Divisive Pickguards- Apparently, a Thing

[wraub]

Hi, I'm wraub and I like divisive pickguards. I don't mean divisive creatively, or politically, but, aesthetically. You see, I like harmonic contrast visually as much or more than I do sonically, and so... Divisive pickguards.

Maybe you have one too, or, even, more than one. Post 'em if you do. For now, here are these, because.

[desertbluesman]

They both look cool.

[CEB]

I like both whiteguards and blackguards. lol. 

[Caevan O’Shite]

6 hours ago, wraub said:

Hi, I'm wraub and I like divisive pickguards. I don't mean divisive creatively, or politically, but, aesthetically. You see, I like harmonic contrast visually as much or more than I do sonically, and so... Divisive pickguards.

 

I think THAT pickguard and finish combination looks GREAT! Quite a contrast, but they go well together, they don't clash.
       
 

[desertbluesman]

My one Strat Clone has a nice pick-guard I would not call it divisive, but it sure suits my taste.

[CEB]

I hate this pickguard.  It rarely looks decent under stage lighting.  The whole guitar seems to wash out in a dull yucky blur.  This is probably this best picture I have of it.  Its fairly new here , before I installed the kill switch.   I have guitars with tortoise pickguards I like.

 

 

My old black tele with the benders looks okay with a tortie.

[Caevan O’Shite]

On 6/24/2022 at 5:04 PM, wraub said:

Hi, I'm wraub and I like divisive pickguards. I don't mean divisive creatively, or politically, but, aesthetically.

Well, then-

"Ladies and Gentlemen, in the Center Ring... "

[wraub]

20 hours ago, Caevan O’Shite said:

I think THAT pickguard and finish combination looks GREAT! Quite a contrast, but they go well together, they don't clash.
       
 

 

Thanks.  That happened last week, here's a better pic-

 

 

But, posted the same pics elsewhere and was implored to change back to the stock white 'guard. Repeatedly. By people in multiple countries. 

The brown/blue combo is definitely a love/hate thing too, based on comments.

What can I say, I like what I like. 

 

 

 

 

[KuruPrionz]

Dunno if this qualifies (see photo) but my masterpieces are in parts unknown.

Franken-Tele - I found a large beetle, dead on the ground. I used a Forstner bit to drill a hole in the body, above and in between the volume and tone controls, dropped the beetle in there and filled it with clear resin. 

Franke -Strat - I used 20 or so different colors of rattle-can paint, up close so it would drip and painted the front of the body, the pickguard and the headstock with this random splatter-drip pattern over white. A friend called it "The guitar the clowns ejaculated on." I've got a photo somewhere of him playing it at a gig. Deep dive right now but someday...

[Caevan O’Shite]

4 hours ago, wraub said:

 

Thanks.  That happened last week, here's a better pic-
 

But, posted the same pics elsewhere and was implored to change back to the stock white 'guard. Repeatedly. By people in multiple countries. 

 

What can I say, I like what I like. 
     

 

Those people don't know what cool is or what looks good.

 
 

[Dannyalcatraz]

On 6/25/2022 at 6:08 PM, Caevan O’Shite said:

Well, then-

"Ladies and Gentlemen, in the Center Ring... "

That’s the first one I’ve seen in this thread I’d consider “divisive”.

[Winston Psmith]

There's a company I won't name, that offers a variety of custom Pickguards, many of which feature Pin-Up Girl images, and old Horror/Science-Fiction Movie posters tending towards images of women in revealing outfits.

 

They also make a LOT of fun designs, abstracts, other images, colors, Swirl Art, Paisley, like I say, a lot of fun stuff, but if you want Divisive, they've got plenty of pickguards that'll get you thrown right out of your P&W group, and possibly lose you some friends!

 

If you're really curious, a search on custom pickguards will get you there soon enough.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I think I know of at least 2 such companies.  Are you thinking of the one that has a “Naughty but nice” category?

[Winston Psmith]

13 hours ago, Dannyalcatraz said:

I think I know of at least 2 such companies.  Are you thinking of the one that has a “Naughty but nice” category?

 

Hadn't seen that listing on the site I'm thinking of?

[hurricane hugo]

I'll ride with 920D on this one

 

[Caevan O’Shite]

1 hour ago, hurricane hugo said:

I'll ride with 920D on this one

 

That's actually pretty nice! That'd look very good on a white or black or natural mahogany body...
 
