Thank you. I was referred to this video by Marc Beneteau, the incredibly talented guitar maker, who called you the best in the business and said this would explain the process better than he ever could. He was right; your method works like a charm and I've successfully added a clear pickguard to my new Beneteau guitar.
Frank Ford is one of the smartest guys in the guitar universe! I would like to add one tip to this pick guard procedure: When you are taping the guard down on the guitar top, you should use a lacquer-safe masking tape, especially if the guitar has a new, fresh lacquer finish. Unless the tape is specifically made for safe application on lacquer, sometimes the adhesive on other types of masking tape can damage the lacquer by chemical reaction. It may leave marks that will have to be wet-sanded out, and re-buffed. You can get lacquer safe tape from Luthier's Mercantile. Save yourself a major headache, and buy a few rolls to keep on hand, for whenever you need to temporarily tape something to a lacquer finish.
Mr Ford you are a legend! I am currently enrolled at the roberto venn school of luthiery and I look forward to your lectures, I'll be raising my had with plenty of questions for you. and I'll just say, if you need a guitar worked on, our head instructor once told me "Frank Ford has forgotten more than I'll ever know" so if you have a guitar that needs some serious work, send it to frank and his team, they will absolutely be able to take care of it
Yep, Frank Ford was the reason I enrolled Roberto-Venn 15 years ago and I don’t regret. I can’t recall how many times I used the things I learned and I still keep learning from him.
Many thanks for posting this video. Wish I'd have watched it before I attempted to fit a clear pick guard i made for my parlour guitar - result, "mottled" effect, a mixture of transparent and white, where trapped air bubbles made the pick guard opaque. The trick, now i know is the use of water/detergent!! Back to the scissors and the 3M sheet.....many thanks again :-)
Regarding his comment that the material will cut with a ragged edge to the left and the clean edge to the right when using right handed scissors (1:10), if that is correct, even after he flips the guard over he is still cutting a ragged edge along the pickguard because he is still using the left side of the scissors on the pickguard side when it should be on the waste side (2:00).
Thanks Frank. I have used this method to install clear pickguards on 3 guitars. It works flawlessly. I have a Cedar top guitar that has a Semi-gloss polished finish on which I want to install a satin finish clear pickguard. Will this method, with the water and soap, be safe on this finish?
Yes, quick question, if I were to install a pickguard on one of my guitars that has never had one (I love the way this particular guitar resonates as is) will it somehow alter the sound of my instrument even just a little bit? I assume that it would, but not by much?
Where do you buy the clear pick guard? Are there any particular materials better then others or materials to avoid that the clear pick guard is made of. My guitar builder considered it too hard to install because of managing the air bubbles. One final question, so pick guards made the top less resonate? Thanks!
would this technique with water work with a satin finished top too, or is it better to do it without water in that case? I'm afraid the water could stay in between the matt lacquer and the pickguard and/or cause some optical mess... any thoughts?
I don’t understand why more companies do not put clear pickguards on acoustic guitars to begin with. It makes the guitar look much better , IMO anyway, than putting a black colored Pick guard on a guitar with blonde-ish colored wood for example. And the problem with trying to replace the black one with a clear one on an older guitar is that there’s going to be an outline that you will see because the finish on the guitar will have aged a little bit compared to the finish that was under the original pick guard
Sir can you please tell me the brand and where could I buy the same pickguard that Estas tonne has he has a fullbody pickguard but I'd don't where to buy them or what they are called
Thank you. I was referred to this video by Marc Beneteau, the incredibly talented guitar maker, who called you the best in the business and said this would explain the process better than he ever could.
He was right; your method works like a charm and I've successfully added a clear pickguard to my new Beneteau guitar.
What a clear and professional way to present the procedure. A+++
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your secrets.
Top notch instructional video - and I love your demeanor. Thanks!!
Frank Ford is one of the smartest guys in the guitar universe!
I would like to add one tip to this pick guard procedure: When you are taping the guard down on the guitar top, you should use a lacquer-safe masking tape, especially if the guitar has a new, fresh lacquer finish. Unless the tape is specifically made for safe application on lacquer, sometimes the adhesive on other types of masking tape can damage the lacquer by chemical reaction. It may leave marks that will have to be wet-sanded out, and re-buffed.
