ShortScale.org

these steps and what not are all out of order.
i have had a few questions and instead of answering all of them all at once, i figured a thread may be usefull, same process is used for a any pg, of any style.
btw, this is a vintage issue(styled) guard for a 66 fender mustang for someone in canada. its a 3 ply mother of pearl bought from stew mac( i think thiers looks the best)
but any who.
step one. trace out the guard shape on the pg material

step 2. cut it with a band saw to 1/8 of an inch or so within the template, then double stick tape it to the template.

then i measure up my table router to the template( i use a top bearing bosche bit) and proceed to cut the shape.


and then the same for the pickups

something i did not show in the pics, is that to alleviate dust and stress on the bit i drill a hole in the center of the route, then use a scroll saw to cut the basic shape of the pickup before using the table router again.
. then i drill the pg holes and any other holes using a radiul drill press and the sufficent bits/sizes.


here i am back at the table router with a bevel bit.

that is obviously too high, so i use scrap peices of wood to ensure that its at the right distance before i continue.


here is the beveled edges.

then i basically do the same bevel trick using the drill press for the screw holes.

note, some holes get this treatment and others do not.

next i mark out where the switches will go, there are two on the mustang, and one on the jazzmaster, and a few other guitars have switches like this, but for the most part you will never encounter this(thank god)
for these i have to do them by hand which is rather tricky.

then i drill out the center of the hole as big as i can and use a scroll saw to get the basic shape.

then its all up to a modified rasp and a razor to get the rest of the work done.


once it is completed i usually stamp the back with my name, and address and thebuyers name, that way it is like free advertising and if the person ever needs to get ahold of me they can.
I would like to state very clearly that i am not saying this is the ONLY way to do this, it is just the way i do it, and enough people have asked in the pas couple of weeks that i figured it proper to make a thread about it
total time spent on this, about 35 mins or so, but i will spend another 15 mins working the switch area ever so carefully, and then it shall be done, after some copper foil is applied to the back. plus time spent packaging it and driving to the postal office.

nice robert. almost exactly the way i do mine.

its sexy. me likey

cool. how 'bout a template-making how-to?

This is an A+ thread. we are lucky to have people like robert to bring the know how and just the business like some people do.

would read again!

Good stuff. Wikiwiki!

Kick ass Robert.

sure i can do a "how to" on making the template, i may or may not be making a new template tomorrow evening so i will post up another one, along with the re-fined mustang guard.

robert(original) wrote:sure i can do a "how to" on making the template, i may or may not be making a new template tomorrow evening so i will post up another one, along with the re-fined mustang guard.

awesome. that's something i've always been curious about.

some people prefer to work from a tracing, i have done that but there is always the problem of either staying outside of the line or inside of the line. its pretty ineffective in my own opinion.
here is how i make 90 percent of my template, i simple take the peice that i want to work with, trace it out on some mdf or plywood, then i double stick tape it and walla, a perfect one up template.
here is my j.s. i had to remake the routing template for it.
with this guitar i don't worry about putting masking tape around the edges altho that is a good idea. when i made my jaguar temps i used masking tape around the body and the neck.
as for pickguards, i do the exact same thing, except REALLY FUCKING CAREFULLY AND REALLY DELICATLY!!!!
plastic is not as stable as a slab body so i basically make a left handed template and do it up the same way.
i always use loads of lube on the bearing when im maknig one of a pickguard, the first 2 times i tried it i ruined the pickguard but now i have it down to a science(ive also made probly 30+ guard temps since then)


if you notice i mark where the routes should be, then i put a drill hole in a safe spot, flit in upsideown and follow the bearing once again.
when i make a full template from a guard i will be sure to post it up "how to" style just for you bubbles!

a couple of things, regarding the pg-making portion of this thread:

1. cutting it out with a bandsaw isn't necessary, unless you are trying to save material for another pg build.
2. when using the countersink, use a regular hand-drill and simply lay the bare pg on a flat, hard surface. This makes for a perfect depth everytime.

everything else you're doing is exactly what we do. A+ thread!

Aug wrote: A+ thread!

agreed. Should be made Sticky.

thanks, robert. i've seen aug make body templates before, but never pickguard templates. i guess you would have to be pretty damn careful.

Robert comes through again! I had been asking Aug for that a while back. How do you do the pup holes? Is that two big holes and the knife, or do you use the router?

DGNR8 wrote:Robert comes through again! I had been asking Aug for that a while back. How do you do the pup holes? Is that two big holes and the knife, or do you use the router?

We use the router. The pup holes are the hairest part of the whole deal. If you don't hold it tight, and the thing lets go? That's it. Fucked up.

I would be putting pickguards on the backs of guitars, cases, and on the fridge, if I could make them like that. That's all such cool stuff. And then I would just buy necks. I am never going to get that advanced.

I'd rather pay you. That's a lot of work.

dodgedartdave wrote:That's it. Fucked up.

hahahahaha

Thank you Robert...you're teaching an old dog new tricks.

That stuff scares the shit out of me. Probably when Im like 40 Ill get a router and start ruiniing stuff and around 42 make smoething cool.