[olduvai]

I am new to guitar and am trying to maximize the sound from my guitar. I have had it for 3 months and try to play everyday. I almost never hit the pick guard when playing and was considering removing the pick guard. It seems that the guard must have a damping affect upon the top.
What are the thoughts of those of you with more experience and knowledge?

[cheguevara_007]

I did it once and my guitar spontaneously combusted. Seriously, I pulled it off one of my guitars and it didn't affect the sound one bit in my eyes(or that of my fellow guitarists). If you like the look without one, then go for it-but you will inevitably put scratches in your ax(whether or not you care I can't say ). I keep mine on because I like contrast between the wood grain and the black, but it's up to you in the end. If you want get the most tone, strings are half the battle. Buy a coated string like Elixir, or clean them with Fast Fret(it's really a string lube, but it takes the grime off pretty well and seems to condition the fretboard, too) or something similar and you'll notice a real major difference.

This post has been edited by cheguevara_007: 17 March 2005 - 01:41 AM

[strangerdanger]

My scratch plate needs to be larger... I've put some godawful dints into my beautiful little acoustic. Fingerpicking can be quite agressive.. that or I have very bad aim.

[stuartmerenbloom]

A pickguardectomy can be a highly dangerous manuever. I do not recommend this unless you are covered in FULL by Blue Cross ...It really would not make any major changes in sound.

[olduvai]

I do care about my ax and I also realize that it will be a long time before I can afford the Collings of my dreams so I am trying to squeeze the cleanest sound out of it that I can. I am using the Elixer strings which do help.
What are anyone's thoughts on changing the bridge pins? Brass? bone? or anything else?

[rasav]

I do care about my ax and I also realize that it will be a long time before I can afford the Collings of my dreams so I am trying to squeeze the cleanest sound out of it that I can. I am using the Elixer strings which do help.
What are anyone's thoughts on changing the bridge pins? Brass? bone? or anything else?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Changing out your bone to something like TUSQ or maybe even bone is the fastest and cheapest way to make a differance in the sound of a beater guitar.
BUT shapeing and setting can become an involved pain in the butt.

[billy16]

I want to take my pickguard off simply because it's no use on top.

Anyway, brass bridge pins don't help any. I asked that one too. A bone nut may help a bit.

[tml]

I did this to my acoustic about 6 months ago. I noticed a slight improvement in sound, but the only downside was, that it was an older guitar, so the wood not covered by the pick guard had aged a bit and darkened. So when I took it off, there was this big pale spot from where the pickguard had been. I don't really care about that, it just add to the beaten up, vintage acoustic look.

[olduvai]

I want to take my pickguard off simply because it's no use on top.

Anyway, brass bridge pins don't help any.    I asked that one too.    A bone nut may help a bit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have added an ivory nut and bridge to the guitar which did help the sound. I have a friend that had obtained several pieces too many and gave these to me. I'm just looking for a little extra and my thoughts turned to the pins and pick guard. Maybe I am just over thinking this.

This post has been edited by olduvai: 17 March 2005 - 03:18 PM

[dadfad]

When you change strings, don't use Elixers. Not that they are bad strings, because they are pretty good ones. But the same coating that makes them last longer also slightly deadens the sound. In my opinion you might want to try a set of D'Addarrio Phosphor-Bronze Bluegrass Guage (a mixed set of lights and mediums) for a powerful bass-response and a decent treble separation. If you're trying to sqeeze every bit of response you can get out of your guitar.

[olduvai]

Thank you one and all for your assistance and ideas. I just ordered these strings and will give this a try.

This post has been edited by olduvai: 17 March 2005 - 04:33 PM

[strangerdanger]

When you change strings, don't use Elixers. Not that they are bad strings, because they are pretty good ones. But the same coating that makes them last longer also slightly deadens the sound. In my opinion you might want to try a set of D'Addarrio Phosphor-Bronze Bluegrass Guage (a mixed set of lights and mediums) for a powerful bass-response and a decent treble separation. If you're trying to sqeeze every bit of response you can get out of your guitar.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you actually used Elixirs? They have the brightest poppingest sound of any string on the market. They stay sharper for longer than any other too.

Those strings add $500 to the value of any guitar. Also check out their user-artist list and explain to me why any of them (including tommy emmanuel) would use a string that has a deadened sound for it to last longer? (It's not like they can't afford the new strings).

