Need scan of a Starfire pickguard

[cc_mac]

Paul Setzer from the Gretsch Discussion Pages has agreed to make a Guild stairstep pickguard for me. In order to do it correctly I need some nice person to takes there's off an put it on a scanner with a ruler like so
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l303/setzersigns/process/PG1.jpg
and send me a .jpeg file.

My Starfire is a 1969 with the body neck joint at the 18th fret and the small humbuckers so it might have to be a 1967 to 1970 SF IV, V, pr VI and maybe an XII. Once he has the template made he can produce to order and will do custome decaling and painting. I've seen a lot of his stuff on the GDP and he is well thought of. He could also do the older type pickguards via the same process.
http://s99.photobucket.com/albums/l303/setzersigns/process/

 

[gilded]

Chris,

I have a '67 SF V that needs a pickguard, too. If you don't mind me asking, what does
Paul charge for this sort of job?

 

[cc_mac]

I forgot to say please when I made my request. I realize that this is a huge hassle for someone to do and they of course have to have a scanner. Paul also said a careful tracing would be just as good and maybe better so if someone is willing to do that and mail it to me .......

Regarding the price, the finished product will be $65 for the first one as there is some setup involved - making the template, getting the logo right for the decal etc. This includes a finished product that will be made on plexiglass with the logo applied from the back and painted. Basically a turnkey job. Subsequent ones - not sure. I am willing to be the guinea pig.

Considering the price of this one
http://www.guitar-parts.com/products/16 ... kguard.htm
and thinking that it's from a 90s repop of the original SFiv with different pickups It may not fit anyway. It's also not out of line with what one would get from
http://pickguards.us/priceguild.html
that would be logoless.

I also like the idea of supporting a small business owner who is an enthusiastic guitar player and contributor to the community of musicians. Not to mention the guy live less than an hour away from me.

 

[kakerlak]

Man, I'd love to do it for you, but my two SF's straddle yours, era-wise. Got a '66 with the 16th fret joint and a '74 w/ the big p/us...

Sorry!

 

[cc_mac]

Man, I'd love to do it for you, but my two SF's straddle yours, era-wise. Got a '66 with the 16th fret joint and a '74 w/ the big p/us...

Sorry!

I appreciate you anyway. I know that my need is somewhat specific and I've put myself on too tight a timeline. I'm someone will be able to do it.

 

[BluesDan]

Would this one work for you?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Guild-Elect ... 240%3A1318

 

[cc_mac]

Would this one work for you?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Guild-Elect ... 240%3A1318

I appreciate you pointing that out. Based on the logo style that's most likely at least an early 70s style that has the wider pickups. It may also be from the 90s Fender era. I think this is the same vintage at a better "instant " price

http://www.guitar-parts.com/products/16 ... kguard.htm

Either of them might "sort of fit" but I am hoping to get an exact fit. Still holding out

And now back to reinstalling the pickups and installing the new Bigsby.

 

[danerectal]

Would this one work for you?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Guild-Elect ... 240%3A1318

That one looks to be a reissue since there is no contour for the pickup height adjustment screw. I think they still had that in the 70s.

 

[kakerlak]

Would this one work for you?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Guild-Elect ... 240%3A1318

That one looks to be a reissue since there is no contour for the pickup height adjustment screw. I think they still had that in the 70s.

Well, yes and no. My '74 SF has the adjust screw cutouts, however, my small HB '66 SF does not have them. So it might be older? Both the above linked guard sure "look" like large HB cutouts, and, based on logo, probably are. Somebody here's gotta have a small p/u, long neck SF, though...

 

[cc_mac]

So far no luck. I tired taking the pic from the ebay auction and resizing it in photoshop to get an approximation but the pic seems "off " and it didn't work. I even tried making an MDF template from it yesterday while I was getting the bridge pup support ring made and it's somehow distorted. I need a real scan or tracing. I am thinking that I can deal with any later Starfire stairstep pickguard scan and can just make the pickup cutouts smaller.

For the purposes of getting Paul Setzer to make a good one I'd like the exact 67-69 Stairstep For the purposes of making a quickie one to protect the finish work I did I'll take anything I can get. So if you are willing to take off your pickguard, and put it on a scanner with a ruler across the top of the pickguard and send me a jpeg, please

 

[jp]

Sorry Chris,
As mentioned earlier, my scanner is on the fritz. I was, however, able to snap a pic. You may be able to just size this in Photoshop until you get an accurate printout. Be forewarned that this was touted to me as a Guild Starfire pickup--no more--no less. It was an ebay bargain. Although it fits my '65 SFIII, I'm almost certain that it's a repro, sooooo, YMMV. With clever Photoshop manipulations, you can at least maybe get a decent printout. I would definitely double-triple-check the PU oepnings to see if it works for your SF IV. PM sent for link to hi-res file.

 

[cc_mac]

John,

I really appreciate that! I don't think they had holes for the height adjustment screws so it could be a repro,I'll try and do some photoshopping to it and see it I can make it work to play around with. Paul was pretty clear that to seriously make one he wanted to have a scan. I can use this in the mean time to play around with using the $2.00 sheet of plexiglass I bought at Lowes.

 

[GAD]

John,

I really appreciate that! I don't think they had holes for the height adjustment screws so it could be a repro,I'll try and do some photoshopping to it and see it I can make it work to play around with. Paul was pretty clear that to seriously make one he wanted to have a scan. I can use this in the mean time to play around with using the $2.00 sheet of plexiglass I bought at Lowes.

The holes are correct. The pick guard sits on top of the pickup mounting rings. I hate it.

Here's a pic of my '73 with the contrast lowered to better see the guard:

GAD

 

[cc_mac]

I took JP's image (thanks again) and passed it on to a graphic designer I know who is also a guitar phreak. He's down with the cause and spent some time working with me on this today. A couple of interesting points.

1) the photo has a small amount of "distortion" form the center of the image out. By comparing the measurements on the ruler with measurements of the image using CS3 it drifted about 1/32 to 3/32 per inch to the edge. 2) A corrected line drawing used as a template didn't quite fit my guitar. JP said he got that one from eBay and it fits his OK but he was not sure for whence it came.
3) JP though it might be a repro but I am not so sure about that. A survey of images I could find of guitars form the 67 to 70 era had a variety difference in "fit and finish" Some had a outline. Some had a cutout for one or both adjustment screws. On some of the screens the logo was crooked etc. Also some had the hole below the neck for the screw in different places and the leading edge of the pickguard didn't always fall in the same place.

After some messing around, Adam was able to create a reasonable image to yield a test template that fits my guitar quite well but we are going to tweak just a little more. You can see it below. I don't think this is an "exact " repro of the what would be original as far a size goes. I'd still like to get a scan of a pickguard off a 67-70 Starfire IV small humbucker pickguard. And yes, mine will have a chevron on it cause I think it's cool

 

[jp]

Hi Chris,
Just saw this now. Your buddy did a great job. I figured you'd be able to pull something off. I've also done the net research and found a staggering variety of pickguards. When they're orphaned, it's really difficult to trace lineage.