Finally got a Blackguard

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 12:12 PM

I already had the rest of the guitar!

It used to have a white pickguard but I bought a Fender 52 reissue guard for my 96 MIJ and after a bit of sanding around the fretboard cutout I finally managed to put it on. So far on this guitar I have changed the guard, the bridge, the saddles, pups, and electronics. I've had a ball. She plays and sounds pretty good but the question is... how's she looking?

Actually you can see some grain under the finish in real life that I didn't really capture on the pics (or mineral traces if the body is basswood, which I think it may well be).

Sorry about the poor photography, I haven't really taken many pictures of guitars before - the lighting is terrible, too many dark shadows. I'll try and take some better ones when I've practised.

The String King · June 29th, 2006, 12:20 PM

I can't see the pictures mate.

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The String King

I can't see the pictures mate.

Hmmm, bear with me.

Are they there now?

Spidercaster · June 29th, 2006, 01:11 PM

It looks GREAT!!!!

Dana · June 29th, 2006, 01:15 PM

Looks great. I have to get one of those MIJ Tele's someday.

Hiflyer · June 29th, 2006, 01:26 PM

Superb !

The String King · June 29th, 2006, 01:30 PM

Holy crunch batman! That is beautiful! Don't worry about the poor photography, have you seen mine? The pictures arent that bad anyways!

TDPRI · June 29th, 2006, 01:36 PM

It looks great. Now, send the guitar to a relic outfit and have that bad boy aged.

Uh Oh, I'll bet I'll hear from you guys about that suggestion. But mine is strictly my personal opinion. I perfer a beat up guitar. If you don't then that's cool with me.

But wouldn't that look great if you could fast forward the aging by about 40 years??

Paul Green

refin · June 29th, 2006, 02:46 PM

Very nice!!

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 03:44 PM

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging comments. I was so pleased that you thought she turned out alright that I took some more pics! Strangely I cannot seem to capture the colour of the body that well, I think I am over exposing it. Anyway, these are all slightly better photos than before perhaps, apologies if they take a while to load...

This first one is the most accurate reproduction of the colour but it is still more buttery in real life. I still can't see the grain/mineral traces either, ho hum... The neck isn't quite so dark either, don't know why it came out like that.

From now on they are all a bit whiter in the body than the reality, it isn't a Mary Kaye that's for sure and I'm definitely NOT in Status Quo! I do like this next picture as a picture though, came out okay I think...

Now it gets waaay too white - photographers what am I doing wrong?

This next photo shows the neck colour most accurately...

Thanks for looking, hopefully you can get a better idea of how it looks from these pics and my commentary!

Paul, it has its fair share of dings and chips round the edges and here and there - all natural MIJ poly relicing! :-)

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 03:54 PM

And finally, while I was out there, I have been loaned a Custom Shop Class 5 Les Paul in exchange for an old strat of mine. I don't know how long I'll have it so I took a shot of that too before I have to give it back. I know I risk being thrown out of this place by posting it but hope you enjoy it anyhow (the grass colour went a bit strange when I adjusted so the guitar looked right)...

Beautiful as it is I still prefer my tele (and my strat).

Thanks for looking!

eddiewagner · June 29th, 2006, 03:59 PM

i would say it looks like a top tele. no frills, no whistles and bells. great tasteful guitar.

Tele56 · June 29th, 2006, 04:39 PM

Looks good!

Buckocaster51 · June 29th, 2006, 05:45 PM

That is a fine looking guitar.

0le FUZZY · June 29th, 2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

I know I risk being thrown out of this place by posting it but hope you enjoy it anyhow

Yew ain't a gonna git throwed out but that Gipsin waz pure urgleeeee.

Noe I dent enjoy !

Shame on sum folks mess.

MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)

SMORE !!(click)

Please visit my page

The String King · June 29th, 2006, 05:59 PM

Love the Tele, but I can't say I am a fan of the Les Paul! Don't get me wrong, it looks purty but I would rather play and look at the Tele!

zooropamofo · June 29th, 2006, 06:07 PM

Sweet....looks a lot like my Highway 1 blonde tele on which I swapped the whiteguard for a blackguard.

