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Pickguard Opinions
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=47984		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  WilliamS [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Pickguard Opinions
Being more of a nylon guy I don't really care for pickguards that much.
However, a few weeks ago I finished a little 0-ish sized guitar I was building as a gift for a friend's little boy. I'm confident my friend will ensure that the guitar is well taken care of (he's a former professional guitarist and current pro woodworker who really values a nice instrument) but it's still a guitar for a kid...and it does have a cedar top and thin finish that wants to dent if you look at it wrong so I've decided a pickguard would be a smart addition before I deliver the guitar this weekend.
I have put a clear pickguard on one of the small-bodied steel string guitars I've built in the past but thought this might be a good opportunity to experiment with making my own poured resin guard.
This is my first attempt (and I probably won't have time to do another before the weekend). It's not attached yet and I could still go with a clear one-I have that material in the shop.
Opinions would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Image
Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I'm a fan of clear guards but I have to say that one does look nice.
Author:  Pat Foster [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
Looks nice to me too, though an overall shot of the guitar would be helpful.

Pat
Author:  WilliamS [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
Pat Foster wrote:
Looks nice to me too, though an overall shot of the guitar would be helpful.

Pat

Here's a full body shot with no pickguard and one with the resin guard. Sorry-I'm not much of a photographer and just taking quick shots with my phone...
The cedar top has a touch of bear claw that looks kinda splotchy in these pics but looks very much like bear claw (not splotchiness) in person

Image

Image

Edit: Looking at the pics, I think the actual color is best represented in the first, close-up pic.
Author:  WilliamS [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
This might be more helpful with the sides showing...and the color is more accurate in this one.

Image
Author:  Clay S. [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
The one you made looks very nice. I like the look of the guitar with that guard. A clear pick guard could be carried to the edge of the sound hole (as some do) and offer more protection. I would decide which to use according to the playing style of the end user.
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
Your poured resin PG looks real nice though I think a clear one would suit that guitar better. What resin did you use for the one you made and how thick did it come out?

Fred
Author:  Pat Foster [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I think i'd go with clear too.

Pat
Author:  WilliamS [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
For this first attempt I just used material I already had in the shop: Zpoxy and transtint. It's about .75mm thick-so a bit thicker than Mario's tortoloid and well thinner than Greven's tor-tis.

It was super easy: just stuck some adhesive-backed shelf-liner material to my granite surface plate, colored the zpoxy ever so slightly for the base, poured some out and spread it to a thickness that looked about right to me (no measuring this time), then colored the rest of the zpoxy a bit more (by eye), dripped some around the spread base, then colored the remainder quite dark and, again, just dripped it around. Next, went at it with a plastic fork, let it sit for a few minutes to let any air bubbles come up near the top and misted it a couple of times with acetone to pop all of the bubbles (something I saw online via a google search, worked very well). After it cured, the shelf liner peeled right off...and, if i was making more I could stick the liner back to the surface plate and use it again.

Next time I'd probably use a different resin: the zpoxy worked pretty well but is just a touch softer than I'd really like. If I do it again I'll probably try the resin that others are using ( IIRC it's the System 3 sb112).

...but, seeing as I mostly do classicals with the occasional 00 or 0 size finger-picker thrown in, it might be a while before I do another.
Author:  J De Rocher [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I like it better with your pickguard. Looks more interesting especially with that pickguard. That's a cool pin setup for the strings at the bridge too.
Author:  WilliamS [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
That's my first attempt at the permanent pin "pinless" type bridge that Jeffrey Elliott came up with years ago. Mike Doolin, among others (OLF's Jim Watts included) have been known to use it, as well.
Instead of using a #1 washer (just slightly larger OD than the ball ends) pressed on the stainless pins, as many do, I made my own washers from 7mm fossilized walrus tusk dots, my idea being that, from a distance, it would approximate the look of a normal pinned bridge. I've heard from some people that they generally prefer the look of a normal, pinned bridge. I actually think I prefer the really simple, clean look of Mr. Elliott's but thought I'd try something in between.

Oh, and next time I'll leave less of the pin exposed.

Overall this guitar is a bit simpler than most I build. It was built mostly from materials that were free (or nearly free) to me. And, since it wasn't a commission, I used it to experiment with a few things.
Author:  Glen H [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I think that git looks incredible as-is (no guard). I'd go clear.
Author:  Greg B [ Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I like it with the pick guard. It looks balanced. I don't care for clear pickguards in most cases. They just seem kind of non-committal. I realize this is a minority view.... Frankly that guitar is going to look great either way, I suspect. :) [:Y:]

Nice job on the home poured resin and swirling, btw.
Author:  WilliamS [ Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
Thanks for the input, guys. Very helpful.
Author:  David Newton [ Thu Jul 07, 2016 11:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I am a fan of no pick guard. It can always be added later if desired, and the shape and position can be customized to cover the very personal location of the pick marks.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Fri Jul 08, 2016 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
The shape, color and pattern all compliment this guitar very well IMHO. It looks nice without the guard too. If it were me, I would ask if the kid was going to be using a pick and if so put it on. Then I would think well one of his friends will eventually start strumming on this thing without the care the owner would and I would put it on anyway. . .
Author:  Heath Blair [ Fri Jul 08, 2016 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually like it better with the pick guard and I would almost never say that. I love how you can see the grain of the top through the pick guard. Whatever you choose, great work on the guitar and on making the pick guard, as well.
Author:  jack [ Fri Jul 08, 2016 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
nice looking guitar,... nice looking pick guard... they go well together I think
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Sun Jul 10, 2016 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard Opinions
I do mostly clear pick guards these days. (I'm liking the Mylar stuff Stew-Mac sales), but I think your guitar will look great with the guard you show with it. (Classy old school)

It reminds me of one I did several years ago but still like alot.
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