[olduvai]

When you change strings, don't use Elixers. Not that they are bad strings, because they are pretty good ones. But the same coating that makes them last longer also slightly deadens the sound. In my opinion you might want to try a set of D'Addarrio Phosphor-Bronze Bluegrass Guage (a mixed set of lights and mediums) for a powerful bass-response and a decent treble separation. If you're trying to sqeeze every bit of response you can get out of your guitar.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you actually used Elixirs? They have the brightest poppingest sound of any string on the market. They stay sharper for longer than any other too.

Those strings add $500 to the value of any guitar. Also check out their user-artist list and explain to me why any of them (including tommy emmanuel) would use a string that has a deadened sound for it to last longer? (It's not like they can't afford the new strings).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have used Elixirs Nanoweb light strings. In fact, I am so new to guitar that I am on my first set of strings and they need to be replaced. I have no experience with any of the other brands for this guitar and will compare and see which I prefer both for feel and sound. I am not dissatified with their sound which, I guess, is why I started this posting considering the pick guard removal and then changing the bridge pins.

[dadfad]

When you change strings, don't use Elixers. Not that they are bad strings, because they are pretty good ones. But the same coating that makes them last longer also slightly deadens the sound. In my opinion you might want to try a set of D'Addarrio Phosphor-Bronze Bluegrass Guage (a mixed set of lights and mediums) for a powerful bass-response and a decent treble separation. If you're trying to sqeeze every bit of response you can get out of your guitar.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you actually used Elixirs? They have the brightest poppingest sound of any string on the market. They stay sharper for longer than any other too.

Those strings add $500 to the value of any guitar. Also check out their user-artist list and explain to me why any of them (including tommy emmanuel) would use a string that has a deadened sound for it to last longer? (It's not like they can't afford the new strings).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was one of Elixir's "test market guitarists" before they went on the market about ten or twelve years ago. I was identified through purchasing habits and information at guitar shops, etc as the owner/player of a number of both acoustic and electric guitars. Elixir (whom I'd never heard of before) sent me a letter asking if I would be part of a year-long survey of test-users, and then sent me four groups of three sets each group. Two guages for acoustic and two for electric. A total of twelve sets. At the end of the year I filled out their questionaire and then gave a brief opinion of their strings. Basically: that they were very good strings, and while in my opinion they were not as powerful as equivelent guage un-coated high-quality 80/20 and phoshphor-bronze strings on the market, they held up a great deal longer by far and that for most guitarists who didn't change their strings after every six playing-hours (which I did at that time) they were a very good value (estimated price to be $15-$20 US). I still buy them sometimes for guitars I have that I don't play so often because they hold up so long and still give good tone without having to change them every month or so, played or not. I use Elixirs on my Taylor, which I play only occasionally. I wouldn't dream of putting them on my 1934 Gibson "The Jumbo" which is my "number-one" guitar.

On the "lets get real" side. They could use ads of me swearing to the world that I use strings of licorice for the right price. And like I said, Elixirs are good strings anyway. But to me, not the best for the best tone NOW (as opposed to six weeks from now). Just my opinion. And using the same logic as above, I too can easily afford to buy any strings I want as often as I want (I buy most strings by the case) and I TOTALLY hate changing strings. Why would I NOT use Elixirs on all of my guitars if I thought they were the best sounding? I don't want to sound like Tommy Emmanuel anyway. Too balanced and contemporary sounding for what and how I play. And if you plug in acoustically, it really matters very little if you use Elixirs, or D'Addarrio Phosphor-bronze (or licorice), the sound comes from electronics anyway. But it's all just different opinions. And that's mine.

[BaasLian]

I do care about my ax and I also realize that it will be a long time before I can afford the Collings of my dreams so I am trying to [/B]squeeze the cleanest sound out of it that I can.[B] I am using the Elixer strings which do help.
What are anyone's thoughts on changing the bridge pins? Brass? bone? or anything else?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most lower end acoustics have plastic (or some other cheap material) saddles.

After playing a while, the strings tend to 'cut' into it, causing a loss in sustaining of notes . I put in a 'TUSQ' saddle that didn't set me back financially & it made a world of difference to the guitar's tone.

[strangerdanger]

I see why so many admire the dadfad.

[RICH.J]

Get in there DADFAD!!!