Scratchplate.....................?

[Michael2003x]

Hello all

 

I know this must have been asked a million times before, but if you have an LP without the scratchplate attached, would you leave it off or have it fitted? I have a 2008 standard in Honeyburst and the top is gorgeous. I love the way it looks without the plate but would like to hear the pros and cons. Thanks

[colski]

If YOU love the way it looks, and it doesn't affect your playing, then forget what WE all think, just leave it off!

Personally I rest my pinky on the plate, that's why mine stays on, but I wouldn't let how it looks affect my opinion at all.

 

Can't think of any cons as such, although I'm sure someone will come along and say that taking it off affects the sustain.

 

[Gibson For Life]

I recently bought a 2008 standard & thinking about the same thing regarding the scratchplate,

& have decided to have it installed.. i think it looks a little more classic when fitted.

But besides the look factor, i wanna protect the top against fingernail & pick scratching.

 

It just comes down to personal taste & preference i guess,

Hope this helps & good luck with your new Gibson.

[deepblue]

I like it both ways. Ill leave it on, and then take it off for a while and enjoy the flame.

[L5Larry]

I used to remove the raised pickguards/fingerrests from my Gibsons because I thought it looked better to have more wood showing, and less plastic. I have now put them back on the ES and the L's, but left it off the LP.

 

As my playing style evolved, I realized the important function of the raised "fingerrest", especially on the L-5 and L-7, as somewhere to put a finger or two (or edge of the hand) to keep your hand in good playing position. This seems especially important on the L series guitars because of the height of the strings off the body in the picking area is about 1".

 

The height of the strings in this area is not nearly as much of a factor on an LP or ES. I've found I've developed a hand rest style similar to Dickie Betts, where I kind of hook my last two fingers on adjacent sides (bottom and front) of the bridge pickup ring. Take a look at photos of Dickies goldtop and you'll see what I mean from the wear on the finish. My personal opinion is that an LP just "looks" better without the pickguard, and serves no real "physical" function for playability.

 

Although the pickguard is really not needed as a fingerrest on the ES-345 either, I have reinstalled it for purely aestitic reasons. The face of a vintage or historic 345 is so busy anyway, with the four knobs, switch, jack and varitone, that even without it it looked "busy". So I put the pickguard back on it for reasons of "originality.

 

So I guess I make this decision on a combination of form and function. If it serves no real function, I go for form. If it does have an important function, I weght the merits of it's function over form.

[Benoit Trow]

Forgive my impertinence as I’m rather new here, but someone recently posted about a removable pick guard that is elevated by a ball-shaped, non-permanent gel, while still attaching to the pick-up rings.

 

I've personally never used the pick guard that used to come attached to all LPs, but now that I'm hankerin' for a new "old" one, I would definitely want to check this removable one out!

 

...Bueller? ...Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

 

Trow

[BigKahune]

...someone recently posted about a removable pick guard that is elevated by a ball-shaped' date=' non-permanent gel, while still attaching to the pick-up rings. I've personally never used the pick guard that used to come attached to all LPs, but now that I'm hankerin' for a new "old" one, I would definitely want to check this removable one out![/quote']

 

I got two LPs, one with and one without a pickguard attached. I'm on board with what L5Larry says, and I don't miss it on my LP without a pickguad. I also don't have a problem with pic scratches on my electrics, but on on my acoustics, aggressive strumming for volume requires a pickguard. I do plant/drag my finger on the LP without a pickguard though, washing my hands before I play keeps the scratches down, but the finish will eventually dull.

 

About the removable pickguard - some guys will paint the screw heads to match the finish and put the screws back after removing the pickguard. Stealth. Also, make sure any parts of your "removable" pickguard" that touch or rest on the finish do not react with the lacquer finish - bad news.

[LT ED]

Im in the no camp.

[Aaresz]

Technically it is a finger rest, not a pick guard. It just happens to protect the body also. I personally don't think a Les Paul looks right without it.

 

 

Bobby Lee makes a good screwless version.

[Flight959]

Its all personal opinion. I'd usually say off but I tend to change my mind depending on which guitar it is...

 

I couldnt bare the thought of drilling holes in a nice top...

 

Regards

[Foxboron]

Technically it is a finger rest' date=' not a pick guard. It just happens to protect the body also. I personally don't think a Les Paul looks right without it.

 

 

Bobby Lee makes a good screwless version.

 

fix you link...

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/business-classifieds/926-screwless-pickguards.html

[ant7629]

I had it fitted to my 2008 Standard, but left it off my 07. I guess its all down to how it looks against the finish, and it really didn't compliment the tobacco burst of my 07. Word of warning though...... Check that your scratch plate fits! I know it sounds a bit weird, but I took mine to be fitted and the shape was really off. Luckily, the luthier pointed it out and it would have way off if fitted.

 

I went back to the store and they gave another which is fine.

 

If its Honeyburst, I would go for it. Looks great on my Traditional:

 

[pitahui2]

I just added the Bobby Lee screw less pick guard to my 2008 cherry sunburst. Worked out great. Didn't want to drill holes in such a nice piece of wood.