Silvertone 1420

[Barncaster]

Hey All,

Can anyone point me to where I can get a good pattern to make a pickguard for a Silvertone 1420? I haven't been able to find one. I bought a guard off eBay but when I got it, well let's just say the group that just left Herb's house probably made it.

Thanks, Rob

 

[Glen Smith]

ebay: (link removed)

 

[Barncaster]

Hey Glen,
Thanks for looking. That's the one I bought and it's getting returned. The horn is almost an inch too short
Rob

 

[Glen Smith]

Can you not use the one you have to make a template and modify it?

 

[Barncaster]

Hey Glen,

I think I'm almost better off figuring out a way to trace the clean area that was covered up by the original pickguard off the guitar top. The one I got in the mail is a real mess. The edges that are supposed to be straight are all wavy, the horn is almost an inch too short, none of the screw holes are even close. It seems less traumatic to go from scratch. I'm thinking of going to the auto paint store tomorrow for some of that super narrow blue painters tape so I can tape the shape and curves on the top. Then trace it, cut it out, glue it to wood and make a template. I was hoping to find a template on-line but maybe my way will be more accurate.

I want to say there was a Stratotone build here within the last year that referenced an EU site with Silvertone/ Harmony templates. I'll dig more.

Rob

 

[crazydave911]

Will this help?

 

[Barncaster]

Hey Dave, Great to hear from you stranger! That's the one I bought off of eBay. This is what it looks like on the guitar in the horn area...... UG Rob

And yes, that is with the back part in the correct position......

 

[R. Stratenstein]

Rob--

Metecem was looking for 1420 drawings a while back and started a thread, that's what you may be remembering. Looking at it, though, it resembles more what you were sent, that doesn't fit, than the guitar you posted. Is there more than 1 configuration for a 1420?

Here's the link to metecem's thread: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/387739-anybody-has-drawings-harmony-silvertone-jupiter.html

 

[Barncaster]

Hey Rick,
Thanks for the link. I've looked at a lot of pictures of 1420s and 1421s on the web tonight. Mine is actually a 1421 which is the tobacco burst version vs the 1420s which were tuxedos. The pickguard shapes are very much like the one that was sent to me. In other words, rough and ill fitting to the contours and horn of the guitar. In all fairness due to this research, I am not returning the pickguard.

The pickguard on mine, or at least the wear shadow left from it fits really well and goes deep into the horn. It was done by someone with skills which is more than I can say for the many pictures I see on the web. And it should be cream with brown cupcake knobs where the 1420s were white with brown cupcake knobs. Although, one small remaining fragment under a screw was white. My guess is there was a lot of variation to these guitars! Thanks again for the help!
Rob

 

[62 Jazzmaster]

ebay: (link removed)

that's where I got the pickguard for one of my 1420s:

and here's the original pickguard for my other 1420:
image removed

 

[Glen Smith]

Maybe you can use a photo to help make your own: http://www.vintageandrare.com/uploads/products/28749/146431/original.jpg If you click on the photo it gets even bigger, which is more than we can say for some other things.

 

[Barncaster]

Hey JZ,
This is the same guy I bought mine from. Like I said, there seems to be a lot of variation to these guitars. I'd like to keep mine as original as possible. The wear and crud over time has left a perfect negative of the shape of the original pickguard on the top of the guitar and it is different than the ones I see in most pictures. Mine is a 1421 just like the picture you posted. The original sales brochure pictures show a cream guard and brown knobs for the 1421 but mine shows evidence of a white guard. Do you have any pictures of your 1421 completed? Would love to see it.
Rob

 

[Barncaster]

Maybe you can use a photo to help make your own: http://www.vintageandrare.com/uploads/products/28749/146431/original.jpg If you click on the photo it gets even bigger, which is more than we can say for some other things.

LOL Glen. Zing! Actually the pickguard on that guitar looks much closer to mine than any others I've seen. You can see how the guard extends into the horn. Interesting. Thanks for finding this.
Rob

 

[Glen Smith]

LOL Glen. Zing! Actually the pickguard on that guitar looks much closer to mine than any others I've seen. You can see how the guard extends into the horn. Interesting. Thanks for finding this.
Rob

You are welcome, Herb. I did a Google image search with keywords Silvertone 1421 and BAM, there it was.

 

[metecem]

Oh Rick,

Did you really have to remind me of that 1420?

Darn, gotta get busy with that this year!!

 

[Barncaster]

Would love to see it Metecem.

 

[metecem]

Would love to see it Metecem.

Lemme see Rob... Got a gold inlayed Pasha, a Telecaster inspired one, a Natural Sultan in the works.

A hybrid nylon string based on a Gretsch and a 5-string short scale in the line waiting. A friend wants to have a super Strat with original Floyd Rose under 3kg. We'll be moving in. February to... We don't know whereto yet...

Yeah, I guess I could make it

 

[Barncaster]

It's tough to be wanted. Your gold inlay work by the way is spectacular! Keep the builds coming.

 

[metecem]

It's tough to be wanted. Your gold inlay work by the way is spectacular! Keep the builds coming.

I am not really wanted at all!

All my fault or that of my ability to persuade

 

[metecem]

Now coming back to topic. If you have a pickguard that's a wee too short, I wouldn't return it. Instead I'd use it as template to make a new one. You have a horizontal line at the top, that'll give you a reference to extend the lower horn.

The wave following the body curve shouldn't be a problem with a block of wood and a pencil.