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Pickguard fitting questions
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=21144		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Pickguard fitting questions
I've got a pickguard with the adhesive sheet already on it. It doesn't quite fit the outside of the rosette, the pickguard was made for a smaller radius. Is it possible to fit this picguard to my rosette and how? I can see how it would be easy to muck up that adhesive. Also the guard was like 30 bucks I think.

Also while I'm on the subject... Are there pickguard fitment rules?? Usually the fit on the outside edge of the rosette. I noticed the pickguard matches the radius of the ring that splits the herringbone on the rosette and I wondered 'why not?' I guess a person can put a pickguard on however they choose but are there any accepted guidelines as to what looks normal and what would look funky?
Author:  Jim Watts [ Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Jeremy,
You can cut a new radius easily. Use some masking and tape the guard to a piece of wood and set a knife on a pivot to cut the new radius. Just draw your desired radius on the board, position the pick guard and cut. Oh, many light passes work better than one heavy cut and you'll have to sand and polish the edge afterward, but this works.
Good luck.
Author:  Weeping Zee Guitars [ Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Jeremy-

You can certainly cut the new radius as Jim said.

You can also do as you suggested. I personally don't think that there is anything wrong with sliding the pickguard in a bit to fit a radius closer to the soundhole, and I do it all the time. If you look at the cover of Acoustic magazine advertised on OLF, the pickguard is about halfway into the rosette! Don't think there are any hard and fast rules, if it looks good to you.

Mike
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Thanks guys, this is how I was thinking of putting it on.

Image
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
What I have done is to measure the radius you want to match and cut a circle out of 3/4"stock to match that radius. Stick sandpaper to the outside and chuck it in your drill press with a bolt through the center. Lower RPM. Sand the radius into your pickguard. Do a trial on scrap first to be sure it matches.
Looks classy to have a pickguard that exactly matches the radius of the appropriate ring.
TJK
Author:  Kim [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Hey Jeremey,

I was faced with the same conundrum. Quite frankly I would have referred to have left the pickgaurd off altogether because I did not want to cover up the nice mulga ring I bent and installed. But the way I play (ham fisted :roll:) and the fact that this one will be getting passed around a bit, I was left with no option, the PG has to be fitted. As you can probably see I fitted the radius to the purfling line which surrounds the green abalone. I just opened up the original radius of the tortis PG with a little sanding and polishing as has already been suggested. It does cover up some of the mulga but it still looks OK.

Image

Cheers

Kim
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Thanks, I guess I'll try and match it. I think even if I mess up the peel and stick sheet I can clean it off with naptha and put a new sheet on.
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
The radius change is usually pretty small and so far I have not had a problem with the adhesive sheet. I've re-beveled the edge with a curved sanding block going through progressive grits and finishing with Micromesh and putting it on the buffing wheel. Good luck.
Terry
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Thanks everybody, I got fixed up today. I just made a little sanding block in the appropriate radius, stuck some 220 on and once it was sanded I beveled the edge with a razor blade then buffed it with a polishing pad on a handheld drill.

Image
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Looks great.
TJK
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Pickguard fitting questions
Thanks Guys [:Y:]
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