Hummingbird pickguards, painted vs cast

[Jesse_Dylan]

 

I'm hoping these photos will illustrate the differences between the painted pickguards and the "flubber," cast, plastic, whatever guards. You can also see how I've framed my extras for safekeeping. :)

 

For backstory, the pickguard on my Hummingbird Vintage began to wear quickly, and I panicked for about a year. I played my Hummingbird much less than I'd liked because of this.

 

Ben Broyles from Gibson (who I think has Jeremy Morton's old job) caught me and graciously offered me a replacement pickguard of my choice, either another engraved one (which is correct for the model) or one of the plastic pickguards where the design is under the top and cannot wear off. He also said if I wanted I could have both, and I gleefully accepted.

 

Now, I have my spares framed, and I have been playing the heck out of my Hummingbird. So far the wear is relegated mostly to one flower (which is now almost entirely gone). I will carry on like this for a while, and if it gets so bad that I can't stand it, I'll probably put the non-wearable pickguard on and keep the other painted one in case I want to go back to correct specs. Or, maybe the peace of mind of having the two backup pickguards will keep me from worrying. :)

 

I really thank Ben for handling my neurosis, giving me options, and being fantastic.

 

He also said that if anyone else needs anything, I should feel free to pass his contact information along. He was using Jeremy's old e-mail address, but he probably has his own by now, so probably Ben.Broyles@gibson.com. He also let me know his direct line is 406-587-4117 x 4125. And finally, he is also registered here on the forum, so you could send him a PM.

 

Sorry for the delay in posting these photos. I'll try to take a new photo of my worn pickguard and post that sometime as well. Hopefully everyone who was interested in the whole deal will see this new thread. If not, I'll go back to the old one and PM people or post on it.

[Jesse_Dylan]

The plastic one is the speckly one, and the painted one is the more even reddish hued one. They both have the adhesive backing, so that is contributing to their color as well, and they'd look different without it or on an actual guitar.

[Buc McMaster]

......the pickguard on my Hummingbird Vintage began to wear quickly, and I panicked for about a year.

 

The wearing of the original painted Hummingbird pick guard is, to my way of thinking, part of the charm and the glory of the model......nothing to panic over. My Vintage came with the "covered up artwork" version, whatever it may be called, and is completely wrong for a supposed reissue of the classic Hummingbird. My dealer is supposed to be getting one of the surface etched/painted guards for me.......no word yet. Sent three emails to Gibson customer service.......no reply. Maybe Mr Ben can help. I want a guard I can wear the paint off.

[Josee]

The plastic one is the speckly one, and the painted one is the more even reddish hued one. They both have the adhesive backing, so that is contributing to their color as well, and they'd look different without it or on an actual guitar.

 

I prefer the look of the 2nd pic (or the "top" one in the frame). The details are finer with amazing and elegant details, and the "yellow" stands out as if it was gold paint. I don't know much about the pickguard's artwork specs, but both pickguards look awesome both ways. :)

 

Enjoy your guitar...

[fortyearspickn]

So, if I understand, I can just write Ben and he'll send me a couple of spare pick guards for my H'Bird TV ?

[seanp33]

Panicking over this is insane to me but glad you got it resolved to make you happy.

[Hall]

So, if I understand, I can just write Ben and he'll send me a couple of spare pick guards for my H'Bird TV ?

 

Yea, everyday huh.

[Smurfbird]

I have a '67 'Bird and I wouldn't mind having a few extra pick guards for framing!! How often do I need to complain?

[the other side]

I'm glad they sent you BOTH guards !!! Thanks for the comparisons. My opinion is that Gibson is making that extra effort to afford excellent customer satisfaction as

they did for me on my MC guard ! Of course, original registered owners. And as in Buc's case ( a lefty ),

wants to wear the Bird off ( comical to me ). I'll bet

Gibson says, "what the hell ? Dam if we do and dam if we don't ! " Kudos to CSvc again ! I'm glad they helped you out Jesse ! To me , it was a fine class act of Gibson

to have a happy satisfied customer. I don't want my bird to fly away either !!!!

[Jesse_Dylan]

Panicking over this is insane to me but glad you got it resolved to make you happy.

