Thread: Electric guitar pickguard material

Yep... I think I'm gonna try to make some scales out of three ply black pearloid pickguard material. I'm pretty sure it'll be plenty stiff enough, and the look of the black/white/black plys along each side of the blade? I'm guessing that's gonna look amazing. What do you guys think? It's a tenth of an inch right off the bat, so it should be perfect I think.

Guitar Parts Resource: Pickguard Material

IMHO I think it will be a bit too thin. There isn't enough thickness to do much shaping. I also think it may flex a bit too much and possibly crack from tension once the blade is in place. It also may warp over time. All that being said, YOU SHOULD try it. I think it is a great idea and I really hope it works out. If you do, please post pics. Good luck!!
Glenn

Originally Posted by sharp

IMHO I think it will be a bit too thin. There isn't enough thickness to do much shaping. I also think it may flex a bit too much and possibly crack from tension once the blade is in place. It also may warp over time. All that being said, YOU SHOULD try it. I think it is a great idea and I really hope it works out. If you do, please post pics. Good luck!!
Glenn

Thinking outside the box with this, but maybe thin brass liners would strengthen it up enough to be very usable

Originally Posted by rodb

Thinking outside the box with this, but maybe thin brass liners would strengthen it up enough to be very usable

That's a great idea! I hadn't even thought about lining them, that opens up a lot of possibilities.

Originally Posted by sharp

That's a great idea! I hadn't even thought about lining them, that opens up a lot of possibilities.

I've fixed broken scales with liners, why not fully lined scales? I think I might try this!

Originally Posted by rodb

Thinking outside the box with this, but maybe thin brass liners would strengthen it up enough to be very usable

That's exactly what I was thinking. Nickel silver, aluminium, brass, various coloured fibre liner used in knifemaking, layering different pickguard materials, etc. The world's your oyster, go for it! Pictures and opinions on working it if you do please!

These scales I made of a Fender Stratocaster pickguard, worked like a charm

Originally Posted by Zephyr

These scales I made of a Fender Stratocaster pickguard, worked like a charm

Nice!!!
I have a Les Paul guard I'm not using, I'm going to try this!

I knew this idea was going to rock! haha That thing's amazing. I love the pin striping effect the different plys give. I'm gonna use them on a HUGE Wade and Butcher wedge I've got, I think. In Black Pearl? It's gonna be awesome....

Originally Posted by Zephyr

These scales I made of a Fender Stratocaster pickguard, worked like a charm

Any issues with the wedge? I see it's pickguard material, did you have to do much shaping to it?