Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone ever put a pickguard over a french polished guitar? Does it react with the shellac in any way?

French polish is great but it doesn't stand up to picking at all (heck not even poly could stand up to it...)

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I was wondering the same thing as I'm currently working on a flamenco that I will french polish. I'm pretty sure I've seen several french polished flamenco guitars with tap plates, but I'd be interested to hear from the more experienced makers..

I've done it twice now with no discernible problems. They are, however, steel strings with tortise guards not clear tap plates.

Mike J

I put a clear tap plate over French polish. I bought the tap plate from Ron Fernandez and he has instructions for installing it at fernandezmusic.com I think LMI has similar ones. I had no problem with it at all.

My last two were wood veneer pickguards over french polish attached with the stew mack double sided adhesive. I have seen no issues but the oldest is only a year old.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

The self adhesive mylar tap plates are of course a standard part of the flamenco guitar, so those are usually over french polish. I've never tried gluing one on that wasn't pre-prepared but that would be the old way. I've used the LMI 0.011" ones but they seem to be out of stock now, and I just ordered 0.010" stock from them that seems to be new on their website.

At any rate, stick that pick guard right on there.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I/m in the same camp building a flamenco with 2 wood veneer tap plates.Will FP the top first and use dble stick tape on the maple veneer.I don/t care for the look of plastique even though it is more practical.

You mean you don't like the clear mylar? I'm just the opposite, I hate seeing anything that obscures the view of the top.

Do you have any worries about the mass of the wood veneer plates and their effect on the top? How much do the plates weigh? (Just curious, innocent question)

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Good question jim .Just weighed them , the 2 veneers come to abt 48 grams or abt 1.6oz. I have mylar on 2 older cedar top m. dunn guitars that are 40 yrsold , and frankly find that it looks cheesy to me. This top is redwood and vy light and stiff.I can always change my mind later if I don/t like the sound.I wanted 2 tap plates to practice a more rythmic s. american style of flameco playing .Vive la difference, and chacun a son gout . (each to his own taste) www.ateliertomistrings.com