Comments on: Do Pickguards Impact Guitar Tone?

By: Jeffrey Levinton

Jeffrey Levinton — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:55:06 +0000

Just heard a talk by luthier John Monteleone, who thought that pickguard size and location had significant effects on tone and sound projection of archtop guitars historically. Pick guards were more massive on these instruments and there was a strong influence of the use of pickups, such as floating pickups. In my own experience with acoustic guitars, I had a Collings OM3 cutaway built for me in the 90s and the pickguard was barely attached and came off when it arrived. I had the feeling that Bill Collings did not want to attach the thing. He sure knew how to build one.

By: Farmer Mullins

Farmer Mullins — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:24:50 +0000

I have an ltd with a cut out with no pick guard.should I put one on it, it’s a great sounding guitar.

By: Everett Bonds

Everett Bonds — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 13:51:08 +0000

I had a crack on a Fender Villager dead center in the back face. I don’t believe it had anything do do with the pick guitars. Just a crappy made guitar. I think the thick clear lawyer was so thick there was no way that top or back could vibrate at all. I took that ugly pick off and installed a black Martinique guard, which improved its looks but not its sound. Personally, I don’t think a pick guard makes any difference one way or the other. It is how the guitar is built. My first Martin, D-41, was a cannon and (2009) had a thick pickguard. My second (D-41) 2019 and had a thin pickguard and well, it’s there. Maybe it’ll open up in the next ten years? My first I gave to my nephew because the neck was just too small (1 11/16). Pickguards have little to do with sound production, in my humble view.