Soon I’ll be a pickguard manufacturer.

[Higgins1980]

Now the work can begin. However yard work will need doing tomorrow so looks like Sunday I’ll be working on my new guard

 

[Higgins1980]

I also order this
They sent this, it’s even labeled as a spanner. WTF are these things?

 

[Naked Strat Brat]

Got a blank sheet of material and a pin vise today. Still waiting on the coping saw them I’m gonna start making my new guard for the Cabronita. View attachment 256789
Was really hoping to get a smaller sheet of material but this seems to be the smallest available on Amazon. So I’ll have to figure out what else to make with the leftovers.

I was tempted to buy an electric scroll saw with a round blade for making pickguards, but, I studied the way having to move material through the saw, would be far too much work to keep the cutting accurate enough. Some folks use a router after making a wooden jig...but then you have to cut the jig free hand...another pain. So...not gonna make them from scratch.

Snippers will cut pickguard material but almost always cracks it at the end of the cut. Been there...
If you have success, I will be a customer. My Contemporary strat is HH configured and has the Floyd Rose which makes the pickguard more one-of-a-kind market, no one currently has them for exact fit. I am working on modified one that is not fitting the Floyd Rose sized area for bridge, using snippers...going slow and suffered a crack so I stopped, might use different ultra thin blade saw.

I need the pickguard for installing alligator on it, spray adhesive on pickguard to mount the alligator material to it.

 

[Higgins1980]

I was tempted to buy an electric scroll saw with a round blade for making pickguards, but, I studied the way having to move material through the saw, would be far too much work to keep the cutting accurate enough. Some folks use a router after making a wooden jig...but then you have to cut the jig free hand...another pain. So...not gonna make them from scratch.

Snippers will cut pickguard material but almost always cracks it at the end of the cut. Been there...
If you have success, I will be a customer. My Contemporary strat is HH configured and has the Floyd Rose which makes the pickguard more one-of-a-kind market, no one currently has them for exact fit. I am working on modified one that is not fitting the Floyd Rose sized area for bridge, using snippers...going slow and suffered a crack so I stopped, might use different ultra thin blade saw.

I need the pickguard for installing alligator on it, spray adhesive on pickguard to mount the alligator material to it.

Another member here has gifted me a trim router but I didn’t know how much work would be involved in making a template and all that so I don’t think I’m gonna be using that this time. I’m gonna be using the snips to do the rough cut. A coping saw for the finish cut then a bastard file and sandpaper to get the bevel good enough. Just gonna take my time and go nice and slow while listening to some Floyd. Gonna try to get my son to help maybe get him into working with his hands a bit. As for actually becoming a manufacturer the thread title was meant to be tongue in cheek. I’m not set up for actual manufacturing. Thought about doing a Strat guard with the leftovers but it’s very intimidating considering the lack of power tools I have. I will however gladly share anything I learn by doing this. I do want to make a few copies of the cabronita guard because it is very simple design and I’d like to be able to give them away.

 

[Dave M]

I recently made a pickguard for my Schecter PT Special...since "No one " makes one for it. used a few youtube vids for tips, 1/4 mdf, router, router bits w/bearings, (top and bottom 1/2 , 1/4 ) and a 45degree one) belt sander. made a router table from 1" shelf board, and double stick tape.
Took 3 try's at a mdf template before I got one to be perfect. Big help was the belt sander for final finish of the template.
Right now the hardest part is finding blank pickguard material. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[speelyei]

Hi Higgins, here’s how you can use the original guard as a template, if you mount your router under the workbench:

ok, pickguard time:

I used double stick tape. This stuff works almost too good. Use tiny pieces, or you can break the plastic trying to get them back apart.
View attachment 202020

First I cut the rough shape out with a scroll saw, leaving maybe 1/8” excess material. Then I used a 45° top bearing bit. This is just an inexpensive Harbor Freight bit, so there’s a gap between the roller bearing and the cutting edge of >1/16”. A bit with the bearing directly in contact with the cutting edge would work better. This technique lets you use the existing pickguard as a pattern.
View attachment 202021

Then I switch to a bottom bearing straight bit. This is a dangerous situation, because you have the entire cutting bit exposed. I use this for the pickups and neck pocket.
View attachment 202022

Ok, as good as I’m able to do today.
View attachment 202023

Body stained, stuff re-installed. I just set the switch to the center position and tucked it into the wiring cavity. I am tempted to just leave it like that!
View attachment 202024

@Higgins1980

 

[dpang2836]

I was tempted to buy an electric scroll saw with a round blade for making pickguards, but, I studied the way having to move material through the saw, would be far too much work to keep the cutting accurate enough. Some folks use a router after making a wooden jig...but then you have to cut the jig free hand...another pain. So...not gonna make them from scratch.

