Official Luthiers Forum!

     I've always been somewhat adverse to pickguards. I think there generally fugly. I also understand, especially how hard I play sometimes, how they can protect a finish.

    So, I've been kicking around the idea of building up an area in the general form of a pickguard using clear epoxy, then finishing normally. Have any of you guys's heard of this and if so how was it done(masking tape/pizza box stencil...)?

Thanks!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Billy, I too find pick-guards ugly (depending on the style of guitar and material of said guard, of course...).

On my last, I used a clear guard and I was very pleased with the outcome. I think building up a layer of epoxy will be a lot more difficult that just using the clear stuff. Basically the result will be the same.

I bought my material from LMI in an 8X11 self-adhesive sheet. I will always use a clear guard from now on.

Hope this helps.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Billy,

      My little experience with pickguards makes me think that the bueaty of them is that they are replaceable and relatively durably agains pick attacks. The idea of epoxy covers the idea of durability, but if the pick does have the strength to tear away at the finish, you are left with a refinish, or character (depending on the viewer). Basically I think though, that anyone privelaged enough to play a one off, should and would show respect and try to avoid marring the finish. All in all I think why not experiment, there are after all many more instruments to come.


P.S. I generally like pickguards but I own this guitar and I am extremely greatul the previous owners took those monstrosities off.    
Jake Francis39013.8835300926

I used a clear pickguard in my latest. You don't even know it's there from 5 feet away.

Al

[quote]You don't even know it's there from 5 feet away[/quote]

   Al, you must have some pretty long fingers to play like that!

    Thanks Todd for the UV advise, I never thought of that.

   I'm trying to avoid the "pickguard look" all together. The clear, of course, is the least offensive. I just wanted to give the top .010 to .020 extra in the killing zone.

    I'm thinking about a SS stencil applied with a mild adhesive. Float, level, cure then finish normally.

Hesh, I'm building essentially a jumbo, maybe more so, because I'm about 6'4", without high heels (These people already think I'm weird, I don't need to joke like that. ). You'll get a concept drawing I'm interested in what you'll think.

Jake, who would do that to that poor little guitar? Oh, the humanity!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

It comes that way standard, its a 64'ish gibson f-25.   It sounds beutiful though and mine has no guards so its all good. But I do hope someone was fired for that one.

If you have to have a pickguard that is not clear, why not make it from wood. Bill Nichols makes some great looking PGs.
Take a look here.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

[QUOTE=Jake Francis] It comes that way standard, I do hope someone was fired for that one. [/QUOTE]
Hah! Someone was PAID to design that! Obviously not enough, though.

Billy, the thing that has always bugged me the most about pickguards is that, after putting on the thinnest, most responsive finish possible, someone slaps a chunk of plastic on the soundboard! It just don't seem right! I think it would be the same with a thick hunk of epoxy. Go with a thin, thin, thin clear guard. JM-twisted-O.

[quote]someone slaps a chunk of plastic on the soundboard! It just don't seem right! [/quote]

Bingo!!! Ugly and clunky!
Maybe I'll just use scotch tape!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

[QUOTE=Billy Bad Boy T]   because I'm about 6'4", without high heels (These people already think I'm weird, I don't need to joke like that.


Hesh, don't know 'bout ya but i just saw an opportunity here for a great picture!

The wooden pickguards (SteveS message) are beautiful but I am very curious about how they will change the sound.

I use picks about 1% of my playing so I don't really like pckguards except on vintage models.

I just decided to buy the "temporary pickguards" that LMI sells and I'll stick them on when I pass my guitars to people holding picks.

I just watched a DVD last month that was Willie Nelson's 70th birthday. He was playing with several other admiring artists. I was totally shocked when I noticed he had a 3-4" hole in his guitar from scratching his pick through the wood over the years. Hmm...If you moved the soundhole down and towards the bridge a bit?

Ah yes, Willie's 'Trigger'... Very cool...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

think how long it took willy to break in "trigger", then take a look at what tommy emanuel does to his maton's at http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/gallery/General/. if you've ever seen him play you can come to the conclusion that it wouldn't take him long to get a guitar to that state, pickguard or no.

[quote]I was totally shocked when I noticed he had a 3-4" hole in his guitar from scratching his pick through the wood over the years.[/quote]

Wow, I'll have to look that up. He must play hard!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Cecil, Sure that wasn't from a beer bottle, bad bong mishap, or maybe using the 9mm Poirier guitar pick!

   That's a bad one! Maybe somebody from the OLF should tell him we could fix that!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)