First Build (SG-esque design)

[DrBGood]

Those are all new pickguards for each version ?

 

[PermissionToLand]

Those are all new pickguards for each version ?

Just two versions; bigger upper left bout and smaller. Both have the larger lower right corner.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Okay, more revisions!

So first, the same basic idea I've been refining, now with the top bevel no longer hiding under the fretboard end:



Of course, this threw off the upper bass bout shape. I should have anticipated that. But now I can bring the large curve along that side closer and more parallel with the bevel. So that will be the next move here.

Next, is the idea that I had entertained for a while but never seriously considered; wrapping it around the fretboard edge.



It certainly looks weird at first, but it is surprisingly growing on me. I need to perfect the curve of the upper bass bout and I want to remove the beveled edge around the fretboard, though.\

 

[DrBGood]

It's getting better all the ti-ime ...

 

[Silvertone]

It's funny I looked at the first picture and thought that pick guard should extend a little further up the neck. Then I thought you should get rid of the bevel at the edge where it meets the neck. I think it looks great.

Have you considered following the bevel exactly with the edge of the pick guard. My eye is drawn to the point at the cut away and it seems the shape does not match and the point would actually hang out in space. Sometimes even when something is designed a certain way it just looks like a mistake. It could happen when it is close but not too close. If you want to have it not follow the bevel carve there has to be another design aspect that it follows. I would also just drill for the bridge studs. This may be something you will do down the road but IMO a continuous bevel would look better there. Again it just attracts the eye and the brain immediately says mistake.

Cheers Peter.

PS - the more I look at it the more I do not mind the pick guard not matching the bevel outline. It maybe should be a bit more off or have it relate to something else? I'm not sure the solution but do not think it is 100% there yet. I think you are very close though. It's cool to watch a design morph and shape. Great job.

 

[Lunacy the Faded]

Okay, more revisions!

So first, the same basic idea I've been refining, now with the top bevel no longer hiding under the fretboard end:

View attachment 36280

Of course, this threw off the upper bass bout shape. I should have anticipated that. But now I can bring the large curve along that side closer and more parallel with the bevel. So that will be the next move here.

Next, is the idea that I had entertained for a while but never seriously considered; wrapping it around the fretboard edge.

View attachment 36281

It certainly looks weird at first, but it is surprisingly growing on me. I need to perfect the curve of the upper bass bout and I want to remove the beveled edge around the fretboard, though.\

View attachment 36282

I really like whats going on here!!

 

[PermissionToLand]

It's funny I looked at the first picture and thought that pick guard should extend a little further up the neck. Then I thought you should get rid of the bevel at the edge where it meets the neck. I think it looks great.

Have you considered following the bevel exactly with the edge of the pick guard. My eye is drawn to the point at the cut away and it seems the shape does not match and the point would actually hang out in space. Sometimes even when something is designed a certain way it just looks like a mistake. It could happen when it is close but not too close. If you want to have it not follow the bevel carve there has to be another design aspect that it follows. I would also just drill for the bridge studs. This may be something you will do down the road but IMO a continuous bevel would look better there. Again it just attracts the eye and the brain immediately says mistake.

Cheers Peter.

PS - the more I look at it the more I do not mind the pick guard not matching the bevel outline. It maybe should be a bit more off or have it relate to something else? I'm not sure the solution but do not think it is 100% there yet. I think you are very close though. It's cool to watch a design morph and shape. Great job.

About the horn tip: the paper I printed these on was particularly thin and prone to bending/curling so the horn tips on both ended up curling upward. That's why they look off in these photos. Bridge studs are also cut out because it's just a paper mockup. I agree, it would look weird if they were done that way on the final version! Haha

 

[DrBGood]

About the horn tip: the paper I printed these on was particularly thin and prone to bending/curling so the horn tips on both ended up curling upward. That's why they look so wrong in these photos compared to previous ones. Bridge studs are also cut out because it's just a paper mockup. I agree, it would look weird if they were done that way on the final version! Haha

Ahhh ... paper ...

Then another adjustment I see would be to not have the part that butt the fretboard come in at 90°. Keep that nice soft going curve all the way to the edge, like the bevel does.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Ahhh ... paper ...

Then another adjustment I see would be to not have the part that butt the fretboard come in at 90°. Keep that nice soft going curve all the way to the edge, like the bevel does.

Actually, I realized after the fact that it comes in beyond 90 degrees, tucking inward a little. I think fixing that will be what it needs, because the body shape meets the neck at 90 degrees. I may also try mimicking the bevel though.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Okay, finally getting there I think. I am leaning back toward the original design that doesn't wrap around the fretboard.

First of all, on both, I tucked in the horn tip a little to follow the beveling better.

Before:



After:



On this one, I pulled the top left bout down and out a little to follow the bevel at a more consistent distance, and it also happened to round out the shape nicely.



With that one, I think my next move will be pulling the bottom right side out a little to meet the bevel perfectly and pull the top up a little to hide the beveling under the fretboard and make it look just a little less squished.

The next one, I got rid of the bevel around the fretboard and massaged the upper left bout a little (in addition to the horn tip):



I am leaning away from this now because while it works well with the upper left body lines, it really draws attention to the space over the neck pickup with all that blank space. I may try pulling the top down to the last fret.

 

[DrBGood]

I bet you didn't expect the pickguard to be such a project

I think that last horn tip is the one that works.

On this one, I really like how this upper bout flows with the whole side of the guitar. Very fluid line and it makes the guitar look stockier, fatter. It kind of balance out the vertical lines of all that chrome.

 

[PermissionToLand]

I bet you didn't expect the pickguard to be such a project

I think that last horn tip is the one that works.

On this one, I really like how this upper bout flows with the whole side of the guitar. Very fluid line and it makes the guitar look stockier, fatter. It kind of balance out the vertical lines of all that chrome.

Haha, in some ways yes and in some ways no. I spent a lot of time getting the body shape right and also working on pickguard designs from the beginning. I'm a designer anyway so it's in my nature to pay attention to small aesthetic details. That's why I admire McCarty's work so much; he clearly put a lot of thought into his designs.

Thanks for the comments

 

[DrBGood]

I just noticed you have a LP Ultra. I love mine. No desire whatsoever to get another carved top LP. This is what a LP should be like.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Okay, nearing the end here!

Brought the top up under the fretboard and right lower corner out to follow beveling:



Brought the top down on this one:



And now I am back to favoring the second one again...

 

[DrBGood]

What I liike about the lower top, is the flow of that gradual tapering curve. It's more organic to my eye.

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I would also lessen of a few milimeters, the curve right under the bridge, so it clears it. It conflictual as it is.

 

[PermissionToLand]

What I liike about the lower top, is the flow of that gradual tapering curve. It's more organic to my eye.

​

I would also lessen of a few milimeters, the curve right under the bridge, so it clears it. It conflictual as it is.

Interesting, I was leaning toward the other because it was more consistent at the top. I hadn't thought of it as tapering. There is so much to consider...

The bottom is actually pretty typical for SGs anyway:

 

[PermissionToLand]

I thought I'd updated this with the finished pickguard but I guess not!

Fits quite well!

 

[DrBGood]

Yesss ... really nice. Are you happy with the end result of the whole project ?

 

[PermissionToLand]

Yesss ... really nice. Are you happy with the end result of the whole project ?

Nope! I'm already working on refinishing it!

Having some fun with it...

 

[DrBGood]

Going for filled grain and more transparency ?

Like this ?

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