How to Remove the Pickguard on a Les Paul

The pickguard is one of the Gibson Les Paul's most striking and distinctive features, but it is also one of the greatest sources of debate among guitar enthusiasts. While purists insist on leaving it as is, others, including Slash of Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver, remove it to free up their pick hand and make playing more comfortable. Luckily, removing it is a quick, easy modification.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips head screwdriver

Instructions

1. Remove the screw nearest to the fretboard. This job will involve only two screws: one near the fretboard, affixing the pickguard to the body of the guitar, and one affixing a metal bracket to the edge of the guitar.

2. Remove the screw affixing the bracket to the body of the guitar.

3. Check to ensure that the metal bracket is still affixed firmly to the pickguard. Keeping the screw tight will keep the bracket at the correct angle, which will make reattaching the pickguard easier.

4. (Optional) Fill in the holes. Many players like to use a product called Liquid Nails to fill any open holes. It will seal and protect, and it is possible to drive screws through it, should you choose to reattach the pickguard later.

5. (Optional) Paint over the holes. Your local guitar store should have a small bottle of touch-up paint that closely or exactly matches the color of your guitar.