What are Pickguards?
A pickguard is a piece of material that covers a part of a guitar's body to stop it from being damaged by a player's nails or a pick. They are usually made from plastics, although metal and other materials are sometimes used. They come in many shapes for different guitar models and are an integral part of the overall aesthetic.
Pickguard or Not?
Undeniably, pickguards protect the guitar's finish from scratches, but depending on the model, for example, Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters, they also cover up the cavity of the guitar which contains the wiring. Therefore, they can not be removed, but you can change them for another pickguard in a different color or design.
On other guitars, such as the Gibson Les Paul, 335, and SG, their only function is protection, therefore if you prefer the no pickguard look, as Slash from Guns’n’Roses does, then simply remove it. It will more than likely have no effect on the tone or the playability of the guitar, but you will get additional wear on the guitar’s body underneath where the pickguard used to be.
But the decision is yours whether to have a pickguard or not. Some guitar builders don't like the pickguard, because they think it's ugly, or it's a lazy way to cover all up with that.
Do Pickguards Impact Guitar Tone?
Every single piece of a guitar has some effect on its tone. However, some parts such as the body or the pickups will have a far greater effect than others, such as the knobs or the pickguard. That said, metal pickguards are known to slightly brighten the tone of a guitar, but if your pickguard is plastic, as most are, removing it will not affect anything tonally.
