NEW Guitar Project

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Old Music Guy

Old Music Guy

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Robin got very good at hand painting pick guards. I've had this one around for a while, and I decided to build another Strat around it.
Then end product will be a Squire Bullet, a Fender Roasted maple neck with locking tuners and a set of Seymour Duncan single coils.
Black Strat.webp
Neck.webp
PG.webp
 
The neck was delivered today! Very pretty with a great feel. It's very similar to a neck I used on another build, but this one is roasted maple. Same Fender locking tuners.
Still waiting on shipment of the guitar.
If I get the urge, I'll transfer the electronics to the new pickguard tonight.
 
@Old Music Guy
At first glance I wasn't quite sure about that pickguard, but the more I look at it I appreciate the "sun spot (solar flare)" paint design. Pairing that pick guard and neck with a natural wood (unpainted) guitar body would be ideal.

Sun spots
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60's guy said:
Pairing that pick guard and neck with a natural wood (unpainted) guitar body would be ideal.
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It was at one point. Alas, I sold that one. A very nice American Strat. Originally an HSS configuration. It would have looked good with a maple neck,

as
IMG_1141.webp
 
That was a very nice guitar. Indeed, my first Strat. I bought that back in 2004 with my tax refund. I just never bonded with it.
Decade or so later, I built this: It's a 2018 American Pro body with a MIM neck. Duncans. Locing tuners and a blocked vibrato The pickguard was also painted by Robin. This one I LOVE. Never letting this one go.
IMG_0855.webp
 
Actually, no. It's alcohol :-)
It's a process that she picked up a few years ago. It took us a while to perfect the process for the pickguards. She drops a few drops of the alcohol paint, and then uses a straw or hair dryer to move the paint around. Then she keeps going with other colors until she's happy with the result. We let it dry, and then I shoot it with an acrylic overcoat.
This one is really cool because it has a texture to it. It's not "flat" like a regular pickguard. It's almost like tooled leather. It really is beautiful.
 
Old Music Guy said:
Actually, no. It's alcohol :-)
It's a process that she picked up a few years ago. It took us a while to perfect the process for the pickguards. She drops a few drops of the alcohol paint, and then uses a straw or hair dryer to move the paint around. Then she keeps going with other colors until she's happy with the result. We let it dry, and then I shoot it with an acrylic overcoat.
This one is really cool because it has a texture to it. It's not "flat" like a regular pickguard. It's almost like tooled leather. It really is beautiful.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info concerning the painting process!. Her artwork is awesome.
 
I have a very old mandolin that has been in need of a new pickguard that was deep seated with the top of the odd shaped pickguard being flush with the top of the mandolin.

I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow, and hopefully you will be able to advise me how to replace it. A few years ago I considered filling the cavity with clear liquid acrylic and painting on it, but I wasn't confident in my painting skills other than swirling different colors.
 
60's guy said:
Thanks for the info concerning the painting process!. Her artwork is awesome.
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You're welcome. Naturally, I kept the trade secrets 8-)
Robin says Thank you. :-)
I would be interested in seeing the pics. That said, in order to do the kind of art that Robin does, it would require a new pickguard (one of the trade secrets). But it would be a great project for her, if we can do it.
Can you give me some details on the mandolin> That would help
 
Not painted, but here is a pick guard i made as part of a refurb of my Hondo deluxe.

New electrics, switches and Pick ups. new adjustable nut. Homemade rosewood pick guard. A bit of paint and polish.

Its a guitar a mate lent to me in the mid nineties, hes not asked for it back yet. It has been used by me or others in three or four bands over the years and was quite battered as a result.
 

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Very cool @elly-d! The pickguard is awesome. And, I love the brass nut :P
 
My Mando looks like this
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I surely wouldn't expect you to delve into or disclose "trade secrets" as to how I could easily replace the inlaid pickguard myself.
As it stands right now, I also have to refinish the top, reinstall the original nut, replace the original tuners (I have new tuners), and install new frets (I have new fret material). The main stumbling block has been...the pickguard.

