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Before I can make pickguards, I need to make templates. The first step is to cut out the paper designs and transfer them to 3/4" MDF. I drew a centre line for the guard that goes around the neck pocket because I'm going to use the actual neck pocket template to route that part and I need to be able to line it up.
After rough cutting them on the bandsaw, I finished them up with the edge sander. Fortunately I had already created a template for the lisptick pickup, so I used it to finish off the neck guard.
Here I've traced the templates on the pickguard blank. Ideally I would trace them on the back, but I want to make sure I don't include any not-so-pretty parts of the blank. Just outside the bottom of the neck guard you can see there is a part of the blank that is pure white- no pearloid! It happens. I should mention I'm drawing on the protective plastic, not the actual pearloid
After a trip to the bandsaw. I'll keep a couple of those larger leftovers to make truss rod covers.
I prefer to use the router table to trim the guards to final size, but you can do this with a hand-held router. I also like to square the whole thing up first, then cut the bevel, but you can just go straight to the bevel if you like. Here's the straight cut...
...and the resulting confetti (only this confetti is statically charged and sticks to everything).
Here's the bevel cut. Repeat after me: "do not bevel the neck pocket or pickup, do not..."
Here's a quick test fit to make sure everything looks good. The neck is a tight fit, So I may need to just touch that with a file. All they need otherwise is to drill for controls and mounting screws.
Since I had the neck out, here it is part way through the oiling process. The birds-eye is really starting to pop!
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