H535 Sans Pickguard

[JeffGuitar]

Anyone else take the pickguard off theirs?

 

Just to be clear, I really like the pickguard. I think the ebony and the shape is head and shoulders above other semi-hollows. I just love the finish of the body even more!

 

[Yooper]

I like it both ways:

 

 

 

[DetroitBlues]

Never had mine installed....

 

[kidsmoke]

I vascillate

 

 

 

lately its ON because it does in fact add a bit of protection and mine is out in public regularly. But I'm always thinking about taking it off, as she often says......

[DetroitBlues]

I vascillate

 

 

 

lately its ON because it does in fact add a bit of protection and mine is out in public regularly. But I'm always thinking about taking it off, as she often says......

 

One day, I'll be playing out again... Just don't know when... It looks great Kip! (as always)

[goSteelers]

A lot of people debate over pickguards based on their look. My perspective is much more simple -- I rest my picking hand pinky on it a lot. If it's not there, I don't play as well. And, if I played a guitar a lot without one, I'm sure I would wear the finish from resting my pinky on the body itself -- so, it helps my picking hand, and it actually guards the body, for me -- no matter what it looks like.

[ElNumero]

But if you remove it you are left with unsightly holes. And it looks nekked.

[Polo]

Here's the pickguard taken off on my of '09 H535 for the very first time in it's life......................needless to say, I'll be putting it right back on.

 

BATWINGS 4 LIFE!!!!!!!

 

[kidsmoke]

^^

 

yep. that's legit. For me on a humbucker equipped axe, I actually hook my pinky on the bridge pickup ring. It's my anchor. Dunno when I picked up that habit. So guard or no, I've got that reference.

 

and here's what could happen (would love to play enough to risk this)

 

[JeffGuitar]

Personally, I like the look of mine w/o the pickguard but the real reason I've got it off is because it feels more natural to me to rest my hand on the body of the guitar. All of the guitars I've played over the years have either had pickguards flat on the body (strat, tele, etc.) or if the body arched, no pickguard. Just feels more natural to me.

[Kuz]

I used to be of the opinion that I like Heritage semis without a pickguard. But I actually prefer them with a pickguard now. In all honesty, I prefer the G brand shorter 335 pickguard look the best.

 

This being said while I don't have a pickguard installed on my two Heritage semis.....

 

Again, to me, this is the perfect looking Heritage semi with a pickguard. http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_149856386116213&key=79bd9386a12d9ac58a81d42672c87dc4&libId=j4fi81rr01002eus000DA2jb90vht&subId=&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heritageownersclub.com%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F32018-well-it-came%2Fpage-3&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fs296.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2Fsr1577%2Fmedia%2FIMG_2027_zps23chm1qp.jpg.html&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heritageownersclub.com%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F32018-well-it-came%2Fpage-2&title=Well%2C%20it%20came!%20-%20Page%203%20-%20Heritage%20Guitars%20-%20Heritage%20Owners%20Club&txt=

[ElNumero]

I used to be of the opinion that I like Heritage semis without a pickguard. But I actually prefer them with a pickguard now. In all honesty, I prefer the G brand shorter 335 pickguard look the best.

 

This being said while I don't have a pickguard installed on my two Heritage semis.....

 

Again, to me, this is the perfect looking Heritage semi with a pickguard. http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_149856386116213&key=79bd9386a12d9ac58a81d42672c87dc4&libId=j4fi81rr01002eus000DA2jb90vht&subId=&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heritageownersclub.com%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F32018-well-it-came%2Fpage-3&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fs296.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2Fsr1577%2Fmedia%2FIMG_2027_zps23chm1qp.jpg.html&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heritageownersclub.com%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F32018-well-it-came%2Fpage-2&title=Well%2C%20it%20came!%20-%20Page%203%20-%20Heritage%20Guitars%20-%20Heritage%20Owners%20Club&txt=

Are there exposed holes in your two semi's John?

[tbonesullivan]

My 535 came from the previous owner with the pickguard taken off. It had gotten kinda eh looking with some crud on it. After cleaning it with gibson pump polish, it looked IN CRE DI BLE.

 

I have no idea why anyone would ever have taken such a beautiful pickguard off:

 

This is how I got it, all those years ago:

 

 

With the pickguard (and Tiger):

 

[Yooper]

My 535 came from the previous owner with the pickguard taken off. It had gotten kinda eh looking with some crud on it. After cleaning it with gibson pump polish, it looked IN CRE DI BLE.

 

I have no idea why anyone would ever have taken such a beautiful pickguard off:

 

This is how I got it, all those years ago:

 

 

With the pickguard (and Tiger):

 

 

Looks like my flamed wood pickguard was inspired by Tiger.

 

[CJTopes]

I had a pick guard come with my new Prospect but not installed. I'm leaving it off since I dont see why I would want to cover up that beautiful finish.

[Einerbe]

Origionally, I intended to change the pickguard on my H535 into the roundish G*-one. Because, at first sight I felt the origional one was too sharp in comparison to the "female-shape" of the 535. After a few days in my hands I felt in love with the sharp-edged original pickguard, too. So I will not change it any more.

Additionally, I really like the contrast of the black pickguard in conjunction with my reddish colored 535. I would always keep a pickguard either on my H150 as well as on my 535.

Since I have never played without I cannot answer the question whether or not this will effect my playing. Maybe I will try just to see and experience. From "my" aesthetical point of view: I would always keep it on board.

 

Cheers

[kidsmoke]

as much as I love the pickguard, I wish it was trans black flamed rather than colormatched. Other than that, the batwing, in my opinion is a killer touch on these

 

[Kuz]

Are there exposed holes in your two semi's John?

No, they were special ordered with no pickguards

[Spectrum13]

as much as I love the pickguard, I wish it was trans black flamed rather than colormatched. Other than that, the batwing, in my opinion is a killer touch on these

 

Hard not to notice that 535 was photo bombed.

[khmr33]

as much as I love the pickguard, I wish it was trans black flamed rather than colormatched. Other than that, the batwing, in my opinion is a killer touch on these

 

I love the patina on those pickup covers... what kind of pickups are they?

[kidsmoke]

I love the patina on those pickup covers... what kind of pickups are they?

thanks. really happy how this guitar came out.

 

p'ups are Sheptone Tributes in Aged Nickel

tail and bridge are Faber Tone lok, aged nickel

 

[JeffGuitar]

Reposting thanks to Photobucket...argh

 

[LittleLeroy]

Reposting thanks to Photobucket...argh

 

I knew that guitar looked familiar!