Koa top thinline – help choosing the (mini) pickguard style

[jimmywaleseswhale]

Picked up a very pretty thinline body with a koa top (picture 1). Has no pickguard holes yet and I don't think I want a full size tele pickguard given the pretty top. Trying to decide what to go for!

The first option is a slightly modified carbonita one with the cutout for the neck tv jones and the control plate. Fender did a CS model a few years back with a similar design. The body already comes with a 3 ply white pickguard so would be an easy one, even if I chose to swap it for something more ornate down the road.

A quick google also suggests that there's a flavour of the noventa guard cut for the regular control panel. Is there a widely used name for these?

Some unorthodox options like the one from Reverend but would need to be a custom and that's expensive

Fender Japan just did a new Elemental series but not sure it matches the style

Finally I guess the final option is just to leave the top alone and try to do some accents via hardware. Imo sometimes hard to do it right without making it look like a plank

Ideally I only need to drill one set of holes. Any advice or alternative options appreciated

UPD: also found the nice guard that Suhr puts on theirs

 

[Peegoo]

@jimmywaleseswhale

When you pay a premium for highly-figured wood, you don't cover it up with $5 worth of plastic. There is no law that states every guitar must have a pickguard.

If that were my project, the thing that would be the decision factor is this: do I scratch up my other guitars with picks and fingernails? If so, then perhaps a pickguard of some type is necessary.

If that were the case, I'd go with a clear pickguard. That wood is too nice to bury out of sight.

 

[brookdalebill]

The wood is indeed beautiful!
Do you need a pickguard?
If so, the first one looks good.
Perhaps none, or a transparent one would be cool, too.

 

[Dismalhead]

I vote no pickguard.

 

[kuch]

Nice body! guitar that is.....

I kinda like the pic with no pickguard and white binding...

 

[Dukex]

If it were mine, no pickguard.

 

[jimmywaleseswhale]

@jimmywaleseswhale

When you pay a premium for highly-figured wood, you don't cover it up with $5 worth of plastic. There is no law that states every guitar must have a pickguard.

If that were my project, the thing that would be the decision factor is this: do I scratch up my other guitars with picks and fingernails? If so, then perhaps a pickguard of some type is necessary.

If that were the case, I'd go with a clear pickguard. That wood is too nice to bury out of sight.

I don't think every guitar needs a pickguard. I don't worry too much about scratches either and definitely wouldn't go for a clear guard.

My personal view is that some wood top/pickguardless teles can be a bit plain. However, beauty is in the eye of the bee holder and all that Right pickguard adds an accent, making it what we expect a tele to look like. This is not universally true – some pickguardless guitars are great. In my case, I think the f-hole and the rather ornate filtertron will be the nice accents.

On a related note, Suhr does some nice guards too.

 

[badscrew_projects]

My vote for no pickguard

 

[Jim622]

The wood looks great. Go with none. You can always add one later.

 

[jimmywaleseswhale]

The wood looks great. Go with none. You can always add one later.

I think this is what will happen with the v1 build. Easier add than to remove. However, just looking around if there's "the one". Do actually quite like the Surh one from a couple of comments above

 

[Boreas]

Perhaps a MOTS control plate instead of chrome. Leave the top unguarded or perhaps a clear plastic protector if you tend to chew up tops.

 

[jimmywaleseswhale]

Perhaps a MOTS control plate instead of chrome. Leave the top unguarded or perhaps a clear plastic protector if you tend to chew up tops.

Honestly pearloid is my least favourite material used on guitars. Was considering brass or something but finding a matching bridge and Filtertron is a pain. Currently thinking sticking to chrome or nickel for hardware

 

[Boreas]

Honestly pearloid is my least favourite material used on guitars. Was considering brass or something but finding a matching bridge and Filtertron is a pain. Currently thinking sticking to chrome or nickel for hardware

Satin/flat black metal or plastic control plate would tend to "mirror" and balance the optical "emptiness" of the F-hole.

 

[Peegoo]

I don't think every guitar needs a pickguard. I don't worry too much about scratches either and definitely wouldn't go for a clear guard.

My personal view is that some wood top/pickguardless teles can be a bit plain. However, beauty is in the eye of the bee holder and all that Right pickguard adds an accent, making it what we expect a tele to look like. This is not universally true – some pickguardless guitars are great. In my case, I think the f-hole and the rather ornate filtertron will be the nice accents.

On a related note, Suhr does some nice guards too.

If you do decide on a pickguard, there really are no rules. You can copy existing stuff, or come up with your own. Here are a few I've created over the years; feel free to steal any of 'em if you like.

 

[schmee]

No pickguard, or a small acoustic style transparent one only where scratching occurs below the treble strings. Maybe cut a small one from a transparent Tele guard.

 

[badscrew_projects]

If you do decide on a pickguard, there really are no rules. You can copy existing stuff, or come up with your own. Here are a few I've created over the years; feel free to steal any of 'em if you like.

Wow, I hate all of these

 

[badscrew_projects]

Correction : I like the last one

 

[Peegoo]

Correction : I like the last one

I made that pickguard from Bakelite. The player that was made for, his initials are AC. I used a guitar pick as the pattern for the letters, which are cut all the way through to show the finish on the wood. This stuff is easier than it looks; if I can do it, anyone can.

 

[badscrew_projects]

Creative!

 

[jimmywaleseswhale]

I made that pickguard from Bakelite. The player that was made for, his initials are AC. I used a guitar pick as the pattern for the letters, which are cut all the way through to show the finish on the wood. This stuff is easier than it looks; if I can do it, anyone can.

Looks great! What tools do you use for cutting? Always fancied trying out doing a small one (not for this build though!)