Pickguard On or Off? What Pulling the Guard Off a Les Paul Really Costs You

Few Les Paul arguments go round and round like this one. Every few weeks somebody posts a photo of their guitar with the pickguard off and asks the internet whether it looks better. Half the replies say it's the only way to own a Les Paul, and the other half say it looks unfinished.

Here's my answer up front. If your Les Paul already has the pickguard holes drilled, taking the guard off costs you almost nothing. It doesn't change the tone, it goes back on in five minutes, and as long as you keep the parts it does nothing to resale. If your guitar came without holes, think hard before you drill any. That is the only part of this decision you can't undo.

How a Les Paul Pickguard Is Attached

A Les Paul guard isn't screwed down flat like a Strat's. It floats a little above the carved top and is held at three points:

1. A small screw into the top, near the neck pickup.
2. A screw and nut that join the guard to a small L-shaped metal bracket.
3. The bracket itself, which is screwed into the side of the body on the treble edge.

You can see both ends on this 2011 Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Studio we have in. The top screw sits just off the corner of the neck pickup ring, and the bracket hooks around the treble edge of the body:

This matters because it tells you exactly what removal leaves behind: one small hole in the top beside the neck pickup and one hole in the side of the body, usually in or near the binding. Neither is large, but the one in the top is in plain sight.

Does Taking the Pickguard Off Change the Tone?

No. On a Les Paul the pickups are held in rings screwed to the top, not hung from the guard. The guard is a thin piece of plastic hovering over the wood, held at three small points. Take it off and nothing that produces or picks up the sound has changed.

The one practical exception is noise. A guard with a loose bracket nut or a loose screw can buzz or rattle on certain notes, and that sometimes gets blamed on the guitar. If you hear a rattle, tighten the bracket hardware before you decide the guard has to go.

The Case for Taking It Off

• You get to see the top. On a flame top or a well-done burst, the guard covers some of the best wood on the guitar. One of our past listings, a Les Paul Standard Plus in Heritage Cherry Sunburst, came with "no pickguard, no pickguard holes — just a clean top that lets the flame speak for itself," and it's a good example of why people do it.
• It fits a stripped-down look. Plenty of players prefer the cleaner outline, and Gibson has made some models without a guard at all.
• Some players rest their fingers there. If you anchor your pinky on the top, the guard's edge can get in the way. Others anchor on the guard and like it there. It comes down to feel.

The Case for Leaving It On

• It protects the finish. If you strum hard, your pick will wear through the area the guard would have covered. On a nitro finish that wear builds up over the years.
• On some models the guard is part of the identity. The early-2000s Les Paul Classic has a "1960" printed on its guard. Our Bonamassa Studio's black guard is part of the look that sets it apart from a standard Goldtop. Past signature listings had a pearl guard (Joe Perry) and a custom pearl amber guard (Slash Appetite). Take one of those off and you're taking off part of what makes it that model.
• It's original. On collector pieces, Custom Shop guitars and signature models, buyers want everything that came with it, in the case.

The One Thing You Can't Undo: Drilling Holes

If your guitar already has the holes, removing the guard is fully reversible. If it doesn't, adding a guard means drilling into the top and side, and a guitar that has never had holes won't be "no holes" again.

Don't assume every Les Paul has them. Gibson has shipped some years and models with the guard loose in the case and no holes drilled. Owners of mid-2010s Standards and late-2010s Traditionals have asked about exactly this on the forums. Check your own guitar rather than going by the model name.

The top hole also has a finish risk. Owners have reported the nitro lifting or chipping around the guard screw hole, probably because the hole was drilled after the guitar was finished. If you install a guard on a guitar without holes, take it to someone who will score and drill carefully, or look at one of the no-drill mounting kits that hold the guard without new holes.

If You Take It Off, Keep Everything

Bag the guard, bracket, nut and screws and keep them with the guitar. Lost brackets are how a reversible change turns into a parts hunt.

One caution for older guitars and vintage-style guards. Celluloid can break down over time and give off gases that tarnish metal and damage nearby finishes. If your guard is celluloid, or you aren't sure, store it in its own bag away from the hardware. Don't leave it sealed in a closed case pocket with metal parts for years.

Buying a Used Les Paul With No Guard? Check This

• Look for the top hole beside the neck pickup ring. If it's there, the guitar was drilled at some point, so ask whether the guard is included.
• Check the side of the body on the treble edge for the bracket hole. It's easy to miss in listing photos.
• Look for a filled hole or touched-up finish in either spot. A neat fill isn't a dealbreaker, but it should be disclosed.
• Ask about the parts. On an everyday Standard or Studio, a missing guard is a cheap fix. On a signature or limited model with a special guard, the original is harder to replace and missing it matters more.

What It Does to Resale

In my view this gets overblown. On a modern production Les Paul, a guard that's off but in the case doesn't move the price at all. A missing guard is a small deduction. Fresh holes drilled into a guitar that shipped without them are a small, permanent change, and some buyers will care. If you're curious how mods affect value more broadly, we covered that in which guitar mods hurt resale value. If you're thinking about selling, our Cash Offer page will get you a number. Just put the guard back on or send it along in the case.

My Take

Holes already there? Try it both ways and keep whichever look you like. Nothing is at stake except taste. No holes? Leave the guitar alone unless you want the guard enough that you'd do it anyway, and if you do, have it done carefully. Whichever way you go, keep the parts with the guitar.

If you'd like a Les Paul where the guard is part of the character, the 2011 Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Studio Goldtop is a good example. It passed our setup inspection as it sits, with medium action and spot-on intonation. You can also browse everything we have in stock.

FAQ

Does removing the pickguard affect a Les Paul's tone?

No. The pickups mount in rings on the top, not on the guard, so removing it doesn't change the sound. If anything changes, it's a rattle going away because a loose bracket is gone.

Can the pickguard holes be filled?

Yes. A good tech can plug the holes and touch up the finish. On a sunburst or nitro finish the repair may still show up close, so a clean fill is better than a visible hole but not quite the same as no hole.

Is there a way to mount a pickguard without drilling?

Yes, there are aftermarket no-drill mounts that hold the guard without new holes in the body. They're a reasonable choice if you want a guard on a guitar that has never been drilled.