Official Luthiers Forum!

I have been trying to apply a clear pick guard- the self sticking mylar from stew mac- with less than satisfactory results. There are always tons of little bubbles under it. Any suggestions on how to get better results. I have tried both wet and dry applications. I am thinking about buying some thin clear plastic and gluing it on rather than using the precoated sticky kind. Thoughts?

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

Hey Chris,

If they are bubbles it's your technique and you'll just have to practice more. Make sure everything is clean, clean, clean! That includes de-linting yourself before application.
If it looks more like a reverse imprint of the grain, let it sit a few days and that will go away. Slight heating with a hair dryer after applying the guard can help speed the process along. Don't get the surface much more than warm to the touch.

Steve

Exactly. Unless its a full on bubble, all the light spots in the summer growth lines will disappear by themselves.

Use a little dishwashing soap in the water, and squeegy it out.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

In the water?

+1, a couple of drops in 200 ml (don't shake) here, spray on PG and top, large beveled eraser for a squeegee.
Don't get fingerprints on the adhesive!

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Here's a good you tube video that may help.http://youtu.be/c9XKuourJs4

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Kyle

Thanks for the tips guys. I am now happy with it.

Alright, so here is my list of learned mistakes (hopefully it will help someone not repeat what I did):

Mylar doesn't route well (using a template)
Cutting mylar with an exacto knife leaves the edge nasty and it likes to peel up
Plain water doesn't work as well as water with a few drops of detergent
Dry application.... nope
Cutting with scissors ala the Frank Ford video mentioned is the way to go.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

As you change your quotes almost as often as you change your socks, Todd, I thought I'd "freeze" this one for a little longer.

So cynical, but so true.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

I messed with the stewmac ones, scissors, etc, and was equally diappointed with the results. l now buy the tap plates from Ron Fernandez, and then have them laser cut. I can send anyone my CAD file if you like, and then you just need to find one of those guys that have a laser engraving business, to cut them for you and you will have awesome high quality clear pick guards. I use a guy in Calgary, for any of you Canadians.

jason, who is r. fernandez? thanks

Thanks ok , yes I saw his name somewhere . I like wooden tap plates. But will check with RF for the plastique, merci

Chris , if you have the kinkead book on ss const . he uses a walnut veneer pickguard I don/t know if it/s glued or sticky sided.But IMHO like the look. I/ve noticed over many years (40) that clear pickguards curl up after X number of years attract dirt and dust under the curl and just my opinion look cruddy to my eye, just like plastic binding shrinks over time an cracks .It/s a judgment call on the part of the luthier. I/m guessing that on some tops , a clear pickguard would look better than a wood veneer What do you other luthiers do, and use ?? Just curious. Thanks.

How does the stewmac material differ from the Fernandez? Laser doesn't melt the edges?

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Pat

The fernandez ones are a little thicker. never tried laser cutting the stewmac ones, let us know if you try, if they cut cleanly. the thicker ones have a slight bead, but it ends up on top, so does not impede the adhesion.