Crazy customization!

ok well not that crazy. i've got a cheap starter guitar that i cherish and i want to put a graphic on it (because it doesn't have a pickguard and looks a bit empty), so i was thinking of getting an image printed out A2, that's exactly the shape or might be a bit bigger, then my guitar, and cutting it to fit my guitar and sticking it on (obviously cut holes for the pickups and nobs (which i'll take off when i'm doing it)). I don't want it to be too dodgy, i mean dodgy is good sometimes but i'd prefer it to look nice. So what is your advice guys? Anybody done it b4? I'm thinking get it printed out at the printing place (which is a **** load, 40 pounds!) and then laquer it on using some pretty crazy laquer that'll stick to my guitar and make it nice. The other way to do it would be to get it printed out on adhesive glossy paper, and then stick it on to the guitar, real carefully so there's no air bubbles - this might be safer in terms of the end result being a playable guitar!

Given the expense and effort involved, it doesn't seem worthwhile.

Not only is what you propose going to be difficult and costly, but it is very likely to dampen out any body resonnance, making the guitar sound dull, and reducing the sustain.

Why not just paint it?

im thinking of painting over my pick-guard, and since there is no point of making a new thread when this is here, what will i need to get to paint it, so that after i paint it the work of art doesnt scrape or peel off?

yer but customization is fun! and when u have a cheap guitar u mite as well make it your own, mite end up doing the sticker thing later on, lacquer seems too hard. Hey random question, can u use pickguard covers when ure guitar didn originally come with them?

so you're saying i should use a sticker? but im trying to make my own art, not just buy one and put it on there. unless you mean something else...

and yea you can, but id suggest taking it to a tech to do it cuz screwing those screws in can mess with the electronics and probably screw up your tone. i dont think you can do it on all guitars anyway cause of the way they're shaped and just how they're made.

so any other ways to put a home-made custom drawing on my pick-guard?

a pickguard is plastic.. why not just spray paint it. and use painters tape to make a graphic.

example,
spray paint it black, wait for it to dry
use a real thin painters tape and put it on in a cool shape, say a lightning bolt pattern
re-spray paint with a different color, say blue
remove the tape, and you've got a blue pickguard with black lightning bolts on it.. that'd look pretty cool.

I was thinking of putting some vinyl on my Epiphone. A small graphic like a tribal Dragon or something. Shouldn't cost more than 10 dollars and will add some personality to it. It's as easy as putting on a temporary tattoo. The hard part is getting out all the air bubbles which quite frankly isn't very hard. You can get these graphics at any shop that does them for cars.

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsa pickguard is plastic.. why not just spray paint it. and use painters tape to make a graphic.

example,
spray paint it black, wait for it to dry
use a real thin painters tape and put it on in a cool shape, say a lightning bolt pattern
re-spray paint with a different color, say blue
remove the tape, and you've got a blue pickguard with black lightning bolts on it.. that'd look pretty cool.

i would do that but with the way i like my art, spraying it on wont give me much control. im what you would call a realistic artist, and spraying wouldnt work for that. it need like a brush or something like a pencil.

Originally Posted by: purei would do that but with the way i like my art, spraying it on wont give me much control. im what you would call a realistic artist, and spraying wouldnt work for that. it need like a brush or something like a pencil.

then a paint brush and some paint... seriously, how hard was that to think up? :confused:

answer to the problem.. paint pens

Howdy folks!

what about this?
http://www.guitarproject.com/tut/mat.htm

have fun

//Ken1

im thinking if i use paint on the plastic pick guard it will peel right off after a close encounter with my pick. but if it wont peel off i'm all for it.

Why not do it backwards? Buy a CLEAR pickguard. Make the drawing and then SEAL it. Attach the sealed drawing to the pickguard around the edges, and then cut your pup & control holes. The idea is to have the plastic on top.

well i dont wanna spend like $30+ on another pick guard.. im looking for like $10-15 range..

If you are good with some basic tools, you can buy a piece of Lexan or polycarbonate plastic at Home Depot, and make your own clear pickguard. That kind of plastic does tend to get scratched up rather easy though. Other than that, you are probably gonna have to pony up the cash to get what you want.

http://www.terrapinguitars.com/

perhaps a bit out of your price range... but still cool.

those are what im trying to avoid. okay let me restart:

i want a custom pick guard

i want to be able to put my own original design on the pickguard

i do not want the design to scratch off

i want to be able to have alot of control to how the design looks, in example, spray paint is too wide and not percise enough to make little detail, i want something that works like a brush or pen

im willing to buy suppllies for this but im not ordering custom made pick guards

what about a airbrush?

ive been thinking about using an airbrush but i dont know if the paint will peel off

It won't if you prep the surface the right way and then clearcoat it afterwards. What I would do is do a practice painting on a piece of glass or even plastic. Once you get it right, THEN do it for real on a pickguard.