Regardless of its sentimental value I just may decide to nail it to a tree and turn it into a birdhouse. 😁
 
60's guy said:
The main stumbling block has been...the pickguard.
Click to expand...
I have no trade secrets. If I did, I would be rich :P
It certainly looks like an interesting project.
If someone brought that to me, and I'm no luthier by any stretch, I would do the following:
1. I would make a cardboard template of the pickguard. It looks to me that the edges are fairly intact, and smooth, which is a good thing. I wouldn't worry TOO much about getting it perfect. Making the template a little "proud" might be a good idea. I would certainly pay close attention to the sound hole dimensions. That would be a key dimension.
2. I would carefully fill the "hole" with a good wood filler. A small layer at a time and build it up to the surface of the soundboard. I think a little shy of the soundboard would be OK because as you sand it, you don't want to scratch the top.
3. Alternatively, you could use an epoxy filler, but that won't "give" as much with temperature changes, Living in Maine, that may not be a good choice for you.
4. If you're handy with a small band saw you would take the template and cut a piece of plastic to fit. You might be able to find a pickguard for a Tele or a Strat. or buy a blank of the same thickness. I would certainly be aware that you don't want it so high that it interferes with the strings.
5. OR, you could follow step 4 and disregard filling the hole. Keeping in mind that either option will have an effect on the tone.
If it has sentimental value to you, try and repair it. If it doesn't work out, c'est la vie. I wouldn't turn it into a bird house until you try it. It's a beautiful instrument; you have $$ invested in parts; and it seems you're interested in a good project.
 
Old Music Guy said:
I have no trade secrets. If I did, I would be rich :P
It certainly looks like an interesting project.
If someone brought that to me, and I'm no luthier by any stretch, I would do the following:
1. I would make a cardboard template of the pickguard. It looks to me that the edges are fairly intact, and smooth, which is a good thing. I wouldn't worry TOO much about getting it perfect. Making the template a little "proud" might be a good idea. I would certainly pay close attention to the sound hole dimensions. That would be a key dimension.
Click to expand...
As you can see, it's an extremely narrow portion of guarding close to the neck around the soundhole.
Old Music Guy said:
2. I would carefully fill the "hole" with a good wood filler. A small layer at a time and build it up to the surface of the soundboard. I think a little shy of the soundboard would be OK because as you sand it, you don't want to scratch the top.
Click to expand...
Yes. I have considered filling that area with wood filler and applying a dark wood stain to the area.
Old Music Guy said:
3. Alternatively, you could use an epoxy filler, but that won't "give" as much with temperature changes, Living in Maine, that may not be a good choice for you
Click to expand...
I live in northern Ct (not Maine), but i get your point.
Old Music Guy said:
4. If you're handy with a small band saw you would take the template and cut a piece of plastic to fit. You might be able to find a pickguard for a Tele or a Strat. or buy a blank of the same thickness. I would certainly be aware that you don't want it so high that it interferes with the strings.
Click to expand...
I've been looking on line for choices of pickguard materials of varying thicknesses, none of which will be problematic to replace the original inlaid pickguard and interfere with strings.
Old Music Guy said:
5. OR, you could follow step 4 and disregard filling the hole. Keeping in mind that either option will have an effect on the tone.
If it has sentimental value to you, try and repair it. If it doesn't work out, c'est la vie. I wouldn't turn it into a bird house until you try it. It's a beautiful instrument; you have $$ invested in parts; and it seems you're interested in a good project.
Click to expand...
The mandolin certainly does have immense sentimental value to me. My suggesting of me turning into a bird house was purely in jest. I owe it to my Aunt (RIP) to restore it to the best of my abilities to do so.

I also recently acquired a reaaly old bowl back mandolin that my Dad once owned (60 years ago) and sold to a friend of his. My Dad's friend passed at the age of 95. His widow was extremely thoughtful when she, not only returned to me my Dad's old bowl back mandolin, but she also gifted me with an unusual 12 string mandolin that her husband owned and played.
 
@60's guy, ya know who could really help you out is @Scott Baxendale. Why don't you give him a shout.
 
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