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I just placed an order for a bunch of clear pick guards and while I was looking around at some other luthier's web sites I had a brain fart and it occured to me that it may be possible for an artist to paint a picture, in reverse, on a clear pick guard which is then glued to the top of the guitar in the normal process.

For those that wanted a custom look and an artist that wanted to show off their abilities, I dont see why this wouldnt work and for the most part wouldnt take away from the rest of the guitar's beauty. Just wondered if anybody had tried it and if so what was the outcome? Did it work??

If you dont think it would work, why not? At this point it is ust a brain fart idea, but something I may look into to test.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Hi Ken

I've done illustration on two guitars. You might enjoy looking up Fender's Monterey Pop Festival strat.

that is getting to where I'm going with this idea, but not quite.

When I was in Miami, I had a couple of artists approach me asking if I would let them paint one of my guitars. I told them if they bought it they could do anythng to it they wanted to. They didnt want to invest in the guitar but thought it would bring more money if it was tastefully painted in lacquer paints. I am not a fan of any kind of painted guitars, except for the one guitar that Hesh painted just the top of black. I have now done one of those myself and it will be shown at the Nashville show next month.

What I am talking about is just the pick guard. I see plenty of pick guards with inlay in them, but having a picture painted by a talented artist, in reverse so that the actual painting would also be protected by the clear pick guard. in other words, the painting would go between the pick guard and the top of the guitar. I think if this would be tastefully done, I could se where this may be an acceptable way to customize a guitar without destroying its value. Since the painting would be on the back side of the pick guard, it could be removed at a later date if desired with no ill effects to the guitar or it's finish.

I wouldnt mind the same artist painting on a rosette to tie it all together, but again it would hae to be very tastefully done.
just an idea...

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Reguards,

Ken H

seems to me there would be adhesion problems with the underside of the pick guard painted.

Some types paints may eventually bleed into the finish and spread out an oil pattern. The pigment might not bleed, but the paint vehicle might. So, you need to be aware of that.

as well .. is the painted surface going to be flat enough to put the double sided glue sheet on ??? Or is the pickguard going to be all bumby with air bubbles under it ???? All depends how its painted I guess ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Only other thought I have is the pick scratches on top of the pick guard (why it's there in the first place) would eventually render the painting below either blurry or scarcely visible.

Nice idea though, not one I would want on my guitar but there are some who may.

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I was actually considering using extremely thin material such as a flamenco guitar's golpeador for the medium, then laminate the painting between 2 of these so that the painting its self would "float" above the finish of the guitar. This way, it wouldnt even come into contact with the guitar at all and could be easily removed at some later date if desired without damage to the guitar. It should be fairly easy to get the bubbles of air out from between the laminated sheets and also the guitar and the pick guard.

It wouldnt be for everyone, but I think it could be tastefully done and very unique.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Inkjet the art onto clear film, then sandwich (double sandwich?) the art between the pickguard and the body?

Pickguard gets scratched up, print out more art and install a new guard.

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Dan
http://www.acme-archtops.com

Hey Ken. I understood what you were getting at. The Monterey Pop strat is as close to an example as I think you're going to find.

Due to technique, I would suggest looking at screen printing instead. Ilustrators (that's what this is) will have a very difficult time doing this. You might also read up on reverse glass painting.

The cells for old animated films like Snow White etc. were inked and painted on the back of thin celluloid sheets, then superimposed on the background and photographed. You could have a Bambi or Mickey Mouse tribute model. Seriously, it would probably work and would definitely be outside the box. You could laminate between a darker colored base and a clear overlay.

Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Hey Ken,

Ramblin' Jack Elliot has an artist painted pickguard on his guitar, just like your talking about, back side of a clear guard. Seems like it's a bucking bull rider. Works for him and his image, and he's had it a long time.

Joe

I hadnt even thought about printing out a picture on clear material, but that can certainly be done and would eliminate another hand in my pocket too

Thanks for the ideas! I have a bunch of the clear pick guard material coming in, so I might just try some of this and see where it leads. I dont know who Ramblin Jack Elliot is, but if it works for him, Must be ok

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Reguards,

Ken H

Generally, oil or acrylic artists refine their painting by adding layers of paint on top of base layers of paint. The reverse side of a clear pick guard would probably look more like the base coats and not the final painting, even if it was painted thinly.

I have one guitar that had a cosmetically challenged top. I had an artist friend paint a thin acrylic painting on top of it. I then used my usual catalyzed urethane finish on it and I liked the result. I could have put a clear pick guard on it but I didn't.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Mr Hodge: consider using water-slide decals. These can be bought in 8x11 sheets and can be printed using a laser printer or ink jet.

In the Gretsch community, its is very comment for the guards to be decorated from the back side with a waterslide. A solid color paint can be added for background.


Here are a few from Paul Setzer. Most have a western motif, but I think you can get the idea.

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Joe