Dedmans DM-1S

[Dedman]

About 26 coats of TO. I sanded with 1200W&D yesterday for the first time. I think the flash just picked up a few low points still in the top. The back is glassy already.Will keep doing coats (2 a day )and sand again on the weekend.
I made this pick guard and Truss rod cover. from some ply that Pabs sent as packaging on a guard a few weeks back. Its only had a dozen or so coats of TO, I may re-make it in some burl walnut veneer or something. Not really sure I want a pick guard at all hence doing it from ply.

[Sonic Mountain]

Seems a shame to hide the spalt with a pick guard. Now that you've got some finish on there its really highlighted the dark band in the middle - its worked out really well. Almost looks like a wide racing stripe ending in a demon or something.....and it looks a bit like the demon is flipping the bird....

[wokkaboy]

looking great Deddy. I agree with Sonic - doesn't need a pickguard, let the spalt do the talking.
26 coats, you have too much spare time !

[Kick]

I also prefer no pickguard with such great looking spalt

[Marcel]

Looking good there Dedman..... has an almost antique vibe to it...

[Simon Barden]

...like Dedman.

With that colour, it looks more like mahogany than maple. Very nice.

I'd go without a scratchplate. With that 'V' style headstock, it's not a traditional Jr/Melody Maker clone, and that would be my main reason for not going with one. You'd only cover up a less interesting area of the spalt top, which I think would be fine, but adding a Jr/MM style guard, even if made from wood, would make it more of a copy and less of your own guitar.

If you did want a pickguard, if that were my guitar, I'd get a piece of spalt maple veneer, leave it light in colour and stick it on top of the ply (maybe thinning the back of the ply down to compensate), and maybe use a satin clearcoat. Then it would add more spalty goodness, rather than simply covering some up, but in a contrasting way.

[Dedman]

I'm thinking I'll leave it off entirely and stick with the minimalist look

[wokkaboy]

good move Deddy, you know you will lose marks in GOTM if you covered the spalt with a pickguard

[wazkelly]

Most Gibbo's look better without pickguards anyways.

Looks great as is however if you really, really wanted a pickguard I suggest a plain clear acrylic one as that way you can protect the surface but not hide what's underneath.

[Dedman]

coming together fitted bridge and pick up today


did have some "help"