instead of a sound-hole and pick-guard, how about a pick-hole. a hole in the shape of a pick-guard in the same location as where the pick-guard would be. Seems like an obvious alternative but I have yet to see one. It seems surreal like a Magritte painting- you know, the guy walking with an umbrella and bollo hat and a rock is the cloud above him... forget it, if you don't know what I mean by that....