Wood Pickguards...

[DetroitBlues 52]

On what model, if any, was a wooden pickguard ever a standard feature?

Was there ever a time in which it was standard on a 535 or 150?

Dislike these Facebook debates, but here I am defending a stance which I’m 99% sure I’m right... but there is always a chance...

[houndhome 50]

Certainly on my 555 and 575.It's late here in the U.K.,and I cant remember for sure on my 150 Ultra,Golden and Super Eagles

but will look tomorrow.

[skydog52 558]

There where a lot of models that had a wooden pick guard as a standard feature. The ones I can think of. 

Eagles

Sweet 16        

H-535

H-575

Prospect Deluxe

H-550

H-555

Roy Clark

H-157

 

 

[LK155 238]

DB, my 535 (1996) has a flame maple pickguard, but I don't know for sure if it came from the factory that way.  I suspect so.  The finish is absolutely identical to what's on the body of the guitar, it's bound, and on the back of it it says 'Trans Cherry'.  It also happens to have a rather unique shape to it; I have never seen another Heritage with that exact pickguard shape.  But I have a feeling this guitar is somehow special, as the label has signatures of Jim Deurloo, Bill Paige, Rendal Wall, J.P. Moates, and Marvin Lamb.  I bought this one from an Ebay seller back in 2010, so I don't know much of anything about its history before then. 

 

 

[Gitfiddler 708]

I can't imagine why there would be a debate about which Heritage models had wooden pickguards as standard.

Oh wait.  It's on Facebook.

Never mind. 

[DetroitBlues 52]

46 minutes ago, skydog52 said:

There where a lot of models that had a wooden pick guard as a standard feature. The ones I can think of. 

Eagles

Sweet 16        

H-535

H-575

Prospect Deluxe

H-550

H-555

Roy Clark

H-157

 

 

Wait, 535 was stock wooden pickguard?  
 

I can see the archtops and models with inlaid headstocks.... but a 535?

[pressure 267]

Heritage Johnny Smith guitars had wood pick-guards as standard.

[golferwave 129]

The deluxe H-150 CM models had a matching wood pickguard and headstock. Most of those had an additional number on the back of the headstock.

[skydog52 558]

4 hours ago, DetroitBlues said:

Wait, 535 was stock wooden pickguard?  
 

I can see the archtops and models with inlaid headstocks.... but a 535?

https://web.archive.org/web/20080703221354/http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/H535.htm

[High Flying Bird 334]

Here is my 1996 H-535.  I didn't ask for a wooden pick guard but it came with one. 

[houndhome 50]

Confirm that my 1988 Golden Eagle and 1998 Super Eagle have wood scratch plates but NOT my 2004 H150 Ultra.

[bobmeyrick 153]

My 2007 H535, which I bought new, came with a wooden pickguard. The 1998 H575 also has a wooden pickguard, while the H150s all have plastic pickguards. I like the shape of the plastic pickguards - it reminds me of my old '68 Epiphone Riviera, my first American guitar.

[DetroitBlues 52]

Hmm, so maybe only the 140/150 didn't then... Interesting... I'd probably have my pickguard installed if it was wood.  Instead, its a crudely cut single ply that resides in the case and was never installed on the guitar.

10 hours ago, skydog52 said:

https://web.archive.org/web/20080703221354/http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/H535.htm

Thanks Paul.  I guess I was wrong about the 535... Thankfully, the argument was only on 150's. 

[skydog52 558]

31 minutes ago, DetroitBlues said:

Hmm, so maybe only the 140/150 didn't then... Interesting... I'd probably have my pickguard installed if it was wood.  Instead, its a crudely cut single ply that resides in the case and was never installed on the guitar.

Thanks Paul.  I guess I was wrong about the 535... Thankfully, the argument was only on 150's. 

I always ordered my guitars with the pick guard not mounted. That way I could decide if and when I wanted to mount it.

[Yooper 277]

2015 H-535

Edited March 29 by Yooper

[skydog52 558]

Here is an old catalog that has specs on models. Most include wooden pickguards.

I remember trips to the shop and just looking at pick guards from the rack of many they had.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070623101616/http://www.heritageguitar.com/Heritage 2005 Catalog.pdf

[Gitfiddler 708]

Speaking of wood pickguards...I spotted my very first Heritage guitar over 15 years ago while surfing Gbase. 

I had never seen such a beautiful semi-hollow, and it included a wood pickguard!!  Whoa! 

No other builder was offering a bound Maple pickguard on that body style. 

Resistance was futile and I immediately called Wolfe's Guitars and worked out the purchase of that H-555. 

Here is part of that ad:

[rwinking 130]

Not sure if it was standard but my 1986 Blue H-140CM has a nice blue wooden CM pick guard.

 

[TalismanRich 543]

I don't think the wooden guard was standard on the 140, but the boy's did so many customized items, anything is possible!

[FredZepp 377]

It can be tricky to photograph flames through a Trans Red finish.. but this pic shows it pretty  well... 

[sgt1577 40]

My 535 cams standard with a bound ebony pickguard,

[Doug 70]

I kind of like the fact that you have to look close to tell mine is wood. It somehow retains the traditional look with Antique Natural.

I remember when I had looked at guitars years before I bought this one thinking the wood pick guards made the Heritage guitars different and instantly recognizable - more than the different headstock for me anyway.

Edited March 30 by Doug