Vintage Tele pickguard material?

cj_tele · July 3rd, 2008, 09:40 AM

Re: materials Fender used for '50s black pickguards. Today, one can purchase a reissue pickguard from Fender that is made of "bakelite", and callaham.com has black Tele pickguards made of what they descibe as "fiberboard". Which is closest to what Fender used in the '50s?

Thanks in advance for your illumination. I am fixing up the remains of a much-abused '56 Tele (which will really be a Parts-caster by the time I'm done) and want to get this guitar as close as I can to original stock Fender parts.

JasonRobert · July 3rd, 2008, 12:44 PM

the old tele pickguards were made from bakelite. if you want parts that are close to the original fender parts, then I would assume that fender parts are.

another thing to do is to look for original fender parts on auction sites. they may be expensive, but if you want the guitar to look and be as original as you can get it, then this is the best way.

eryque · July 3rd, 2008, 12:48 PM

Callaham's pickguards are listed as "fiberboard bakelite," which is a redundant name. Bakelite is fiberboard impregnated with phenolic resin.

blackbelt308 · July 3rd, 2008, 12:51 PM

I have one from Fender and one from Callaham. The quality of the Callaham guard is most impressive!

Ciao,
Rick

PeterUK · July 3rd, 2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

Callaham's pickguards are listed as "fiberboard bakelite," which is a redundant name. Bakelite is fiberboard impregnated with phenolic resin.

Absolutely right. Have a study of The Blackguard Book and you'll see that the early pickguards were a fibreboard impregnated with phenolic resin which starts to break down and show obvious signs of the fibre.

The 52RI pickguards seem to be much denser and more "plastic" which suggests to me that these reissue ones aren't made of the same material as the fiberboard bakelite.

Peter

MarkAdam · July 3rd, 2008, 02:03 PM

The modern equivalent to bakelite is commercially known as GAROLITE SHEET , BLACK, 1/16" THICK.

I've been cutting a few bakelite guards over the past year and have found that modern lacquers build quickly on it...you can easily put on .030" of finish in 6 or 7 coat passes. That's why it feels like "plastic".

***Editted to the correct decimal place....

cj_tele · July 3rd, 2008, 08:29 PM

Thanks, guys. I think I'll check out a Callaham pickguard. Of course, a real '56 Tele pickguard would be best, but that would break the bank. I'd love to be able to compare such a thing to the reissues, though.

edit: there is an original '52 Tele bakelite pickguard on eBay right now; the minimum price is $3700! I'd love to be able to see/feel it, but buying it is impossible for me, sadly.

Twang Tone · July 4th, 2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj_tele

Thanks, guys. I think I'll check out a Callaham pickguard. Of course, a real '56 Tele pickguard would be best, but that would break the bank. I'd love to be able to compare such a thing to the reissues, though.

edit: there is an original '52 Tele bakelite pickguard on eBay right now; the minimum price is $3700! I'd love to be able to see/feel it, but buying it is impossible for me, sadly.

I thought '56 Teles came with a WHITE pickguard??

And that Black pickguards were on the first 1950-1954 'Blackguard' Teles?? If you want it to be close to original stock parts, shouldn't the pickguard be white?

Thanks,

jwells393 · July 4th, 2008, 12:16 PM

Ed Hawley gave me a source for Garolite.

www.mcmaster.com

Sorry can't link directly to the page. Use their search function. A 12 in. x 12 in. x 1/16 in. sheet of Black Grade XX Garolite is $4.28.

spankdplank · July 4th, 2008, 02:57 PM

The Garolite from McMaster works perfectly for making early 50's Bakelite guards. Shot mine with Deft rattle can gloss on top of a quart paint can for the underside halo effect. After a few years it should be indistinguishable from an original.

July 3rd, 2008, 09:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
cj_tele TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minnesota Age: 41 Posts: 24	Vintage Tele pickguard material? Re: materials Fender used for '50s black pickguards. Today, one can purchase a reissue pickguard from Fender that is made of "bakelite", and callaham.com has black Tele pickguards made of what they descibe as "fiberboard". Which is closest to what Fender used in the '50s? Thanks in advance for your illumination. I am fixing up the remains of a much-abused '56 Tele (which will really be a Parts-caster by the time I'm done) and want to get this guitar as close as I can to original stock Fender parts.

July 3rd, 2008, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,127 44 Photos	Callaham's pickguards are listed as "fiberboard bakelite," which is a redundant name. Bakelite is fiberboard impregnated with phenolic resin. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

July 3rd, 2008, 02:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
MarkAdam TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Des Plaines, IL Posts: 45	The modern equivalent to bakelite is commercially known as GAROLITE SHEET , BLACK, 1/16" THICK. I've been cutting a few bakelite guards over the past year and have found that modern lacquers build quickly on it...you can easily put on .030" of finish in 6 or 7 coat passes. That's why it feels like "plastic". **Editted to the correct decimal place.... __________________ ...My guitar and I are no longer on speaking terms...nah...I need another one... Last edited by MarkAdam; July 3rd, 2008 at 05:34 PM.*

July 4th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,253 101 Photos	Ed Hawley gave me a source for Garolite. www.mcmaster.com Sorry can't link directly to the page. Use their search function. A 12 in. x 12 in. x 1/16 in. sheet of Black Grade XX Garolite is $4.28. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

July 3rd, 2008, 12:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
JasonRobert Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paddock Wood, Kent, England Posts: 569	the old tele pickguards were made from bakelite. if you want parts that are close to the original fender parts, then I would assume that fender parts are. another thing to do is to look for original fender parts on auction sites. they may be expensive, but if you want the guitar to look and be as original as you can get it, then this is the best way.

July 3rd, 2008, 12:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
blackbelt308 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Age: 49 Posts: 162	I have one from Fender and one from Callaham. The quality of the Callaham guard is most impressive! Ciao, Rick

July 3rd, 2008, 08:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
cj_tele TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minnesota Age: 41 Posts: 24	Thanks, guys. I think I'll check out a Callaham pickguard. Of course, a real '56 Tele pickguard would be best, but that would break the bank. I'd love to be able to compare such a thing to the reissues, though. edit: there is an original '52 Tele bakelite pickguard on eBay right now; the minimum price is $3700! I'd love to be able to see/feel it, but buying it is impossible for me, sadly.

July 4th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
spankdplank Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 695 28 Photos	The Garolite from McMaster works perfectly for making early 50's Bakelite guards. Shot mine with Deft rattle can gloss on top of a quart paint can for the underside halo effect. After a few years it should be indistinguishable from an original.