Michael A.
Tele-Afflicted
Go with a modified self-adhesive clear one from an acoustic. Shape it to fit where you think you will have the most wear, based on the patterns you see on your other guitars.
Koa top thinline – help choosing the (mini) pickguard style
- Thread starter jimmywaleseswhale
- Start date
jimmywaleseswhale
TDPRI Member
Honestly never had the practical need for a pickguard on an electric. It's really just aesthetics in this case
Some wood is so soft, maybe some scratch protection could make sense. I've only done one Koa cap Tele, but I feel good saying the typical Koa top is tough enough to withstand all kinds of extended use. And. If wear shows, so long as your finish is "repairable" like lacquer, you can just spot repair or do a fresh clearcoat.
So, I like all of Peegoo's ideas except not the clear pickguard - in this instance. He's a genius - he did a pickguard for the Squier 51 that (if Fender used it) could have made that model a breakaway success. He's got a good eye - knows how to make the observer smile!
So, I like all of Peegoo's ideas except not the clear pickguard - in this instance. He's a genius - he did a pickguard for the Squier 51 that (if Fender used it) could have made that model a breakaway success. He's got a good eye - knows how to make the observer smile!
Another thing to consider is if the top is old Koa it's really hard. I have a Bear Creek Weissenborn that's all Koa and doesn't ding or dent or scratch unless you really do something silly. Like fall over, too much fun etc. It might be pretty impervious to the pick.
lammie200
Friend of Leo's
I like the white one that you mocked up. Classy IMHO.
A pickgaurd may be purely aesthetic but a Telecaster just looks naked and unfinished without something. Take a piece of cardboard and cut some random designs until one just feels right
My respectful counterpoint is:
The #1, #2, and #3 reasons to put a pickguard on many T projects is, there's already pickguard holes present and so naked is not the problem - lots of exposed holes in the body/finish is the problem.
We all see things differently
My two cents: If we’re just considering aesthetics here, it would be helpful to know if you’re considering rosewood or maple for the fingerboard.
One reason this example looks plain is the lack of contrast between the rosewood and the top:
A maple fingerboard generally will present more contrast with your koa body
So the conclusion might be - pick your neck first, then figure out the pickguard or go without, because some rosewood will have sufficient contrast:
jimmywaleseswhale
TDPRI Member
Thank you, this is a genuinely a good comment. I'd like to stick to one of the necks in my partscaster rotation – maple one off an Am Special Strat, Warmoth canary wood (nice streaks so might fit the koa!) with rosewood, or a roast maple with rosewood Warmoth. Likely going for the canary wood one though not the darkest rosewood.
horseman308
Tele-Holic
I generally have the opinion that F-style guitars, and Teles in particular, need a pickguard to complete the look. There's something about the shape, contours, (my own expectations? 
) that makes them look incomplete without one.
That said, this is one case where I would consider going without. I agree with the comments above about how the fretboard contrasts with the top being of significance. It looks like yours us already finished, so this might be moot, but what about adding black or tort binding as an accent rather than a pickguard? It might compliment a dark fretboard well.
) that makes them look incomplete without one.That said, this is one case where I would consider going without. I agree with the comments above about how the fretboard contrasts with the top being of significance. It looks like yours us already finished, so this might be moot, but what about adding black or tort binding as an accent rather than a pickguard? It might compliment a dark fretboard well.
I used a scrollsaw.
Making a pickguard to perfectly fit any guitar is far easier than most people think.
Greenmachine
Tele-Afflicted
I like the pickguard in the photo with the filtertron. But part of why it looks so good is that it matches the binding. So keep that in mind.
I'm less crazy about figured tops with no pickguards. They look fine to me but I prefer the look of a pickguard on a tele.
I'm less crazy about figured tops with no pickguards. They look fine to me but I prefer the look of a pickguard on a tele.
jimmywaleseswhale
TDPRI Member
That tele (Fender Custom Shop Artisan Thinline Telecaster Caballo Ligero Koa) is one of the finest "fancy" telecasters I've seen
It's finished already and adding binding + refinishing would set me back quite a lot of money and time. Wonder if a faux binding might be an option but wouldn't be very contrastingI generally have the opinion that F-style guitars, and Teles in particular, need a pickguard to complete the look. There's something about the shape, contours, (my own expectations?
That said, this is one case where I would consider going without. I agree with the comments above about how the fretboard contrasts with the top being of significance. It looks like yours us already finished, so this might be moot, but what about adding black or tort binding as an accent rather than a pickguard? It might compliment a dark fretboard well.
I think a black pickguard (B-W-B) would look nice with that wood..
( I like pickguards, even on primo woods)
( I like pickguards, even on primo woods)
