D-40 Ritche Havens' extra pickguard .

[FinallygotaGuild]

Got a question for you fine folks out there in Guild Land. I have a D-40 Ritchie Havens Signature. It comes with an extra pickguard for above the sound hole. I haven't put it on yet mainly because I'm thinking would it lower the resale value of the guitar should somthing ever happen to me. (My girlfriend Kathy would get the guitars.) :wink: I know there are a few of you out there who have this same model Guild. 8) What do you all think. I think it would look cool 8) but would anyone else think so later. :?

 

[Scratch]

I think it is a matter of taste. As much as I admire Richie, I just can't put that top pickguard on. Just my opinion, but I think it looks better without it. Bonnie Raitt has two pickguards on her F50: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXVoOgwi ... re=related

 

[tjmangum]

I was tempted to put mine on and then I discovered it didn't match the color of the factory installed one. Richie looks cool with his, but I don't play like Richie and one pickguard works just fine.
tj

 

[Dr. Spivey]

I'm a Richie Havens fan as well, but I don't like double pickguards on any guitar.

If you've ever seen Richie play, he needs them, and they probably wear out. :shock:

 

[chazmo]

I'm a Richie Havens fan as well, but I don't like double pickguards on any guitar.

If you've ever seen Richie play, he needs them, and they probably wear out. :shock:

Exactly. He destroys guitars. Bonnie, on the other hand... I think that's just her trademark.

 

[AlohaJoe]

I can only imagine about 5 good reasons to put it on.

1. You play like Richie Havens and you don't want to destroy your guitar.
2. You want to learn to play like Richie Havens.
3. You want to look like you play like Richie Havens.
4. You are Richie Havens.
5. You want to deaden the acoustic response of a perfectly good guitar, and
limit your re-sale options to people from categories 1-5. :lol:

 

[chazmo]

I can only imagine about 5 good reasons to put it on.

1. You play like Richie Havens and you don't want to destroy your guitar.
2. You want to learn to play like Richie Havens.
3. You want to look like you play like Richie Havens.
4. You are Richie Havens.
5. You want to deaden the acoustic response of a perfectly good guitar, and
limit your re-sale options to people from categories 1-5. :lol:

There's no way my left thumb is even remotely capable of 1 - 4.

Hey, so do you think the extra pickguard really has noticeable influence on tone?

 

[AlohaJoe]

Hey, so do you think the extra pickguard really has noticeable influence on tone?

Yes, I do. I think you lose some high overtones and some volume too because the soundboard isn't moving as freely. Probably not much, but I'd bet that the volume and tonal differences between a guitar with NO pickguards and the identical guitar with 2 pickguards would be very noticeable.

Pickguards have always been kind of a necessary evil on flattops because they're usually flat-picked but some bare-finger players like guitars without guards to get (slightly) increased volume and richer overtones.

What works for you will depend on your playing style. Everybody's different.

 

[Scratch]

Hey, so do you think the extra pickguard really has noticeable influence on tone?

Yes, I do. I think you lose some high overtones and some volume too because the soundboard isn't moving as freely. Probably not much, but I'd bet that the volume and tonal differences between a guitar with NO pickguards and the identical guitar with 2 pickguards would be very noticeable.

Pickguards have always been kind of a necessary evil on flattops because they're usually flat-picked but some bare-finger players like guitars without guards to get (slightly) increased volume and richer overtones.

What works for you will depend on your playing style. Everybody's different.

Excellent point. Now I understand why my CV1 has no pickguard... Thanks!

 

[kitniyatran]

Hey, so do you think the extra pickguard really has noticeable influence on tone?

Pickguards have always been kind of a necessary evil on flattops because they're usually flat-picked but some bare-finger players like guitars without guards to get (slightly) increased volume and richer overtones.

What works for you will depend on your playing style. Everybody's different.

It's unfortunately true that too many flatpickers will destroy tops without guards(see Willie Nelson). I flatpick, but as I've always had guards, never did much damage; some LIGHT scratching may be visible.
I play mandolins with no pickguards with NO appreciable damage.
I get in trouble at Mandolin Cafe advocating learning "proper" technique; if one just spends a bit of time learning how the great teachers around 1900 taught to use a pick, you can play the strings instead of the wood, but people don't seem to think they should have to bother :roll: .

 

[chazmo]

Hey, so do you think the extra pickguard really has noticeable influence on tone?

Pickguards have always been kind of a necessary evil on flattops because they're usually flat-picked but some bare-finger players like guitars without guards to get (slightly) increased volume and richer overtones.

What works for you will depend on your playing style. Everybody's different.

It's unfortunately true that too many flatpickers will destroy tops without guards(see Willie Nelson). I flatpick, but as I've always had guards, never did much damage; some LIGHT scratching may be visible.
I play mandolins with no pickguards with NO appreciable damage.
I get in trouble at Mandolin Cafe advocating learning "proper" technique; if one just spends a bit of time learning how the great teachers around 1900 taught to use a pick, you can play the strings instead of the wood, but people don't seem to think they should have to bother :roll: .

Well, hey, Mando, people can play however they wanna' play, IMO. I'm not about to tell Richie Havens that he should change his technique a bit. That said, I would not like to be in a position where I couldn't trust myself to take care of a special guitar because of my technique. I used to use a pick a lot, but I never caused much damage. These days, I'm fingers only.

 

[JerryR]

Personally I never use a flatpick but do use a thumbpick for certain songs where I strum and fingerpick. The only other time I use picks it is Alaskapiks when I have broken a nail on a finger - or thumb - as they are my nail substitutes. I know a coupla people play Lowdens - which look like they don't have a pickguard but actually have a very thin transparent one.

 

[AlohaJoe]

I know a coupla people play Lowdens - which look like they don't have a pickguard but actually have a very thin transparent one.

I like the thin, transparent ones... they match my hair. :lol:

 

[dane]

I like the thin, transparent ones... they match my hair. :lol:

I hear that Joe! I get all my hair care products from Coppertone. :lol:

 

[kitniyatran]

... That said, I would not like to be in a position where I couldn't trust myself to take care of a special guitar because of my technique...

Precisely why I'm a proponent of learning how to wield a pick so it doesn't scrape the top!