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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | I have an absolutely glorious FD-14 wide-neck that doesn't have a pick guard... I'm figuring that since this is primarily a finger-pick-type guitar, it typically doesn't really need one. However, I'm a flat-picker, and it's just wonderful for me. I have mondo hands, so the wide-neck's very comfortable for me.
However, here's the problem. I do fast runs up and down the neck, and when I do, I rest my picking hand pinky on the soundboard. Well, I can see that after some time, the finish seems to be starting to wear away a bit. It's showing kind of a "friction shine," for lack of a better term.
I'm wondering if there is something like a temporary pick guard that I can adhere to the top to protect the finish without (1) damaging the surface when I take it off, or (2) overly dampening the beautiful sound this sweet guitar produces.
Thanks, all!
Alan |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Pic guard on an Ovation???
Sacrilege!
And they look just gawd awful.
I'd say change your technique (unlikely)
Or, let the wear come where it may let it show like a badge of honor. Unless it's a kept in a glass case collectors model, play it. Play it hard and play it proud.
It's a tool.
FD-14 wide-neck that doesn't have a pick guard Isn't that true of each and every Ovation model ever made? |
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Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Wear a pinky glove on that finger. Check Musician's Friend |
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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Pic guard on an Ovation???
Sacrilege!
And they look just gawd awful.
I'd say change your technique (unlikely)
Or, let the wear come where it may let it show like a badge of honor. Unless it's a kept in a glass case collectors model, play it. Play it hard and play it proud.
It's a tool.
FD-14 wide-neck that doesn't have a pick guard Isn't that true of each and every Ovation model ever made?
About changing techniques, you truly DO have a great point...However, I've received recent feedback that I should explore greater variety of expression in my current technique. I think I want to be a master of that genre, rather than a jack-of-several genres. The additional problem is that -- to my ear at least -- the FD-14 just
sounds spectacular when flat-picked. I DO want to continue to explore that.
Bottom-line: I'm lookng for a temporary adhesion type of thing that would protect the finish of the beautiful FD-14, while not harming its equally beautiful sound. The FD-14 is TRULY a gorgeous instrument. |
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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by dark bar:
Wear a pinky glove on that finger. Check Musician's Friend Hmmm...great idea! Didn't think of it from THAT perspective!
Thanks, DB! |
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August 2009
Posts: 20
Location: Erlinsbach | I just ordered clear removable pickguards for my KOA collector 2009 an 2078 LX Elite (see http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290403160894). It seems that the new thin polyurethan finishes are more sensitive than the older ones. |
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December 2009
Posts: 79
Location: So Cal | They make a "static cling" protective plastic for just this purpose. Clear with no adhesive, it stays put until you just peel it off. It is usually refered to as finish guard. Automotive supply houses will probably have some. |
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Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | It's really ironic that you asked this question. I was just checking out some chord variations on my Guitar Power software, and saw a link to that invisible removable pick guard. The one advertised there was about $10, but I'm sure the product JimE mentioned above is the same material at a substantially lower cost, and will give you a lot more. There's a guy in our group that strums very hard on his taylor guitar, and it has now worn away a large portion of the edge of his sound hole. I'd bet he would have liked to know about that stuff a while ago. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | For all you thrasher, beater, power-stroke guys out there, they got this new thing out called an amplifier.
Check into it.
A clear pic guard sounds like a good enough idea. Just don't leave one on long enough to make the top age differently. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Jim E:
They make a "static cling" protective plastic for just this purpose. Clear with no adhesive, it stays put until you just peel it off. It is usually refered to as finish guard. Automotive supply houses will probably have some. I have gotten them before from These Folks!
If you have a multi-hole Ovation or an electric I recommend GB#9, which is a big sheet of material that you cut yourself. It is 9x12" so you can make two-or-three.
For center-hole guitars they have pre-cut ones that come two-to-a-sheet. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | leave it alone and don't worry about it.
that was not a wiseass answer. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Are you sure? |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by AlanM:
It's showing kind of a "friction shine," for lack of a better term. Buff the top of the guitar so the whole thing shines. Then you won't see difference to the area where you rest your finger. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Friction shine is good. It gives the guitar character without doing damage. |
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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Originally posted by Slipkid:
A clear pic guard sounds like a good enough idea. Just don't leave one on long enough to make the top age differently. IMPORTANT detail there. SK! Thanks! |
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May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | I agree with Bill. Just play it... |
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Location: South of most, North of few | ditto. |
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Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Don't be intimidated by purists, Alan. I have a clear adhesive cut from something like this on two of my O's and love it. |
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Pick guard advice needed