You can get lacquer safe tape from Luthier's Mercantile. Save yourself a major headache, and buy a few rolls to keep on hand, for whenever you need to temporarily tape something to a lacquer finish.
Mr Ford you are a legend! I am currently enrolled at the roberto venn school of luthiery and I look forward to your lectures, I'll be raising my had with plenty of questions for you.
and I'll just say, if you need a guitar worked on, our head instructor once told me "Frank Ford has forgotten more than I'll ever know"
so if you have a guitar that needs some serious work, send it to frank and his team, they will absolutely be able to take care of it
Yep, Frank Ford was the reason I enrolled Roberto-Venn 15 years ago and I don’t regret. I can’t recall how many times I used the things I learned and I still keep learning from him.
This looks awesome. Where can buy adhesive mylar sheets?
Many thanks for posting this video. Wish I'd have watched it before I attempted to fit a clear pick guard i made for my parlour guitar - result, "mottled" effect, a mixture of transparent and white, where trapped air bubbles made the pick guard opaque. The trick, now i know is the use of water/detergent!! Back to the scissors and the 3M sheet.....many thanks again :-)
Informative but where do you get a cork squeegee or can something else be used as a substitute?
Fantastic!! What kind of detergent do you recommend, and what ratio to water?
Regarding his comment that the material will cut with a ragged edge to the left and the clean edge to the right when using right handed scissors (1:10), if that is correct, even after he flips the guard over he is still cutting a ragged edge along the pickguard because he is still using the left side of the scissors on the pickguard side when it should be on the waste side (2:00).
Thanks Frank. I have used this method to install clear pickguards on 3 guitars. It works flawlessly. I have a Cedar top guitar that has a Semi-gloss polished finish on which I want to install a satin finish clear pickguard. Will this method, with the water and soap, be safe on this finish?
GryphonStrings. - Can u answer some of the questions below please?
Thank you Frank, this has inspired me to perform this procedure myself!
The best way to install a pickguard. Thanks Frank.
What is the purpose of using the water???
Can these pickguards be used on guitars that don't have a lamination or glossy finish? I'd like to add one to my Martin Backpacker
Yes, quick question, if I were to install a pickguard on one of my guitars that has never had one (I love the way this particular guitar resonates as is) will it somehow alter the sound of my instrument even just a little bit? I assume that it would, but not by much?
I have an painted decal that has been lacquered over, a pick would scuff the decal, would a clear pickguard protect the decal?
hiya, one doubt and 1 quest,my old pick guard installed start to lift it up,what kind of glue can i use???? many thanx good video.
Where do you buy the clear pick guard? Are there any particular materials better then others or materials to avoid that the clear pick guard is made of. My guitar builder considered it too hard to install because of managing the air bubbles. One final question, so pick guards made the top less resonate? Thanks!
i followed all of the steps, but still have water bubbles all over! and some of the edges dont bond
would this technique with water work with a satin finished top too, or is it better to do it without water in that case? I'm afraid the water could stay in between the matt lacquer and the pickguard and/or cause some optical mess... any thoughts?
analogman I was wondering the same thing.
I don’t understand why more companies do not put clear pickguards on acoustic guitars to begin with. It makes the guitar look much better , IMO anyway, than putting a black colored Pick guard on a guitar with blonde-ish colored wood for example. And the problem with trying to replace the black one with a clear one on an older guitar is that there’s going to be an outline that you will see because the finish on the guitar will have aged a little bit compared to the finish that was under the original pick guard
What's the background music's name?
Sir can you please tell me the brand and where could I buy the same pickguard that Estas tonne has he has a fullbody pickguard but I'd don't where to buy them or what they are called
Use a screen protector from a large tablet!
Nice! I need to do this on my Breedlove!!
Where can I purchase this clear pickguard from?
Proline from Musicians friend
Thanks Frank.
google it and you will find! Guitar Center has them
Thank's man! - That helps a lot.
great video thanks !!
thank you
I've cut mine backwards twice !!!!!!😭😭
Definitely not 5mm thick
5 Mil which is .005.
@@johnmckenna6203 exactly.
5 thousandths of an inch.
.005" or .12mm
Apron
thank you