James's latest fire stripe pickguard. I bought it for my LG2 AE and its a beauty but I am not quite sure I am going to use it. I do really like the look of no pickguard. Pickguards are so common on Acoustics - it is nice to see some without. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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