The wearing of the original painted Hummingbird pick guard is, to my way of thinking, part of the charm and the glory of the model......nothing to panic over. My Vintage came with the "covered up artwork" version, whatever it may be called, and is completely wrong for a supposed reissue of the classic Hummingbird. My dealer is supposed to be getting one of the surface etched/painted guards for me.......no word yet. Sent three emails to Gibson customer service.......no reply. Maybe Mr Ben can help. I want a guard I can wear the paint off.

They use different plastic and different paint on the new "old" pickguards. The originals on the 1960s models didn't wear in the same way. Sometimes they smeared, sometimes smeared off, and often they didn't wear at all. Mine wore off just from my anchor pinky, within a week of getting it. Panic is never a helpful or conscious action. For me, a $4000 dream guitar with the iconic pickguard design wearing off does equate panic, yes.

 

If I were you, I would get in touch with Ben, yes. I don't understand why your Vintage would come with the non-wearable pickguard since an etched and painted "correct" pickguard is one of the features of the model.

 

So, if I understand, I can just write Ben and he'll send me a couple of spare pick guards for my H'Bird TV ?

I have a '67 'Bird and I wouldn't mind having a few extra pick guards for framing!! How often do I need to complain?

If you're the original owner, you might only have to complain once to the right ear. In the case of non-original owners, I'm not sure. I'm also not sure if anyone has ever been sent spare Hummingbird pickguards before.

[OldCowboy]

Decent customer service has always been an issue with Gibson, depending on the issue at hand. It was easy to get replacement pickguards in Kalamazoo, but you were expected to pay for 'em unless you shipped the guitar or dropped it off at the factory. Even then, you might find yourself with an item that didn't correspond to original specs - an adjustable bridge, perhaps, on a guitar that didn't originally have one. Whatever they're doing now, it is what it is.

 

Jesse - I'm very glad you got what you needed!

[fortyearspickn]

I NEED two H'Bird pick guards !

Well, Mick and Keith might say I only WANT them.

And if I try sometime.....I just might find....

Seriously, I don't know if I agree that a business improves the public's perception of 'customer service' by giving away free stuff like engraved pick guards.

Because you can't sustain that policy. You would have to increase the price of H'Birds to cover the cost of 2 additional pick guards plus shipping. Then, you'd have raised everyone's expectations to feel the saddle should be tusk vs bone (or visa versa in the Standard), and provide an extra saddle or two. I'm not sure what Kalamazoo's customer service approach was back 50 years ago - but, given the times and expectations of the public, I doubt they gave away free engraved pick guards. I agree with Buc - these pick guards should show some wear. Last thing I want my wife to ask is "Do you ever even actually play that thing?"

[Jesse_Dylan]

Check out the Hummingbird Owners' thread. Ain't much pickguard wear in there on the '60s models. I have definitely seen worn ones (Thom York's is a good example, though it's more smeared which is certainly not how mine went down--mine was more like chipping), but I've seen more that aren't worn. Fact seems to be that the originals were more tolerant of fingers and picks than today's. Some might consider pickguard wear a feature. I don't, particularly, and if my new pants get holes in the first two weeks, I'm not thrilled about that either. I do agree that getting two extra pickguards seems a little too good to be true and perhaps even sets a dangerous precedent. I may have just lucked out x100. But like Cowboy said, I'm just glad it happened and really happy for my mental insurance policy and beautiful wall art.

[OldCowboy]

I NEED two H'Bird pick guards !

Well, Mick and Keith might say I only WANT them.

And if I try sometime.....I just might find....

Seriously, I don't know if I agree that a business improves the public's perception of 'customer service' by giving away free stuff like engraved pick guards.

Because you can't sustain that policy. You would have to increase the price of H'Birds to cover the cost of 2 additional pick guards plus shipping. Then, you'd have raised everyone's expectations to feel the saddle should be tusk vs bone (or visa versa in the Standard), and provide an extra saddle or two. I'm not sure what Kalamazoo's customer service approach was back 50 years ago - but, given the times and expectations of the public, I doubt they gave away free engraved pick guards. I agree with Buc - these pick guards should show some wear. Last thing I want my wife to ask is "Do you ever even actually play that thing?"

As I said, earlier on, you were expected to pay for your stuff - warranty issues were resolved only with Gibson having the instrument in hand, which required you to drop the thing off yourself or get it shipped with the proper paperwork included/pre-authorized and such. No freebies that I was aware of. I did score a Dove guard from an employee once - it was destined for scrap (I was told) cause it was colored in a way that made it look like the noble Dove was taking a mighty bird crap.