F-20 Pickguard Poll

[Opsimath]

Perfect. PM sent back. For this project, I can’t turn down one made from NOS Westerly material. That just really adds to all the other cool elements of this restoration. Thanks Eric.

So the decision has been made?

 

[GuildyAsHell]

So the decision has been made?

Yeah I guess I should figure out how to close the poll…

 

[mavuser]

I advised to use a pickguard that matches the new top, not the old top. that is what Guild would have done in the Westerly factory during the time that new top was made, and in fact that is what Guild did with my 1970 F-20 when they retopped it, in the Westerly factory in 1980. But of course with this project it is best to use whichever pickguard you prefer, if one of the other options suits your taste. it is nice to have options! I am obviously a little biased and hope it will look just like mine in the end!

and ps this guitar will have plenty of warm tones even with the maple. it is still a small bodied guitar and still a short scale F-20! definitely, definitely use 11 gauge strings, and not 12s. makes all the difference in the world. highly recommend the John Pearse 550-SL 11-50 set. basically begging u to use them

 

[Sal]

I liked the original shape:

Yes, whatever the material, that original period shape is cool and unique.

 

[GuildyAsHell]

Yes, whatever the material, that original period shape is cool and unique.

mavuser was kind enough to reach out with a great option made from a piece of Westerly material acquired from Hans. I may leave it as is, with modification allowing for the soundhole size difference, or I may come up with a hybrid shape that is closer to the 50’s shape but larger.

 

[chazmo]

^ That'll be great. I said I had a preference for black, but I think tortoise will look gorgeous on that top!!!!

 

[Tom O]

Pickguard looks great. You might try GHS DDDS325 strings 11 1/2-54 Phosphor Bronze. They sound good on a short scale.

 

[RBSinTo]

Hope it isn't too late to offer an opinion.
I prefer steel string acoustic guitars to have pickguards.
My Washburn parlour doesn't have one and from time to time I spend a pico-second thinking about adding one to protect the top's finish.
Additionally, my dreadnoughts and jumbo all have pickguards, although the GAD jf-30's is clear, transparent, which bothers me a bit.
So, in conclusion, my vote is for a coloured or patterned guard in a contrasting colour to the top's shade.
RBSinTo

 

[SFIV1967]

mavuser was kind enough to reach out with a great option made from a piece of Westerly material acquired from Hans. I may leave it as is, with modification allowing for the soundhole size difference, or I may come up with a hybrid shape that is closer to the 50’s shape but larger.

I would not cut this great pickguard to a "hybrid" version. That might or will not look right. Eric gave perfect reason why a retopped guitar would have received such style pickguard by the factory. So I would just let your luthier adjust it to the correct rosette diameter.

Ralf

 

[GuildyAsHell]

I would not cut this great pickguard to a "hybrid" version. That might or will not look right. Eric gave perfect reason why a retopped guitar would have received such style pickguard by the factory. So I would just let your luthier adjust it to the correct rosette diameter.

Ralf

After some thought and picture comparison, I agree. I love the shape of that original guard, but the part that extends under the strings won’t be attainable.

 

[Sal]

I've kept these images of early F20s because I thought their unique pick guards were especially cool. I thought you might appreciate them as examples that other materials besides the standard tortoise were used and look good.

 

[GuildyAsHell]

I've kept these images of early F20s because I thought their unique pick guards were especially cool. I thought you might appreciate them as examples that other materials besides the standard tortoise were used and look good.

That bottom one is amazing.

 

[cutrofiano]

Shaping your own pickguard may be a lot of fun:

 

[RBSinTo]

Shaping your own pickguard may be a lot of fun:

Thanks. But I'll pass.
RBSinTo

 

[jfilm]

That bottom one is amazing.

I think that one's mine! Picture on the right- has a sort of net pattern. It's an early '57 with a NY label. Hans confirmed it was made in Hoboken. The reddish one on the left is cool though, don't think I've seen anything like that before on a Guild.

 

[Sal]

I think that one's mine! Picture on the right- has a sort of net pattern. It's an early '57 with a NY label. Hans confirmed it was made in Hoboken. The reddish one on the left is cool though, don't think I've seen anything like that before on a Guild.

By Jupiter it is! I didn’t make a note of where it came from but looking back in the archives you posted it on Sep 8, 2016. The redish one I'd grabbed from someone's eBay posting. Both cool and rare I think.