How can I get an Epiphone Les Paul without a pick guard?

[shaved]

Almost all Les Paul guitars I find online (guitarcenter/ebay/amazon) have pickguards, which I don't particularly like.  What's the deal?  Can I order them without?

[Voodoochild]

You can just take it off, you know. I did that with my Epiphone Standard.

[Demon Wolf]

How to get it in three simple steps!

1) Buy said Epiphone Les Paul
2) Find a screwdriver
3) Use it to take the pickguard off

DONE! 

[shaved]

Then isn't  the screw there instead?  I want it flush, like the Slash model, but not that design.

[music89]

buy a Gibson Les Paul Studio, Fire Burst finish, no pic guard and the finish is VERY similar to the finish on the slash les paul.

[Genesis]

Then isn't  the screw there instead?  I want it flush, like the Slash model, but not that design.

One hole will be close to the neck and the other on the side of the guitar. They're barely visible so you can either leave it open or put the screw back inside.

[JimBobTTD]

Or, get an earring with a small (fake) diamond in it, and put that there. The hole is no longer open to the elements (moisture which can make the wood swell, although this seldom happens), and you get a nice glint off it when the lights hit it.

[shaved]

That Gibson is exactly what I want, but I am a beginner and can't fork over 1,200 bucks for it.  Looks like I'll have to unscrew it, that sucks.  Thanks for the replies.

[ACE_is_BACK]

ace frehley epi doesnt have a pickguard butits pretty pricey as well being how it is comparable with alot of gibsons.

[Johnny Rattlesnake]

If you look at close-ups of Slash's Les Pauls, you can see the screw holes.