Paulownia Partscaster

[Skub]

This is my first attempt at a build,which will be more of an assembling of chosen parts rather than the full fat originals you lots are used to. I'll add to the thread as I bumble my way towards a usable finished guitar.

I made my first mistake before I had even started,I bought the body and neck from two different places and no,they didn't fit. The neck pocket was within spec,so I worked on the neck to get a good fit.

So,while the lacquer on the neck is curing this week,I decided to do a mock up to help me decide whether to use a pickguard or just a neck pickup surround. The neck cavity is oversize enough for me not to have any landing,but if I prefer the look without the pickguard such things can be overcome.

What think you,pickguard or no?

[PraiseTele]

That's a tough one...

The one with the pg is ALWAYS nice and classy, but i also like to see more of the wood...

Would propably go with the second one, just to be different.

Great job!!

[PinewoodRo]

A pickguard, but one that hides the neck pickup screws!
I love the colour.

[jimdkc]

I like the one with the pickguard.

[toddfan]

Nice finish...but, I think the pickguard ADDS to the beauty.

[telecat33511]

whats Paulownia ?
Looks cool without the pickguard

[musicalmartin]

Where did you get the body from? .I have just got a paulownia GFS strat body.
Paulowonia is a very light soft resonant wood .My unknown make paulownia bodies parts caster is as resonant as my Thinline which is a very lightweight ash.Makes for a warm open tone .Dont try nitroing it though and drip superglue into screw holes first to harden them up a bit .It needs poly to keep it all together

[Skub]

Originally Posted by telecat33511

whats Paulownia ?

You see the hardware sitting on top of the body? If that stuff wasn't there the paulownia body would float to the ceiling. It's heavy like a helium balloon.

@ Musicalmartin,the body came from GFS.

[fretman_2]

Wow...that is a tough call. I like them both, but probably like the pickguard a little more.

Originally Posted by Skub

This is my first attempt at a build,which will be more of an assembling of chosen parts rather than the full fat originals you lots are used to. I'll add to the thread as I bumble my way towards a usable finished guitar.

I made my first mistake before I had even started,I bought the body and neck from two different places and no,they didn't fit. The neck pocket was within spec,so I worked on the neck to get a good fit.

So,while the lacquer on the neck is curing this week,I decided to do a mock up to help me decide whether to use a pickguard or just a neck pickup surround. The neck cavity is oversize enough for me not to have any landing,but if I prefer the look without the pickguard such things can be overcome.

What think you,pickguard or no?

[SixShooter]

I like the look with the pickguard. White pearl with orange is a classic and classy look.

[whodatpat]

Go without for as long as you can stand it, or until you start scratching it. Once you drill the holes for the pick-guard, you lose the ability to choose. Why rush it?

[Oakville Dave]

Originally Posted by whodatpat

Go without for as long as you can stand it, or until you start scratching it. Once you drill the holes for the pick-guard, you lose the ability to choose. Why rush it?

Big +1

No turning back once those holes are drilled. My armchair psychiatrist thinks that people prefer the pickguard look because that's what we're used to seeing!

Here's a CRAZY idea that just popped into my head!! You could drill from behind and sink in rare earth magnets just below the face of the body, then imbed some thin metal (or thin magnets) into the back of the pickguard, and you could switch the look whenever you wanted to! Practice on another piece of wood first!!

Sounds stupid now that I've actually typed it, but damn, it could actually work!

[speedy mcfeely]

I think you should go with a half pickguard (like the Cabronita's) and the pickup holder. Best of both worlds.

[Skub]

Damn you all and your further ideas.

[mobaar]

Originally Posted by speedy mcfeely

I think you should go with a half pickguard (like the Cabronita's) and the pickup holder. Best of both worlds.

I was going to say go with the PG, but I have to say, I LOVE this idea.

I think my issue is not that I'm not comfortable without a PG, but I just am not digging all that chrome with the body. I don't know why...I hate gold and black hardware, and only use chrome, but with the chrome neck PU cover, it just seems like too much.

Then again, I'm not you, so I can't make this decision for you, but I feel like you just need something to break up all that chrome, and a heavy-contrast white or white pearloid pickguard seems perfect for that purpose.

~Mo

[Skub]

Originally Posted by speedy mcfeely

I think you should go with a half pickguard (like the Cabronita's) and the pickup holder. Best of both worlds.

If I go with that idea it looks like I'd have to make the guard myself,I can't find anyone selling the Cabronita type.

[mobaar]

http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/LaC...Pickguard.aspx

[Skub]

Cheers mobaar.

[mlp-mx6]

I like this PG

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Pickguar...ctures#details

But I agree with the earlier post - no pickup screws in the pickguard. This is not a Strat. (wink)

[Yodhan]

I think that without with the pickup ring, or the half guard like a carbonita would be awesome. It would look a little different and still classy.