Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been thinking of using a wooden pick guard on my next guitar.

I know some of you use them and I had a couple questions.

First what thickness for the wood? I am think of using Sapele.

Do you finish them or just leave them as raw wood?

Oh, and how do you attach them to the soundboard?

Thanks
Neil

hi Neil
I don’t have any experience of this myself but I recall way back in the ‘70 / ‘80’s George Lowden did this if asked for, and what I thought was neat was he used to “hollow” out the under side so it only touched round the gluing edge which gave minimal damping effect on the soundboard. He used BRW if I recall and lacquered over it, I would suggest a rosewood or ebony type veneer rather than mahogany for better ware.
best regards
Geordie

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Neil, I make mine from commercial veneers. I pick up small bundles on Ebay pretty cheap. You can get some really beautiful stuff; figured, burl, crotch wood, you name it. They're generally 1/42" thick. Pretty thin stuff. I use the 3M double side adhesive sheets from LMI... I think StewMac carries them too. I cut them about 1/4" oversize, apply the adhesive sheet and finish them with Tru-oil. Final step is to cut them to shape. A good, sharp set of scissors works fine.

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Jim Womack

"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. "
Will Rogers