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How can I make something similar? Can I just inlay into a plastic guard or is it painted? I've searched the archives with no luck.
Thanks

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Hutch, I would guess that the lack of a response is because no one knows what you are talking about. Back up, post a photo or a link to a photo.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I think he means the pickguard off of the Gibson Hummingbird acoustic Howard.


I just quickly Googled 'Making a Hummingbird pickguard' Hutch & it spits pages & pages of results back at you. I haven't waded through all of them & can't see any reference to making your own but who knows? Buried down in page ten may be something.
Many hits are forum posts (mainly from the Gibson site) but there may just be enough bits of information gleaned to piece together how it was done & have a go yourself. Perhaps you could try painting the design on then sealing with a clear Mylar layer over the face to stop it getting scratched off?

It sounds like the originals were moulded with the pattern in then the colours 'laid' into the lines but I could be totally wrong.Later "newer" ones have been computer printed on by the sounds of things.
Found this from one such forum post over at Harmony central which would make sense & back up my suspicions:
"I found this:
http://pickguards.us/pricegibacoustic.html
One thing to be aware of: Gibson Hummingbird pickguards have the artwork incised into the surface, and then the grooved lines are painted. On present-day Epi 'birds, the artwork is just painted on, and it wears off rather quickly if your hand or pick tends to contact the pickguard.

On my '73 Gibson 'bird, which I have played a lot through the years, the paint has worn away from some of the incised artwork, but up close you still see it because it's cut into the surface. I think this is a much better way to make a pickguard--before ordering from that link, you should find out which way they do it (if it matters to you)."

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Nick Oliver

http://www.oliver-guitars.com

Was I hallucinating or was this thread titled "Hummingbird Style Pickup" until today?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks Nick. I was hoping some on this forum might have attemted it. I may have found a place that will make them but I haven't contacted them yet. I would like to do it mysef if possible.

BTW, I don't want to duplicate a hummingbird pickguard, just something similar. I haven't even designed it yet. This is something my wife wants on a guitar I'm repairing. It's my Gibson J50 that I've had since 1970 or so. I've had the back off and scalloped the braces, refinished once already and totally botched the neck reset the first time around so much so that I had to add wood to the heel joint. The origional bridge with the adjustment screw are long gone. I had a real luthier replace that and the fretboard for me many years ago. There's no turning back.

I'm taking my time with it this time around and I've got a bit more experience now and I hate seeing this guitar sitting in a case so I'm going to get it playing right and if my wife is satisfied with the sound of it, I'm going to put some black lacquer on it per my wifes request and dress it up with some inlays and a pretty pickguard.

That's the story. You don't want me getting anywhere near your prized guitar.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!