Dear Dr.Guitar,
I'm wondering if you could suggest a way of protecting my new Avalon L355 accoustic from pick marks. I've only had the guitar a week and already there are some pretty unpleasant gouges appearing around the soundhole. At over £2000 I would have expected a pick-guard to be fitted to these otherwise perfect instruments and I have been shopping around, without success, for something robust enough to afford a decent level of protection.
I've tried a variety of picks, finally settling for these, even though a little on the pricey side, and I'm wondering if perhaps a lighter guage may be the answer although I wouldn't want to do anything to compromise my sound as I find I can get a real "biting" tone from this particular pick.
My concern for what this damage may be doing to the re-sale value of my guitar is becoming such that it is begining to affect my playing and so I'm hopeful that you can put on the right road and that I can get back into the swing of things a.s.a.p.
Regards,
Con Crete.