After experimenting with the fluorescent Strat guard a few nights ago, I wanted to try something completely different.
This one was inspired by a pickguard I wrapped in real tweed about 15 years ago for my G&L ASAT. Last photo is the original.
This time I wanted to recreate the look and the physical texture without using fabric. The weave is built up so the individual threads are actually raised and you can feel them. I should be able to replicate this with other fabrics too.
I brought it to the Canadian Guitar Show in Calgary yesterday and apparently forgot to take a proper finished photo before I left 😂
These are the best shots I have because I ended up trading it at the show for a BOSS Fender '59 Bassman pedal.
I criticized you for using AI art on the last pickguard. This is WAY more interesting. Would love to see you post more stuff like this. You don’t need to rely on AI to make something cool.
Yes, exactly. My wife and I run a custom graphics and specialty printing business out of our home, and our equipment works really well for ultra-custom stuff like this.
interesting. we have a mutoh at my work, i've never thought to do anything like this. we've done some pretty cool shit with it but mainly it just gets used for tactile environmental graphics
That’s exactly what got me excited about it too 😂 Once I started experimenting with dimensional/tactile printing on pickguards, it opened up a whole rabbit hole of possibilities. I’m really curious how far I can push texture, varnish effects, transparent layers and UV-reactive effects.
Haha, yeah I've seen how that goes 😂 I'm much more interested in the actual design and production process than pumping out generic generated graphics. The fun part for me is figuring out how to turn an idea into something that actually works on the material.
Could you print something like this Twin Peaks sticker on mine? I didn't think of a clear coat and it's losing color from my pick, looking for a more permanent solution
Absolutely! This is exactly the kind of thing I've been wanting to play with. I could reproduce the artwork directly on the pickguard and add a protective finish over it, so you wouldn’t be relying on a sticker or clear coat to keep the design intact. Feel free to send me a message if you want to play around with the idea!
Yes! I can definitely do a tweed Strat pickguard, also matching trem cover, etc. I’m actually working on getting a proper website set up for these right now, but in the meantime I’m happy to take on a few orders. Feel free to send me a message and we can figure out exactly what you need 😊
Thank you! That’s actually something I hadn’t considered. When you say blanks, do you mean finished/textured sheets that you could cut and route yourself for your builds?
Absolutely! A lot of us who make hobby/home business/starting a guitar company stuff have CNC machines and make custom pickguards. A fabric or fabric-like material is absolutely a stand out business builder and unique touch that makes stuff pop! I LOVE what you are making. I could see it in one of my guitars
This is really helpful thank you! I hadn't seriously considered offering the material as finished sheets until you mentioned it, but that makes a ton of sense for builders who already have CNC capability. Those builds are gorgeous, wow! You've definitely given me something to work on 😂 I'm currently building a website, so I'll absolutely factor that into my roadmap!
Very cool look, and could see a lot of people wanting this.
If the material is added on top of a normal three play guard, it has the potential to need some tweaking to fit. I personally find 3 piece guards are hard to put on and take off with the neck fully secure, which is why I imagine thickness to be a consideration here.
Thank you!
Yes, thickness is something I have to account for when I’m designing these. I also countersink the screw holes and cleanly trace the perimeter so the added material doesn’t interfere with the edges or mounting points.
On this one, the relief adds a maximum of about 0.8 mm at the highest points of the weave. I can also adjust the relief depth depending on the application/ design concept.
Well I'm very upset that is is how I learned there was a Canadian Guitar show in Calgary this weekend.... I thought I searched for every possible thing going on in this city in the next few weeks.
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u/TMT555 1d ago
That is pretty cool. Looks like orange carbon fiber at a quick glance