Pickguard Plastic

Self built and self assembly ;)

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Molly
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Pickguard Plastic

Post by Molly »

Got a new pickguard cut at work today using the laser cutter. It's OK. Bit tight around the neck so needs a touch of sanding. Thing is, it's 3mm acrylic and the regular one or the usual triplate is only between 2 and 2.2mm. It was mirror shiny so I took some wet and dry to it. Anyway, I wonder if anybody knows of a ready supply of material more suited to the job? Ta.

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Lostininverness
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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Lostininverness »

Thats a real nice job! Heaps of supplies on e-bay. Been tempted to try some of the Aliexpress suppliers to see what they are like. For the price, I recon its worth a shot.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Jay »

The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by rickenbackerkid »

the plate on my Ric is really thick 2, easily 3mm. Pretty normal me thinks.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Molly »

jvpp wrote:The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
Will give that a go. Thanks.

The edges aren't great. Will take some work to get them smooth.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Dharmajester »

Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
Will give that a go. Thanks.

The edges aren't great. Will take some work to get them smooth.
Yeah just bevel it and it will look like one of those expensive Callaham Bakelite guards .
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench - a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Hunter S. Thompson

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Molly
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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Molly »

Dharmajester wrote:
Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
Will give that a go. Thanks.

The edges aren't great. Will take some work to get them smooth.
Yeah just bevel it and it will look like one of those expensive Callaham Bakelite guards .
This kind of thing. Does look OK.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Molly »

Finished. Quick recap. Never really liked the pickups the Radian came with so sold them and bought a Nocaster set. It necessitated a new pickguard. Basic shape was cut out on the laser cutter at work. Finished it by hand. Before and after below:

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Haven't played it other than to check it works. Will warm up an amp tomorrow. :-)

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

That looks really good!

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by bender »

Fuck yeah!

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Jay »

Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Molly »

jvpp wrote:Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
Close call with one of the screw holes. Chipped a bit but didn't break. With the control holes I went up in .5mm increments just to be on the safe side.

Not an ideal material. If I can find something a tad thinner (this is 3mm - 2mm would be ideal I think) I can always get another cut at work.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by bender »

Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
Close call with one of the screw holes. Chipped a bit but didn't break. With the control holes I went up in .5mm increments just to be on the safe side.

Not an ideal material. If I can find something a tad thinner (this is 3mm - 2mm would be ideal I think) I can always get another cut at work.
https://www.guitarparts.co.nz/pickguard ... heets.html

What about that?

BTW, Dibs on that tele.

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by Molly »

bender wrote:
Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
Close call with one of the screw holes. Chipped a bit but didn't break. With the control holes I went up in .5mm increments just to be on the safe side.

Not an ideal material. If I can find something a tad thinner (this is 3mm - 2mm would be ideal I think) I can always get another cut at work.
https://www.guitarparts.co.nz/pickguard ... heets.html

What about that?

BTW, Dibs on that tele.
Thanks for the link. The local sign maker bloke put me on to a supplier in Christchurch but did say I might have to buy a huge sheet of the stuff.

Dibs noted but dozens have come and gone since I got this Tele and nothing has tempted me to part with it. Took the neck off yesterday. In pen it says 'Bender'. :-)

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Re: Pickguard Plastic

Post by bender »

I had noticed that it had stuck around for an unusually long time. That neck is awesome.

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