T-100 restauration - Need help for the Pickguard

[Piga30]

Hello all,

I am in the process of restauring a 1959 T-100 slim jim and I have finally given up the hope of finding an original pickguard to replace the missing one. My guitar is a one Franz pickup specimen.

Here's my special request: If anyone would have a similar guitar or at least a similar pickguard that would be kind enough to trace it to its exact dimensions, I would have a replacement made by a pickguard company. I will post the reference to the company I use so that in the future, anyone could order a replacement since they will have the template in their inventory.

If anyone from this forum is willing to help, please send me a PM and I will forward my residential address. Thanks in advance for the help.

P.

p.s. Here's a photo of a guitar with a similar pickguard, altough this one is a 2 pickup model, whereas mine has only one.

 

[hansmoust]

I am in the process of restauring a 1959 T-100 slim jim and I have finally given up the hope of finding an original pickguard to replace the missing one. My guitar is a one Franz pickup specimen.

Hello Piga30,

Keep in mind that 1959 was kind of a transition period for pickguards. During that time the pickguards went from laminated multi ply black/white to plexiglass guards that were painted from the back. Laminated guards with a tortoise shell top layer where also used during this period but these are kind of rare. What's the serial number on your guitar and what kind of knobs does it have?
With that information I should be able to tell you what kind of guards might have been on your guitar.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Piga30]

Thanks for the offer Hans. You will see below a photo of my guitar before I replaced the Bigsby with a harp tailpiece. But the knobs are visible. They are original I think. I will get the serial number tomorrow since my guitar is at my luthier for a small binding restauration.

Thanks again.

P.

 

[Piga30]

Hello again Hans,

The serial number for my T-100 is 9085.

Thanks for your help.

P.

 

[hansmoust]

The serial number for my T-100 is 9085.

Hello Piga30,

Most of the T-100s in my database that are within that serial number range have the laminated guard and the earlier style knobs (see page 60 of The Guild Guitar Book).

However, there are 2 possibilities but I can't really see it in the photo you provided:

1) If your guitar has the small indicator nails next to the transparent G- knobs, then it came with a plexiglass pickguard that's sprayed black on the backside.

2) If your guitar doesn't have the small indicator nails, then the G-knobs were put on later and the guitar would have had a laminated guard.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[caveman]

Hi,

maybe not needed to define the pickguard for you , but I felt like throwing in a pic of my beloved '59 T100D with the small laminiated pickguard. Haven't seen a lot of these around.

 

[Piga30]

Hello Caveman,

My guitar doesn't have the small indicators, so it would be a laminated one.

Is your pickguard original ? If yes, if its not too troublesome, would you trace it for me on a 8"1/2 by 11" piece of paper so that I may have a repro made ? You may then scan it, fax it or send it to me by mail. If that's possible, PM me so that I may give you my coordinates.

Thanks.

Pierre

 

[walrus]

Caveman - Great guitar, great photo!!!

walrus

 

[hansmoust]

Hi,

maybe not needed to define the pickguard for you , but I felt like throwing in a pic of my beloved '59 T100D with the small laminiated pickguard. Haven't seen a lot of these around.

Hello Caveman,

Are you sure that pickguard is original on your guitar?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[jp]

Hey Piga
Here's a pic of mine. If yours is the 5-ply laminated example like mine, I can scan it in and email it you with dimensions.

 

[caveman]

not sure if it is original, Hans. It has three layers of white sandwiched between 4 black ones. Never saw another one like it. It doesn't look 'homemade', and it fits very well.

If it is original, I guess I can fax it... See if we can find it out here ...

 

[hansmoust]

not sure if it is original, Hans. It has three layers of white sandwiched between 4 black ones. Never saw another one like it. It doesn't look 'homemade', and it fits very well.

If it is original, I guess I can fax it... See if we can find it out here ...

Hello Caveman,

Faxing would not help me very much. I would need to have the pickguard in my hands to determine whether it's original or not. Maybe some day! As far as that shape is concerned, I have only seen that 'kind of' shape on the early '50s Aristocrats.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Piga30]

JP your pickguard is exactly what I need. If you can scan it and e-mail it to me, that would be absolutely great. My e-mail adress is: pgagnon100@videotron.ca

Thanks a million.

Pierre

 

[jp]

J'ai reçu votre message. P.M. envoyé.

 

[Piga30]

Wow JP, very good french with no mistake...Is your real name Jean-Paul, or Jean-Pierre or Jean-Philippe by any chance !!

Pierre

 

[jp]

Nope. Just a wife who's fluent. I once was, then learned Spanish, goodbye French. Then learned Swedish, goodbye Spanish and French. :mrgreen:

 

[jp]

I thought I'd post this scan here for anyone else interested in making their own pickguard. This is off of my '59 T-100DP. My respectful apologies to all you metrically challenged LTGers--this was for Pierre, our Canadian brother who lives in a metric world--therefore in millimeters. If anyone wants it, I also have a PDF scan that prints out to scale. PM me, and I'll email it you.

Also worth noting is that I this is actually a 7-ply laminate B-W-B-W-B-W-B. I've never seen any pickguard material beyond 5-ply, so it would be tough to find an exact match.

 

[dachba]

If you don't get what you need, I'll be happy to send a tracing/details on mine. I'm currently cleaning up a 1962 that my son gave me. Here is a picture:

Dave in Ft. Collins, CO A newbie.

 

[Piga30]

Dave, I need all the help I can get !! Thanks a lot to JP for his great work. You have a terrific guitar on hand. If you can send me a tracing of yours, that will compleemnt my info. Please send it to:

Pierre Gagnon
3559 Northcliffe ave.
Montreal, Quebec.
Canada.

Thanks for the great help found on this forum, its for a great cause...getting a 1959 T-100 recuperate some of its past glory !!

P.

 

[chrisb]

Pierre, jp & dave: You guys rock!

I've been looking for some good images & measurements to have my luthier make me a guard for my 58 T100. Thanks to you I now have them!

Post pics as you go, Pierre!

Cheers,
Chris