Metal pickguards

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brikla

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Has any used, or does anyone use, a metal pickguard?

Just wondering if the heating/cooling properties differences between wood and metal might eventually cause issues where the screws enter the body. Or, more importantly, tuning issues.

Would the increased mass, as opposed to plastic, increase sustain?

Even so, in my mind's eye I can see a natural telecaster, maple neck, with chrome guard. As long as it would stay chromy and not go all pitted and discolored.
 

The Snowman

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on my Bucky, I have a brass guard and I don't really notice a difference in tone...but it sure as hell looks cool....only problem is that I had my girlfriends name engraved on it...and now I love the guitar but hate her....sooo everytime I play Bucky....I have to see her name....kinda like tatoo that won't go away.....don
 

Michael Murphy

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Mirrored pickguards are available (made of plastic) if you're worried about the properties of metal.

My son had one on his strat that looked pretty cool...


-Michael
Charter Member S. Texas He-Man Emoticon Haters Local #316
 

Billy Claire

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I have four of 'em. Two on Strats and two on Teles. I like them a lot- some people will tell you that they affect the tone. They're right. It's definitely more pronounced on a Strat where the pickups are suspended from the pickguard- unlike a Tele where the pickup is attached to the wood and not the 'guard.

I think they add an almost acoustic guitar quality- Billy
 

The Snowman

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Billy......good point...hmmmmm soooo tell me...how do you think it affects the tone on a Strat.....very interested in this topic...cause I can never find anyone to engrave my plastic guards.....sooo metal is an obvious choice......please tell...don
 

Billy Claire

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The Snowman said:
Billy......good point...hmmmmm soooo tell me...how do you think it affects the tone on a Strat.....very interested in this topic...cause I can never find anyone to engrave my plastic guards.....sooo metal is an obvious choice......please tell...don

I don't really know how to describe it- maybe a sort of hollower tone- still, definitely a Strat sound. Maybe that's where I got the acoustic reference to it- sort of a hollow body resonance happening...
 

Blueblood

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I love mine..

No scratches! As for tone, I was scared it would be much brighter but I can't really appreciate a difference. But who am I? I'm in awe of the Muddy's tone to begin with..

normal_MAH%20MUDDY%20%205%20CU%21.jpg
 
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