So I had meant to do more work on the pickguard design. Took a lot longer than anticipated. I tried to make a template of the guitar for helping with the design process, tracing a photo of the guitar and adjusting with physical measurements. I now have something approximating the guitar and have started doing some designs.
Here's the first one, inspired by a Jazz Bass pickguard and using a Jazz Bass control plate with three controls. Trying to maximise the amount of wood showing.
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Current:
GTH-1
Completed:
AST-1FB
First Act ME276 (resurrected curb-side find)
ES-5V
Scratchie lapsteel
Custom ST-1 12 String
JBA-4
TL-1TB
Scratch Lapsteel
Meinl DIY Cajon
Cigar Box lap steel
Wishing:
Baritone
Open D/Standard Double 6 twin neck
Thanks.
It's not too bad but still needs a bit more adjusting.
The control plate is a bit close to the bottom edge so that needs to be rotated a bit. Difficult though due to the pickup and bridge locations.
Also I don't think the top curve is quite right. It doesn't really follow the guitar edge as is usual with most Fender pickguards. See the attached picture for example. Will have to pay with that a bit.
And lastly I might move the blade switch location. Could either go in the middle between the two pickups (might be in the way?) or in the lower right where the switch normally is. Or could even route out the body further and just move it down from the current location I've drawn out. I'm just not sure the best location functionwise.
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I think the top edge flows well IMO - but it's your guitar so you need to be happy. But if you stick with it, or something very close to it, I would suggest moving the marked-up pickguard screw hole to somewhere nearer where I've indicated. You've put it in a place with very little material around it, so it's very likely to crack. Also I feel that that top rounded corner would otherwise tend to lift over time and you'd end up with a gap which you'd notice when playing.
Few more pickguard designs. First two are modifications of the previous design with modified top curve and slightly rotated the control plate so it's not as close to the edge. Only difference between the two is top horn shape. Third, similar to a bass vi but using a Jazz Bass control plate shape. And last similar to the Ventures Jazzmaster, mostly the same shape as the third.
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Last edited by kuanjb; 16-01-2019 at 08:49 PM.
Either of the first two get my tick of approval... but it's not my guitar.
Yep I like the first one.
The last two I actually made a while ago. Before I made any of the jazz bass-esque ones. Thought I'd cut them out and see what they look like for completeness more than anything else.
I have a Jazz Bass control plate in the mail already. Has different knobs too which I think might look a bit better too.
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Three is probably the easiest to do well, but I do prefer the first two.
Current:
GTH-1
Completed:
AST-1FB
First Act ME276 (resurrected curb-side find)
ES-5V
Scratchie lapsteel
Custom ST-1 12 String
JBA-4
TL-1TB
Scratch Lapsteel
Meinl DIY Cajon
Cigar Box lap steel
Wishing:
Baritone
Open D/Standard Double 6 twin neck