pickguard

A pickguard, also called a scratchplate, is a thin sheet of material mounted on the body of a guitar or other stringed instrument to protect the finish from wear caused by a pick, fingernails, or sweat. Its primary purpose is protective, preventing scratches and finishing damage where the pick attacks the strings. In some instruments it also serves as a mounting surface for electronics or hardware, and can contribute to the instrument’s appearance.

Materials and construction vary. Traditional pickguards are made from plastics such as celluloid or PVC, with later examples using acrylic, fiberglass, or laminated multi-ply constructions. Common finishes imitate tortoiseshell, pearloid, or solid colors. Some pickguards are transparent or semi-transparent, allowing the underlying wood grain to show. Room for customization is common, with guards cut to fit specific body shapes and contour lines and sometimes extended to cover control cavities.

Design and mounting differ by instrument and model. Pickguards are typically fastened to the guitar body with screws or small adhesive coatings. Shapes range from large, multi-screw covers that frame the pickups and controls on many electric guitars to smaller, simpler pieces on acoustic models or classical guitars. The guard’s contour follows the guitar’s body and, in electric guitars, often interacts with the control layout and pickup configuration.

History and usage vary by genre. Pickguards became widespread in the early to mid-20th century as a practical protection for steel-string and early electric guitars, and they have since become a stylistic element, with a wide range of materials and finishes available to players.