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Does a Pickguard alter the sound of a guitar?   You are logged in as Guest
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gimmeagig

 

Posts: 9
Joined: Dec. 12 2014
 

Does a Pickguard alter the sound of ... 
Hi,
I recently bought a classical guitar and I'm trying to learn how to play Flamenco. The guitar was not super expensive but still, I don't want it to get banged up unnecessarily. I have seen that some Flamenco guitars have protective guards like this on them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dunlop-Herco-Pickguard-Golpeador-Soft-Transparent-Adhesive-For-Flamenco-Guitar-/140978131647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20d2f392bf

I am wondering if something like that would negatively affect the sound of the guitar.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 25 2015 18:14:08
 
Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011
 

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to gimmeagig) 
You're thinking it wrong.

It's part of the playing so...


The other option is to watch a hole slowly forming on the top.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 25 2015 18:18:51
 
constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1673
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to gimmeagig) 
Golpeadors don't seem to affect the sound noticeably when they are placed in the usual region, between the bridge and the sound hole.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 25 2015 20:19:40
 
estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to gimmeagig) 
There is a brand or type of clear material that sticks to the top of the guitar with static. I don't know the name, but I have heard classical guitarists talk about it. You might go online ona classical guitar forum and ask about it.

It is a material that just slips on and off and is not permanent, but protects the top. If you started with that you could decide of flamenco for you and keep your classical guitar clean.

It does not effect the sound much, not in any gross way you can really detect. I sometimes think on some really thin topped flamenco guitars it makes them sound better.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Feb. 25 2015 23:24:38
 
sig

 

Posts: 296
Joined: Nov. 7 2007
From: Wisconsin

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to gimmeagig) 
Check out Strings By Mail. They sell a number of clear top protectors such as Kling-on etc...
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 3 2015 16:24:07
 
JasonM

Posts: 2052
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to sig) 
When I put a golpeador on my new guitar it literally masked the sound. The trebles are no longer as bright and the beautiful overtones are gone. I was kind of surprised as I didn’t except much effect after reading through various threads where people say they don’t notice much difference.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 23 2019 21:02:58
 
Tom Blackshear

 

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008
 

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to JasonM) 
Jason,

On occasion I have to re-tune the top when a plate is installed. I guess it all depends on the guitar.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 24 2019 3:21:19
 
JasonM

Posts: 2052
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to Tom Blackshear) 
Tom do you have a general theory about this? I assume the tap plate adds mass to the top so perhaps thinning of braces to compensate in the same area would be an approach?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 24 2019 16:16:25
 
Tom Blackshear

 

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008
 

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to JasonM) 
Any addition or deletion of top thickness will cause some extra fine tuning on occasion.

Any necessary sanding depends on each guitar build.

As far as top graduation is concerned:

I try to relieve a little more wood in front of the bridge if I install a tap plate. This is a feathering process in and under and around the bridge area; keeping slightly thinner toward the center of the top just a little. This thinning makes the top receive the plate better to equalize the thickness. But it doesn't mean you have to take as much wood off to equal the plate thickness. So, very little is necessary.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 25 2019 1:13:25
 
JasonM

Posts: 2052
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to Tom Blackshear) 
Yes ok I remember you describing that in one of your tutorials. Thanks for sharing your insight.! Merry Xmas
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 25 2019 16:34:46
 
ernandez R

Posts: 737
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to gimmeagig) 
I think the main damping variable is the adhesive. Without knowing the exact brand and more important the adhesive thickness used it is hard to say. I did some poking around the 3M product website but they have hundreds of products which come in various thicknesses starting with 2mil on up. A mil is a USA measurement of .001" I have not had a golpeador with the adhesive in my hands but many other products and when dealing with variable substrate such as our spruce top in guessing a thickness of 10-20mil or more.

3M doesn't discuss the material but it is some kind of non hardening vinyl and the last thing you would want stuck to your top if sonic quality was your goal.

Lucky for me I am not talented enough to strum, cord and tap at the same time ;) so I have not felt the need for a tap plate.

I have to wonder what adhesive was used in the past?

To be honest if one was banging away at a loud juerga trying to out play those loudmouthed who could care less I doubt subtle overtones and partials are that important. Ditto dancers. I know I've read more then once how the key players all had a guitar for the show and the one they liked to play at home. Something to think about. And there is this, it would be an honor to have tapped through a spruce top... Guessing the bulk of us would not in the rest of our lives. I recall reading here and there that one reason we have many old guitars from the past was that they were unplayable and the best guitars were played to their death: long live said guitar and may one we have built should suffer such an end. Olé!

HR
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 25 2019 17:14:16
 
Tom Blackshear

 

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008
 

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to ernandez R) 
quote:

To be honest if one was banging away at a loud juerga trying to out play those loudmouthed who could care less I doubt subtle overtones and partials are that important. Ditto dancers


Back in the 1980's Guillermo Rios used to play a Bernabe flamenco that was so loud it would intimidate the cantaor who could barely hear himself sing

Most guitarists, I knew, would play their favorite guitars and use a mic if needed.

But I agree, some of my guitars went to war and suffered a lot of damage.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 25 2019 17:55:37
 
Tom Blackshear

 

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008
 

RE: Does a Pickguard alter the sound... (in reply to JasonM) 
Hope you have a good one..........blessings.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 26 2019 1:31:30
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