what about this pickguard shape? opinions? suggestions?

i finished a template for a pickguard for my new build. what do you think? how could i make this better. the color i am going with is black.

I think that looks good. It suits the shape of the guitar.

I like it a lot, though I like to see wood so much that I think it would look better on a painted body. Either way, it's a great shape.

Mike Bruce

I think that looks good. It suits the shape of the guitar.

+1!

Basically a very good design IMO. What I got from design classes way back when: you need to repeat your design elements. You are echoing the guitar shape very nicely. However, you are running up against the straight edges of the control plate and to a lesser extent the bridge. You have no straight edges that repeat those design elements so they seem a bit isolated.

I really like it!

maybe the part that comes down in between the pups (which looks almost straight) could be flattened out, then BlueJim will be happy.

In all honesty, I do not even think it is necessary. Looks great like that - I think the black will be even better. I really like how it allows so much of the grain to be exposed while giving you protection in just the right places.

A+!

I think it looks real good!

Yup...It flows!!! Looks just fine!

Very nice!

Like others said, its got nice flow, lets a lot of the grain show, and black is gonna look good. Maybe fake tortoise shell wood look good too.......

Some people ask for opinions then they or others get upset if I don't think something is wonderful. You asked for an opinion so here's mine. I don't like pickguards that barely touch the control plate. It look like you're making an effort to touch it. I think it needs more control plate contact. Here's an idea showing what I mean.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/Pickguardidea.jpg

If it's OK, I'd like to suggest this variation. The design element from the cutaway is echoed in the flourish at the botom of the control plate.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/584/pickguardidea3.jpg
I think your "LesCaster" is a pretty cool thing.

- Penny

Too much guard for me on the bottom one, but I like the idea. Just prefer the original design...

Great job! I like the variation by jwells393 too. The variation by PennyCentury not so much, maybe on a painted guitar, but it covers way too much of the beautiful figuring on the top.

I like your version (no surprise if you've seen mine, eh?) very much indeed.

Consider forming the pickguard in creme, parchment or greyish (Fender) mint green also, not just black. Frankly if we could find dark brown, that'd be superb also.

I respectfully find your design much more to my liking than the kind alternate suggestions. I proudly plead guilty to incidental contact with the control plate, as long as those other basic design tenets described above by John are met.

++

If you get into trouble design wise here, IMO, is it not gonna be with the pickguard but instead the dissonance between the MM shape and the paperclip shaped Tele style control plate. I think you need to consider a D shaped control plate, where the right side of the control plate speaks to and acknowledges the shape of the lower bout of the Gibson type body. Even if you don't move the hard points (blade switch, volume and tone control) locations or the rout at all.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj256/Taipan-Tone/Taipan%20Model/13.jpg

This pickguard takes a lot of the dissonance out, but my approach would have been to marry the control plate to at least some degree to the rounded shape of this guitar body. Because it isn't a Tele and everyone needs to pay homage to that. Even if one just contours the end down as was done on the control plate on one end of the the 51 Precision Bass control plate. Do both ends.

i finished a template for a pickguard for my new build. what do you think? how could i make this better. the color i am going with is black.


I like the Les Paul style with tele guts and an almost thinline style pickguard - very cool

Also remember that the purpose of the pickguard is to protect the body from getting scratched by the pick! I know- duh. I love the organic feel of your design. My only criticism is that there is an unprotected area between the bridge & control plate. Rather than making the pg bigger, perhaps some of the area above the neck pickup could be 'moved' to the other end of the pg.

If it's OK, I'd like to suggest this variation. The design element from the cutaway is echoed in the flourish at the botom of the control plate.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/584/pickguardidea3.jpg
I think your "LesCaster" is a pretty cool thing.

- Penny


too much pickguard..you don't want to hide that woodgrain.