Gavins Butterscotch DC Jnr

[gavinturner]

hi guys,

Got the second coat of Butterscotch Wudtone on the body today and the fifth on the neck and headstock. The rock maple neck takes many more coats to get the same colour depth, but I think I may have them currently on par.





I also got the scroll saw out and made a pickguard and truss rod cover from tortoiseshell material. Should look good all assembled. There doesn't seem to be much gap between the end of the fretboard and the body this time around, so the new 3ply pickguard I've made may not fit under the fretboard. I'll have to cross that bridge at assembly time.



I'm also thinking about putting the new pickguard in the oven and then bending it to conform to the curved body shape. Has anyone done this before? I had to add extra screw holes last time to cinch the pickguard down flat. I seem to remember someone straightening a bent pickguard by heating it? Any tips and tricks from you gurus on shaping this one?

cheers,
Gav.

[lunaticthighs]

Looking sexy mate. Definitely set a level of finishing for us newbies to aspire to.
On the other I'm no expert but an oven should work just be careful not to over heat it. Back in school from memory we used a strip heater sort of set up to soften plastics.

[pablopepper]

Gav, a hairdryer will probably be enough to heat it, you'll have more control that way.

[gavinturner]

Awesome - cheers Looney, cheers Pabs! What I'm not sure about is whether the "warm" pickguard will affect the Wudtone or not. Maybe I should find where it needs to bend and then use something else. I guessit depends how hot it actually needs to get...

cheers,
Gav.

[pablopepper]

Good question. It shouldn't have to be that hot. Test on some scrap, take the protective film off first otherwise it won't come off. Any singeing or bubbling means too hot (duh), you want to get it just pliable. I would put a towel or something on the guitar position the pickguard as best as you can and then a sandbag on top and leave it for 15-20 minutes.

[WeirdBits]

Got a couple of heat bags? I've used them to soften binding (one underneath and on top of the binding coil), but you may not be able to get them hot enough for a pickguard.

[SIMpleONe89]

What a yummy colour!

[wokkaboy]

looking awesome Gav the colour after just 2 coats of butterscotch. You may end up keeping this one and giving your buddy your 1st build haha.
Hairdryer sounds like the go to shape the pickguard, I'd put something that will protect the wudtone on the body when trying to shape it, something that will follow the body contours, not sure what to suggest, maybe 2 layers of old tee towels. At least you know the wudtome underneath will be covered by the pickguard if it does bubble up a bit from the heat.
How did you shape the pickguard 1st build you did Gav ?

[gavinturner]

Hey Wokka - last time I just added more screws and tightened it down. Want to go for minimal screws this time if at all possible..

cheers,
Gav.

[lawry]

The butterscotch looks very buttery and it sits brilliantly with the tortoise shell. These are such sweet, simple, classy axes. What's not to love about 'em?