If my pickguard is metal do I have to...

hugo · February 6th, 2008, 06:30 AM

I have a pickguard that was given to me and it's metal (steel, I think). Anyway, do I have to do anything to insulate it from the electrical components?

Also, because metal has a tension to it, should I do anything different with the screws so the holes don't get stripped? Or should the tension from the metal be enough to hold the screws in rather than pulling them away?

Alamo · February 6th, 2008, 07:24 AM

I've played my Tele with a brass pick-guard for over 20 years without any problems.
The only thing you might want to do - is fight corrosion.

hugo · February 6th, 2008, 10:15 AM

And how do we do that?
Copper might be a cool metal to use??

Cyrithicus · February 6th, 2008, 12:25 PM

fighting corrosion, is just wiping it with some alcahol once a week or so.

Copper, just use ketchup, or lemon juice(its the acid that cleans it) when it starts looking bad.

Alamo · February 8th, 2008, 06:46 PM

Clear coats of acrylic laquer will help fighting corrosion.
but it won't last forever as you can see in my picture.
the laquer comes off where you scratch the scratch-plate - who woulda thunk ;)
but it wont corrode if keep playing it.

here's one without or poorly covered laquer

rhstranger · February 8th, 2008, 10:50 PM

Wow, Alamo, that Tele is awwwesome. I have been debating doing a custom build along those lines (my attempts at professional paint finishes haven't really worked out that well...) I just can't find a supplier of brass/copper/metal pickguards for a lefty. Are most metal pickguards/controlplates custom cut? Trussart is the only one I could find that will make lefty metal pgs, but I can't justify $150 for it, or the $99 for the controlplate...ouch.

hugo · February 9th, 2008, 01:05 PM

Why don't you download a template of a lefty pickguard and make one outta metal? By a sheet of tin, copper or aluminum and cut it out. The guys here will help you with it or direct you with a link. You could also make a plexi pg. and paint the back of it or put a picture behind it.
Ask grasshopper....and answers will come tenfold.....Painfull is the sting of not asking....walk the path to enlightenment....

hugo · February 9th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Alamo, that is sweet. I love the look of the metal on that geetar. It goes great with the finish. Nice guitar, really.
Did you make that pg yourself or did you buy it? If you made it maybe you could help buddy there with a step by step?

February 6th, 2008, 06:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	If my pickguard is metal do I have to... I have a pickguard that was given to me and it's metal (steel, I think). Anyway, do I have to do anything to insulate it from the electrical components? Also, because metal has a tension to it, should I do anything different with the screws so the holes don't get stripped? Or should the tension from the metal be enough to hold the screws in rather than pulling them away? Last edited by hugo; February 6th, 2008 at 06:35 AM. Reason: dufus

February 6th, 2008, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cyrithicus Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Age: 31 Posts: 1,020 4 Photos	fighting corrosion, is just wiping it with some alcahol once a week or so. Copper, just use ketchup, or lemon juice(its the acid that cleans it) when it starts looking bad. __________________ "When I was young, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not." --Mark Twain

February 8th, 2008, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
rhstranger TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ontario CANADA Posts: 48	Wow, Alamo, that Tele is awwwesome. I have been debating doing a custom build along those lines (my attempts at professional paint finishes haven't really worked out that well...) I just can't find a supplier of brass/copper/metal pickguards for a lefty. Are most metal pickguards/controlplates custom cut? Trussart is the only one I could find that will make lefty metal pgs, but I can't justify $150 for it, or the $99 for the controlplate...ouch. __________________ Fender. mmm,mmm, good....

February 6th, 2008, 07:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Alamo Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 51 Posts: 743	I've played my Tele with a brass pick-guard for over 20 years without any problems. The only thing you might want to do - is fight corrosion.

February 6th, 2008, 10:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	And how do we do that? Copper might be a cool metal to use??

February 8th, 2008, 06:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alamo Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 51 Posts: 743	Clear coats of acrylic laquer will help fighting corrosion. but it won't last forever as you can see in my picture. the laquer comes off where you scratch the scratch-plate - who woulda thunk ;) but it wont corrode if keep playing it. here's one without or poorly covered laquer

February 9th, 2008, 01:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	Why don't you download a template of a lefty pickguard and make one outta metal? By a sheet of tin, copper or aluminum and cut it out. The guys here will help you with it or direct you with a link. You could also make a plexi pg. and paint the back of it or put a picture behind it. Ask grasshopper....and answers will come tenfold.....Painfull is the sting of not asking....walk the path to enlightenment....

February 9th, 2008, 01:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	Alamo, that is sweet. I love the look of the metal on that geetar. It goes great with the finish. Nice guitar, really. Did you make that pg yourself or did you buy it? If you made it maybe you could help buddy there with a step by step?