 

[Winston Psmith]

11-hole Pickguard! I like it!

[Dannyalcatraz]

The one I’m thinking of is Greasy Groove.  WD Music has a bunch as well, but not nearly as naughty.  GG had some that had actual nudity, at one point.

 

Edit: just checked, still do.

[Caevan O’Shite]

43 minutes ago, Dannyalcatraz said:

GG had some that had actual nudity, at one point.

 

Edit: just checked, still do.

Hopefully nude persons smoking cigars and drinking while brandishing medieval weapons and vehemently flipping-off politicians both Red AND Blue. YEEEAAHH!!
           
 

[wraub]

On 6/28/2022 at 1:35 PM, Dannyalcatraz said:

The one I’m thinking of is Greasy Groove.  WD Music has a bunch as well, but not nearly as naughty.  GG had some that had actual nudity, at one point.

 

Edit: just checked, still do.

 

Greasy Groove? Here's one of theirs I have on a P Bass -

 

 

[Caevan O’Shite]

5 hours ago, wraub said:

 

Greasy Groove? Here's one of theirs I have on a P Bass -

 

 

THAT is S0O0O Brady Bunch/Partridge Family... !  💖✨

And I do mean that in the best of ways!
  
 

[Dannyalcatraz]

8 hours ago, wraub said:

 

Greasy Groove? Here's one of theirs I have on a P Bass -

 

 

For some reason, it’s not displaying for me.

 

Edit: now it is.

[wraub]

On 7/1/2022 at 8:44 PM, Caevan O’Shite said:

THAT is S0O0O Brady Bunch/Partridge Family... !  💖✨

And I do mean that in the best of ways!
  
 

 

Thanks... I think.  😁

[Caevan O’Shite]

26 minutes ago, wraub said:

 

Thanks... I think.  😁

As I said, I do mean that in the best of ways!
 
 

[wraub]

10 hours ago, Caevan O’Shite said:

As I said, I do mean that in the best of ways!
 
 

 

Groovy.  😉

[p90jr]

On 6/25/2022 at 9:57 PM, KuruPrionz said:

Dunno if this qualifies (see photo) but my masterpieces are in parts unknown.

Franken-Tele - I found a large beetle, dead on the ground. I used a Forstner bit to drill a hole in the body, above and in between the volume and tone controls, dropped the beetle in there and filled it with clear resin. 

Franke -Strat - I used 20 or so different colors of rattle-can paint, up close so it would drip and painted the front of the body, the pickguard and the headstock with this random splatter-drip pattern over white. A friend called it "The guitar the clowns ejaculated on." I've got a photo somewhere of him playing it at a gig. Deep dive right now but someday...

This is cool, but c'mon, man... it's begging for a brass pickguard!!!!

[p90jr]

"Do what thy will shall be the whole of the law." - some guy Ozzy sang about, once...

Guitars are expressions of the owners... 

[p90jr]

On 6/25/2022 at 12:40 PM, CEB said:

I hate this pickguard.  It rarely looks decent under stage lighting.  The whole guitar seems to wash out in a dull yucky blur.  This is probably this best picture I have of it.  Its fairly new here , before I installed the kill switch.   I have guitars with tortoise pickguards I like.

 

 

My old black tele with the benders looks okay with a tortie.

I have a mid-90s (I think) Les Paul Special with P-90s that has the same problem... it's not Heritage Cherry but a darker burgundy and with the black pickup covers and black knobs and pickguard onstage it just looks like a dark blob, thought the binding on the neck always shines. I bought some brass pickup covers, and a gold tortoise-shell pickguard for it... I'll see if that livens it up. I've had the headstock repaired on it twice and currently the back of the neck does not have a finish (which is smooth and fast, actually)... I've thought about just having it refinished in white or something... or maybe gold.

like this

[wraub]

On 7/5/2022 at 11:35 AM, p90jr said:

This is cool, but c'mon, man... it's begging for a brass pickguard!!!!

 

Or anodized aluminum, even.

Here's my #1 bass-

[KuruPrionz]

52 minutes ago, wraub said:

 

Or anodized aluminum, even.

Here's my #1 bass-

Or, per my avatar photo of my red Gibson 335, a clear plexiglass pickguard painted with copper paint on the backside. Vintage Gretsch guitars have that too, I made my own.