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Post subject: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 9:42 pm
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A few years ago I decided to try my hand at building a few guitars of my own. I built a Telecaster with a solid cocobolo neck with abalone dots and a solid Honduran rosewood body. I put a poly satin finish on the neck and a gloss nitro laquer on the body. The body was such a nice piece of wood .....like a really great piece of furniture, that I wanted to do something a little different to showcase it. So I went up online and started to paw thru the tons of pickguards being offered.....and oddly enough ran into something I really liked for an idea. I found what looked like a really nice oil painting of a landscape that was on a Telecaster pickguard. It reminded me of like the kind of landscape you'd see in a world class museum ....and the wood on the body of the guitar looked like it would frame it really nicely. So I got the pickguard. When I received it , it was just a picture of a painting that someone had laminated to Tele pickguard. When I put it on the guitar, it really did look nice....like a nice oil painting framed by the Honduran rosewood. Anyway, I got thinking that I know a guy who could probably create a similar real painting on a Tele pickguard. I asked him and he said he would do the painting for me in either oil or water color mediums. I was hoping to get a little feedback from you guys here about things like what might work as clear coat to protect the painting so it doesn't wear away from the pick brushing against it all the time? What type of pickguard material would work best to paint on.....wood or just a regular white Tele pickguard or parchment? Any ideas on this kind of thing or words of wisdom from anyone with any experience with this kind of thing, before I jump in with both feet? Thanks. Kurt


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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 10:24 pm
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The only technique I've seen that ever really worked for a situation as you describe is to paint the image on the reverse side of a transparent single-ply pickguard.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 10:35 pm
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Thanks Arjay. Had not thought of doing a reverse painting on it. What a great idea. It seems like if you did that, you would still have to protect the painted side with some kind of barrier or the paint would flake off where the paint was touching the body on the back side of the pickguard , wouldn't it? Maybe you could add a thin black back to it somehow. Kurt


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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 10:47 pm
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I recently tried my hand on another Tele project of mine with a computer guided laser. Created a dragon design to fit into the space on top of Tele body and then burned it into the top of the body. It came really nice. Looks almost like a photo. Wish I could post pics here. I would post a few so you could see it. Have also done a couple of carved bodies too. I only make them for myself to play. I would show you pics if I had a place to send them. I would very much like to hear any feedback you would have for me on them. kurt


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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 11:43 pm
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blufenderbender wrote:
Thanks Arjay. Had not thought of doing a reverse painting on it. What a great idea. It seems like if you did that, you would still have to protect the painted side with some kind of barrier or the paint would flake off where the paint was touching the body on the back side of the pickguard , wouldn't it? Maybe you could add a thin black back to it somehow. Kurt


Clear acetate sheet could be used if that was a concern (and it might very well be). Lay the completed pickguard on it exterior side up then use an Xacto knife with a brand-new #11 blade to cut around the perimeter of the pickguard. Holes for the pickguard screws should be punched through with a hot needle to avoid fracturing the acetate.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 5:32 am
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Another option I heard that sounded like it might work would be using the finish they use to finish wooden bar tops.....covering the surface of the painting itself with it. I have also heard that there are materials you could use to laminate the surface of the painting itself now that are pretty tough/durable that might work also. Anyone have any thoughts on these two ideas? Ayjay....... would using the acetate sheet you mentioned be a lamination process? Kurt


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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:18 am
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blufenderbender wrote:
Ayjay....... would using the acetate sheet you mentioned be a lamination process? Kurt


In a sense, yes. But I would avoid self-adhesive acetate because whatever fixative is used may harm the painted image on the pickguard or the guitar body's finish.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:17 pm
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Arjay....thanks so much for your input, buddy. It's much appreciated. Left a message for you in your email too. Kurt


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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:31 pm
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Yes sir, interesting read and response sent.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Finish to protect painting on a pickguard?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 7:55 pm
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Arjay....check your emails bud. I sent you a couple of pics. Can't wait to hear what you think....wink. Kurt


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