Snippers will cut pickguard material but almost always cracks it at the end of the cut. Been there...
If you have success, I will be a customer. My Contemporary strat is HH configured and has the Floyd Rose which makes the pickguard more one-of-a-kind market, no one currently has them for exact fit. I am working on modified one that is not fitting the Floyd Rose sized area for bridge, using snippers...going slow and suffered a crack so I stopped, might use different ultra thin blade saw.

I need the pickguard for installing alligator on it, spray adhesive on pickguard to mount the alligator material to it.

A Spanner usually goes on Pot nuts and also tuners. Here is another style!

https://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Spanner-Wrench-Repair-Stainless/dp/B08JLJPQKD

 

[Higgins1980]

I recently made a pickguard for my Schecter PT Special...since "No one " makes one for it. used a few youtube vids for tips, 1/4 mdf, router, router bits w/bearings, (top and bottom 1/2 , 1/4 ) and a 45degree one) belt sander. made a router table from 1" shelf board, and double stick tape.
Took 3 try's at a mdf template before I got one to be perfect. Big help was the belt sander for final finish of the template.
Right now the hardest part is finding blank pickguard material. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There’s plenty of materials on Amazon got that big sheet for $20. They had quite a few to colors to choose from.

 

[Higgins1980]

Ok Sunday morning. And I’ve stated work on this pickguard and let me tell you it’s a PITA. I will not be doing this again and the leftover sheet of material will be gifted to somebody with better tools and knowhow than me. So far I need to clean up a few spots and ope the cutout for the pickup s little more and it should fit. Not sure if I’m going to bevel the edges or not. Might just get it fit and roll with it. Don’t wanna screw it up and have to start over so back to the sanding

 

[Higgins1980]

Here’s after final sanding of the edges with 320. It should fit around the pickup but I am a bit disappointed I couldn’t follow the radius in the inside corners. I’ve squared them off but we’ll see in a few how it looks on the Cabronita.

 

[Red Beer-d]

Looks like a factory-made pickguard.

You did a super job! Can't tell from new.

 

[58Bassman]

I’m only doing it because the factory guard looks like monkeybutt and i couldn’t find a suitable replacement so I decided to make one.

When I bought a Squire Offset Tele, I saw that the black three ply pickguard had a bunch of scratches, so my first idea was to make a new one in Black Pearloid, but none of the photos showed anything for a reference WRT size of the pattern, so I held off until I saw an ad for a vinyl car wrap place on FaceBook. I have seen a lot of great colors and patterns since I have a boat which has gelcoat problems on the transom, so I called to ask if they had any scraps and how much they might cost. The guy said I should just go there and they would give me some. I protested- they're not in business to give the materials away, but they did.

I asked for some business cards

 

[Higgins1980]

Looks like a factory-made pickguard.

You did a super job! Can't tell from new.

Thanks. The more I look at this one the more I’m thinking I’m gonna scrap it and start over. I think I can do better. I want the radius of the pickup corners not squared and one mount hole is off center. It’s not a bad first attempt though.

 

[Higgins1980]

When I bought a Squire Offset Tele, I saw that the black three ply pickguard had a bunch of scratches, so my first idea was to make a new one in Black Pearloid, but none of the photos showed anything for a reference WRT size of the pattern, so I held off until I saw an ad for a vinyl car wrap place on FaceBook. I have seen a lot of great colors and patterns since I have a boat which has gelcoat problems on the transom, so I called to ask if they had any scraps and how much they might cost. The guy said I should just go there and they would give me some. I protested- they're not in business to give the materials away, but they did.

I asked for some business cards

That carbon fiber looks nice.

 

[SoundDesign]

I've done quite a bit of guitar assembly (I won't insult builders by calling what I do anywhere similar) but I doubt I'll ever tackle bodies or necks from scratch. The other thing is pickguards. They look like one of those "way harder than it looks" type things.

 

[Red Beer-d]

Thanks. The more I look at this one the more I’m thinking I’m gonna scrap it and start over. I think I can do better. I want the radius of the pickup corners not squared and one mount hole is off center. It’s not a bad first attempt though.

That's a great first!

Be warned, if you make another You will make more, and enjoy getting
them perfect!

 

[Higgins1980]

Here’s ther before and after. Definitely like the pear better but the guard itself looks a bit wonkey to me.

 

[Higgins1980]

I've done quite a bit of guitar assembly (I won't insult builders by calling what I do anywhere similar) but I doubt I'll ever tackle bodies or necks from scratch. The other thing is pickguards. They look like one of those "way harder than it looks" type things.

It’s definitely tedious. And if you had all the right tools and jigs and what not it probably wouldn’t be that bad. But I definitely wouldn’t want to try to make one any more complicated than this one.

 

[Higgins1980]

That’s what I’m talking about….

 

[Red Beer-d]

I messed with it a bit in P.S.

When doing the curves do just little strokes and step back for a look.
You will develop an eye to avoid non-uniform lines/curves.

You see it after, so now you know what go for!

This is important:
When you get to inspecting the curves and straights for touch-up just do
a couple strokes and check.
It's easy to start chasing your tail at this point!