Vintage Fender Pickguard Repair

[@vadenk4433]

That looks amazing. 👍

[@Bangkokguitar]

I think you did a wonderful job!

[@RobMods]

Thanks!

[@ToddBrittain1963]

Great job mate

[@anthonywanis2772]

very creative! and helpful. Thank you.

[@telecasterbear]

Well done.

[@bldallas]

Amazing job!

[@stevesoldwedel]

This is fabulous, Rob.

[@RobMods]

Thank you Steve.

[@sidyal]

Nice job👍

[@RobMods]

Thanks mate!

[@nanoluciani]

That's a magnificent repair job, Rob. I legit couldn't see it unless I was specifically looking for it.

[@RobMods]

Thanks Nano.

[@danielirvine7468]

This is great !

[@keithgray7593]

It looks fantastic! Great job!

[@RobMods]

Thanks for your kind words Keith.

[@hallanvaara6106]

Your repairs are next level!

[@RobMods]

Thanks mate.

[@KeroDean]

Incredible repair! I thought the guard you showed was a new one to replace the cut one, seamless!

[@RobMods]

Thanks mate.

[@johncarlo7395]

I think you done a very good job of it but I would have just bought a tortoise shell replacement pick guard, but again well done.

[@RobMods]

Thanks. I honestly didn't know celluloid was still made, but I recently worked on a John Mayer Strat and it had a true celluloid pickguard. It was around 10 years old I think, so perhaps there's still some stock out there, or someone is still making it.

[@johncarlo7395]

@@RobMods I've also got an early Telecaster with a Bakelite scrathplate on it, which was also used on the cases of those old 1930s - 1940s radios and early rotary dial telephones, you open the Guitar case and the smell is to die for, especially if it's been in a warm place.

[@SRDGUN]

Hey Rob. Similar dilemma. With a Fender Strat 60’s Celluloid pick guard with mid 70’s 5 way switch holes cut in. Wondering how best to fill the holes in your opinion. I assume a bonding solution white dyed and possibly syringed in then sanded flat? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@octo3167]

Hey Rob great work as always! Actually I'm going to cut my P bass pickguard for quick access to electronic cavity. Jazz bass has separate control plate and I want something like that in my P too. I've searched for a metal control plate curved to fit P bass cavity but didnt find anything, so I desided to cut regular pickguard in two halves. Any advise on how to do it without leaving big gap between them? Thanks in advance!

[@RobMods]

Thanks mate. Well I guess there's a few options. I would probably cut it with my fretslot saw. It has a 0.022" kerf and it's a backsaw, so it holds its shape. But you really want a nice straight cut so you don't have to remove any more material to get it to mate up, so I'd clamp it down flat then use a couple of blocks clamped either side of the cut to act a bit like a mitre box. Obviously you'll have to fill and redrill the screw holes around the pots, plus you'll have to slightly reshape the edges where the join is since there'll be a little step there on either side. If the 'guard is in good (shiny!) shape, then protect it with some masking tape. I guess you could also buy another 'guard and cut it so there's nothing missing and it all lines up properly, but I think that shouldn't be necessary with a straight and thin cut. Another way to look at it is that most batteries last for many months even years depending on the circuit, so if you have a passive bypass switch, a flat battery on the gig is not the end of the world. You can get through the set in passive mode, then change in the set break. Also, be aware that you can test the battery voltage without removing it, via the jack's ring connector.

[@danielirvine7468]

Hey rob do you do this as a job or just hobby? I live in Australia and if I ever needed work done on my basses are you available? If so where are you ? Website?

[@RobMods]

Just a hobby these days. I do sometimes work on the instruments and pedals of a few close mates, but only as time permits...