Les Paul Pickguard.

Devil#20

What's the consensus. Guard on or guard off? And why? 

Funkfingers

Burn the witch!

Crazyblue1779

Off!  I love Les Pauls but I think the pickguard is horrible. 

I always felt like it was an afterthought because it just doesn’t tie in with the aesthetics of the guitar. 

I can just picture the original Les Paul design guys getting ready to go home on a Friday and then they realised they forgot about a pickguard, so they lifted a random triangular bit of plastic that was lying around and stuck it on and thought sod it, it’ll do. 

ICBM

Off, always.

It looks like a cheap plastic paper dart, it clicks when your pick or fingernails hit it, and it creaks if you press on it.

And every Les Paul ever made is lighter without it.

Devil#20

Yes. I agree it looks like an afterthought so I prefer guard off. 

Neckwringer

I like it off,until I see a pic of one with the guard on.....

60cycles

I'd leave it on, because scratches and all signs of tear are the bane of all life, an emotional cancer and the root of all evil.

But i'd also never leave it at that 'stock' colour.
I'd get some fine fine sandpaper, then prime it with something specially made for plastics, then have it painted in something 'oily' looking (think paintings) that -almost- matched the body's colour. Best of both worlds.

Or if i gave a damn about resale, i guess i'd do exactly the same only with an aftermarket purchased pickguard.

RandallFlagg

My preference is ‘on’ when it's a ‘burst and the pickups have covers, ‘off’ when it's a solid colour with uncovered pickups such as a 70s LP Custom.

stickyfiddle

On. Always. Unless you’re Slash.

Neil

ON.

I have to have it on anyway as a pinky rest on carved top guitars which I believe it was originally designed for. 

p90fool

On. It's not the '80s any more and I actually use it as a finger rest. 

Schnozz

ON

richardhomer

‘Off’ is deviant behaviour and should be condemned....

dazzajl

Take it off and throw it immediately out of the nearest window. It’s as bad as keeping the cellophane delivery covering on your sofa. 

TTBZ

Always off, they ruin the curves of the guitar and look shit. 

JohnS37

Gerrem off!!

Jonathangus

On with covered pickups.  Off with uncovered, which then should be zebras.

LordOxygen

Cheap plastic that rarely looks like ot was made to fit properly. 
They should supply the pick guard in the case and leave it for the new owner / dealer to fit or not. 

thermionic

Always on for me. I can see why some people (weird people) prefer a Les Paul without one in certain cases, but to take one off and leave empty screw holes? Come on!

RaymondLin

Mine came without a pickguard or even holes, but I do wonder what it looks like with one on (with mine).

rze99

On. Don’t need it off for any reason and it looks complete.