pickguard
Sign in to savethumb|right|A Gibson Dove acoustic guitar, with an ornately-decorated [[tortoiseshell pickguard.]] A pickguard (also known as a scratchplate) is a piece of plastic or other (often laminated) material that is placed on the body of a guitar, mandolin or similar plucked string instrument. The main purpose of the pickguard is to protect the guitar's finish from being scratched by the nails of the picking hand, as it was included on guitars not played with a plectrum. The pick does not normally contact that part of the guitar when used correctly.
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Pickguard types
- Acoustic guitars
- Solid-body electric
- Floating pickguards
- Materials
- Custom designs
- Classical and flamenco guitars
- Golpeadores
- References
thumb|right|A Gibson Dove acoustic guitar, with an ornately-decorated [[tortoiseshell pickguard.]] A pickguard (also known as a scratchplate) is a piece of plastic or other (often laminated) material that is placed on the body of a guitar, mandolin or similar plucked string instrument. The main purpose of the pickguard is to protect the guitar's finish from being scratched by the nails of the picking hand, as it was included on guitars not played with a plectrum. The pick does not normally contact that part of the guitar when used correctly.
As well as serving a practical purpose, the pickguard may also be used for decoration and is often made in a contrasting color to that of the guitar body (popular variants are white pickguards on darker guitars and black pickguards on lighter guitars). As well as plastic, other pickguard materials can include acrylic glass, glass, plywood, fabrics, metal, and mother-of-pearl/pearloid varieties. Expensive guitars may have luxury pickguards made from exotic woods, furs, skins, gems, precious metals, mother of pearl and abalone pearl.