Today, we're embarking on a super interesting DIY project: making a wooden pickguard to customize your instrument. You may have seen in my previous videos the aesthetic and functional makeover I'm preparing for my guitar. Well, the wooden pickguard is an integral part of this project!
Why a wooden pickguard?
Initially, I wanted a super versatile guitar with three pickups (two humbuckers and one single coil) and a 5-way switch. But over time, I realized that I preferred a two-pickup setup to have more room for my hand or pick.
The challenge was to find a solution to hide the cavity of the middle pickup without sacrificing the versatility of the instrument. The idea of the wooden pickguard imposed itself.
The advantages of wood:
- Unique aesthetics : The wood brings a warm and natural touch that blends perfectly with the style I want to give to my guitar.
- Ease of adjustment : Wood is easier to work with than plastic, making it possible to create a custom pickguard that fits the shape of the guitar perfectly.
- Ecological : Wood is a renewable and biodegradable resource, making it a more environmentally friendly choice than plastic.
The manufacturing stages:
- Preparation of the support :
- The pickups are removed from the guitar.
- Place a sheet of paper on the table and trace the outline of the guitar with a 2H graphite pencil.
- We put the bridge side microphone back in place to mark the location of the frame.
- Pickguard layout :
- We redraw the straight lines with a ruler for greater precision.
- Trace the outline of the pickguard freehand, leaving a margin of about 1 cm from the body of the guitar.
- A flexible ruler is used to create smooth curves.
- Cutting the pickguard :
- Cut the pickguard with scissors, carefully following the drawn lines.
- Special attention is paid to the handle part for a perfect fit.
- Choice of material :I opted for a 3 mm thick plywood, with a core in HDF (high density fiberboard). This material offers a good compromise between lightness, strength and ease of cutting.
- Transfer of the drawing :
- We place the cut pickguard on the plywood and trace the outline with a pencil.
- Wood cutting :
- Sharp kitchen knives are used to cut plywood.
- For concave curves, successive straight cuts are made to make the work easier.
- Adjustment and sanding :
- Sand the edges of the pickguard with medium-grit (120) sandpaper to obtain a smooth, even surface.
- A half-round file is used to refine the curves.
- Attaching the sandpaper :To make sanding the curves easier, I glued sandpaper to half a wooden clothespin. I used cyanoacrylate glue and a glue accelerator for a quick and strong attachment.
- Application of the dye :
- I chose a black oil based stain to color the pickguard.
- Apply the stain with a soft cloth, paying particular attention to the edges to thoroughly soak the wood.
- Attaching the pickguard to the guitar :
- Double-sided tape is used to hold the pickguard in place.
- Holes are drilled for the fixing screws.
- A wider drill bit is used to create recesses for the screw heads.
- The pickguard is screwed onto the body of the guitar.
The final result:
The result is amazing: the wood brings a vintage and warm touch that blends perfectly with the rest of the guitar.
This DIY project allowed me to customize my guitar and give it a unique look. I hope this article will inspire you and make you want to start making your own wooden pickguard.
Feel free to share your creations and questions in the comments!
See you soon for new guitar adventures!