Leather pickguard

[celticleather]

I've just been asked to make a leather pickguard for a guitar, and I have to admit that until now I had no idea that such things existed!

I can see that I would need a very accurate template to make the guard fit around the various gizmos on the face of the guitar, but I'm not clear about the method of fixing the guard to the guitar . . . is it screwed on, glued on, or what? Has anyone had experience of these? What are the potential pitfalls? Might I regret getting involved?

Just in case anyone else doesn't know what these are, here's a picture I found!

[pete]

I have an exact copy of your tele (Fender telecaster) . It happens to be my Schwab 5 string electric mandolin.

The pickguard is screwed on and you can either cover it and replace it, use it as a template, or both. If it doesn;t turn out well or the guy wants to someday make it stock again, I would probably make a template and just burnish the edges and screw it back on. Maybe some clear thin plastic cemented to the back so it doesn't curl or lift up.

Go to the dollar store and get a cheap 3 ring binder and use the plastic.

pete

[freak]

Go to your local guitar shop and get a cheap pick guard for the guitar your doing and cover that one. That way the original one is still original.

Way back in the day i replaced many a pick guards. I don't remember the price but there not that much (there just plastic). Just get a cheap generic one for that style of guitar. Check the fitting of it and just cover that one.