Pick Guards Guitar

Pick Guards: Guitar Protectors

Pick guards were originally installed on acoustic guitars to protect the finish and wood surface of the instrument from wear. When a guitar is picked aggressively, the pick comes into contact with the top of the guitar as the player strums. Over time, this continual punishment takes its toll on the finish of the instrument, and in extreme cases, can actually wear a hole in the guitar. Anyone who has seen Willie Nelson's famous guitar "Trigger" can see the effect years of playing can have on a wooden instrument. On some electric guitars, like Fender Telecasters, pick guards serve a secondary function of providing the housing where the guitar's pickups and bridge are installed. For these guitars, if the guard is too severely damaged, the guitar will cease to be playable.

Guards as Fashion Accessories

People have a long history of turning functional objects into statements of individuality. From eye glasses and wrist watches to mud flaps and hubcaps, the practical can quickly become the fashionable. The same is true for pick guards. Many companies offer replacement guards that vary from authentic to eccentric. Depending on your needs, you should have no problem finding the perfect guard.

Where to Find Pick Guards, Guitar Parts, Etc.

• PickGuard Paradise: Pickguard Paradise creates replacement guards in exotic finishes like pearl, stone, glitter, swirls, and mirror. Designed for Ibanez, Stratocaster, Telecaster, and more, these guards are one-of-a-kind works of art for your guitar.

• PickGuards.com: Since 1978 PickGuards.com has been pioneering the market for guard replacement. Advertised as "the largest selection of pick guards in the world," this site offers guards in every conceivable color for the most popular of guitar styles. You can also send a tracing to the company, and they will create a custom guard from your design.

• Terrapin Guitars: Terrapin Guitars features replacement guards for standard guitars as well as custom models. Terrapin also offers guards in unique finishes, like wood veneer.

• Stewart-MacDonald: Stewart MacDonald is a one-stop shopping destination for building and repairing stringed instruments. They offer a wide collection of both electric guitar pick guards and guards for acoustics.

• Guitar Armor: Guitar Armor sells a unique pick guard that is clear, virtually unnoticeable, and removable. This thin material can be custom cut to fit electric or acoustic guitars and can be applied to either the front or back of your guitar to prevent scratches.

• AllParts: Another of the premiere guitar parts companies in America, AllParts offers a wide selection of pick guards for Gibsons, Telecasters, Stratocasters, Danelectros, Basses, and more.

• Guitar Parts USA: Based in Amarillo, Texas, Guitar Parts USA has a wide selection of guards for the Jazz bass, P bass, Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul, and more.

Choices are Almost Endless

Pick guards are a relatively inexpensive way to breath some fresh life into the look of your guitar. An old beaten up guitar might take on an entirely new appearance with a flashy new custom guard. Likewise, if you're restoring an old guitar or building a retro-style throwback, the perfect traditional guard is essential to completing your project. Pick guards, guitar protection devices, will also lengthen the life of an older guitar you want to make sure has a lot more mileage left in it. Before you get rid of that old guitar or build a new one, make sure to consider the many guard options available to the modern guitar player.