Grey · June 29th, 2006, 06:29 PM

Im really liking that first photo you posted, good job. :D

Bones · June 29th, 2006, 09:10 PM

Nice!

Is the E/A saddle steel or am I seeing things?

Pete Galati · June 29th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Looks good. I can't tell what color the paint is though. I was looking at the earlier pictures trying to figure it out, and then started scrolling down..... and it kept changing colors!

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bones

Nice!

Is the E/A saddle steel or am I seeing things?

Nearly, it's aluminium (aluminum

). They're a Glendale Cutting Edge Twang Set, and they work very well for both intonation and tone. Good spot though!

This is they:

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

Looks good. I can't tell what color the paint is though. I was looking at the earlier pictures trying to figure it out, and then started scrolling down..... and it kept changing colors!

That's cos it's a Chameleoncaster!

I have failed miserably at rendering both the colour and the grain/mineral traces. I am going to have another go at the weekend and really think hard about the camera settings and the time of day I take the pics.

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The String King

Love the Tele, but I can't say I am a fan of the Les Paul! Don't get me wrong, it looks purty but I would rather play and look at the Tele!

The Lester has been fun, and I would love a nice one like this, but it would not get much playing time with the tele around. I find it to be a bit of a one trick pony, if you whack up a load of gain you can get into a territory I can't with Fenders, otherwise I can get everything I need with a tele and a strat. I play pretty clean anyway. It definitely has a sound of its own which is why I would get one if I had the funds, but for the money you could get one helluva tele and I would do that first. I might just put a humbucker in the bridge of my strat for when I need that sort of sound, that's how I used to get by if I needed that sound in a band situation.

Grin'n'pick · June 29th, 2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li> Yew ain't a gonna git throwed out but that Gipsin waz pure urgleeeee.
<li> Noe I dent enjoy !
<li> Shame on sum folks mess.

I am hanging my head. Surely the tele pictures made up for it Ole Fuzzy? You hadn't just eaten or anything had you, I hope I didn't cause any accidents. I know that what I have done by posting a Gipsin is technically a crime in some jurisdictions but do you think you will ever find it in your heart to forgive a misguided soul? I mean, I have been told that some poor individuals done make a livin out tur playin gipsins but that if we all pull together we might be able to help them over this terrible affliction - surely it is them you need to save? I only borrowed this one, honest, and I certainly didn't inhale!

June 29th, 2006, 12:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Grin'n'pick Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sarf Eas' Laandon Posts: 1,948 38 Photos	Finally got a Blackguard New Photos added! I already had the rest of the guitar! It used to have a white pickguard but I bought a Fender 52 reissue guard for my 96 MIJ and after a bit of sanding around the fretboard cutout I finally managed to put it on. So far on this guitar I have changed the guard, the bridge, the saddles, pups, and electronics. I've had a ball. She plays and sounds pretty good but the question is... how's she looking? Actually you can see some grain under the finish in real life that I didn't really capture on the pics (or mineral traces if the body is basswood, which I think it may well be). Sorry about the poor photography, I haven't really taken many pictures of guitars before - the lighting is terrible, too many dark shadows. I'll try and take some better ones when I've practised. Last edited by Grin'n'pick; June 29th, 2006 at 03:46 PM.

June 29th, 2006, 12:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
The String King Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Sussex, U.K. Age: 16 Posts: 1,064 22 Photos	I can't see the pictures mate. __________________ I twang therefore I am

June 29th, 2006, 01:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spidercaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,066 5 Photos	It looks GREAT!!!! __________________ "Just keep one thing in mind............I may remember it all differently tomorrow." - Neil Young http://www.youtube.com/user/Richeray

June 29th, 2006, 01:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dana Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ashland, Ma Posts: 1,695 11 Photos	Looks great. I have to get one of those MIJ Tele's someday. __________________ www.good-ear.com www.miles.be Study music and not the musicians who play it. - Lincoln Goines

June 29th, 2006, 01:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
The String King Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Sussex, U.K. Age: 16 Posts: 1,064 22 Photos	Holy crunch batman! That is beautiful! Don't worry about the poor photography, have you seen mine? The pictures arent that bad anyways! __________________ I twang therefore I am

June 29th, 2006, 01:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hiflyer Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: France Posts: 235 5 Photos	Superb !

June 29th, 2006, 01:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,552 36 Photos	It looks great. Now, send the guitar to a relic outfit and have that bad boy aged. Uh Oh, I'll bet I'll hear from you guys about that suggestion. But mine is strictly my personal opinion. I perfer a beat up guitar. If you don't then that's cool with me. But wouldn't that look great if you could fast forward the aging by about 40 years?? Paul Green

June 29th, 2006, 02:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
refin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Panhandle Age: 52 Posts: 1,971	Very nice!! __________________ "For You,Lord,are good,and ready to forgive,and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Ps. 86:5 http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/refin_music.htm MASTER VOLUME? WHAT'S A MASTER VOLUME?

June 29th, 2006, 03:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
Grin'n'pick Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sarf Eas' Laandon Posts: 1,948 38 Photos	Thank you all for your kind and encouraging comments. I was so pleased that you thought she turned out alright that I took some more pics! Strangely I cannot seem to capture the colour of the body that well, I think I am over exposing it. Anyway, these are all slightly better photos than before perhaps, apologies if they take a while to load... This first one is the most accurate reproduction of the colour but it is still more buttery in real life. I still can't see the grain/mineral traces either, ho hum... The neck isn't quite so dark either, don't know why it came out like that. From now on they are all a bit whiter in the body than the reality, it isn't a Mary Kaye that's for sure and I'm definitely NOT in Status Quo! I do like this next picture as a picture though, came out okay I think... Now it gets waaay too white - photographers what am I doing wrong? This next photo shows the neck colour most accurately... Thanks for looking, hopefully you can get a better idea of how it looks from these pics and my commentary! Paul, it has its fair share of dings and chips round the edges and here and there - all natural MIJ poly relicing! :-)

June 29th, 2006, 03:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
Grin'n'pick Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sarf Eas' Laandon Posts: 1,948 38 Photos	And finally, while I was out there, I have been loaned a Custom Shop Class 5 Les Paul in exchange for an old strat of mine. I don't know how long I'll have it so I took a shot of that too before I have to give it back. I know I risk being thrown out of this place by posting it but hope you enjoy it anyhow (the grass colour went a bit strange when I adjusted so the guitar looked right)... Beautiful as it is I still prefer my tele (and my strat). Thanks for looking!

June 29th, 2006, 03:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
eddiewagner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 49 Posts: 3,967 27 Photos	i would say it looks like a top tele. no frills, no whistles and bells. great tasteful guitar. __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat

June 29th, 2006, 04:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
Tele56 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 143	Looks good!

June 29th, 2006, 05:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 5,530 1 Photos	That is a fine looking guitar.

June 29th, 2006, 05:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
The String King Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Sussex, U.K. Age: 16 Posts: 1,064 22 Photos	Love the Tele, but I can't say I am a fan of the Les Paul! Don't get me wrong, it looks purty but I would rather play and look at the Tele! __________________ I twang therefore I am

June 29th, 2006, 06:07 PM	#17 (permalink)
zooropamofo Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 28 Posts: 893	Sweet....looks a lot like my Highway 1 blonde tele on which I swapped the whiteguard for a blackguard. __________________ I was tryin' to find my way home But all I heard was a drone Bouncing off a satellite Crushin' the last lone American night This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there? This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?

June 29th, 2006, 06:29 PM	#18 (permalink)
Grey Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 122	Im really liking that first photo you posted, good job. :D

June 29th, 2006, 09:10 PM	#19 (permalink)
Bones Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,921 1 Photos	Nice! Is the E/A saddle steel or am I seeing things?

June 29th, 2006, 09:20 PM	#20 (permalink)
Pete Galati R.I.P. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,104 2 Photos	Looks good. I can't tell what color the paint is though. I was looking at the earlier pictures trying to figure it out, and then started scrolling down..... and it kept changing colors!

June 29th, 2006, 10:07 PM	#25 (permalink)
Grin'n'pick Tele-Afflicted