Where to buy custom ebony pickguard??

**JPMike** · 02-18-2013, 08:54 PM

Hey guys,

I want to change the pickguard on my D'Angelico NYSS-3, to an ebony more simple like pickguard. I was wondering, who makes custom ebony pickguards to a design I will provide?? A luthier? Maybe someone that makes parts for guitar?? Someone in Europe would be awesome, but I don't mind internationally.

I have no idea, so that's why I am asking for your knowledge.

Thank you for your time,
Mike

**JPMike** · 02-18-2013, 09:10 PM

How much did it cost ya? Also, you think he will ship in EU?

**2bornot2bop** · 02-18-2013, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by JPMike

How much did it cost ya? Also, you think he will ship in EU?

you know Aaron's work. He's historically associated with Gibson archtops of the 60's. Call him, he'll tell you. Aaron is old school. He doesn't do email. Although if you send an email an assistant may be able to reply.

I paid $200 for mine...but he had to create it from a conceptual drawing...it was worth it to me to place something on the guitar other than a Heritage pickguard, which was driving me nutz...and of course goin' with a Gibson style would be heresy!

**JPMike** · 02-18-2013, 09:37 PM

I see, but let me show you what I am looking for.

Something super simple like this:
Where to buy custom ebony pickguard??-rosenwinkel_kurt_1c-jpg

**JPMike** · 02-19-2013, 06:14 AM

Any other suggestions?

**mitch_33** · 02-19-2013, 07:15 AM

You could always buy an ebony blank from stew mac or something, not sure what the european equivalent would be and carve it yourself. You already have the mounting brackets. It might be a fun project.

**Gertrude Moser** · 02-19-2013, 07:27 AM

You can buy a Benedetto finger rest. STEWMAC.COM : Benedetto Archtop Guitar Fingerrest

**carlescountry** · 02-19-2013, 08:00 AM

J. Hale Music Supply - Premium Jazz Guitar, Jazz Bass, Amplification Equipment And Accessories

They put it this in my El Rey3

Where to buy custom ebony pickguard??-eastman-el-rey3-custom-jpg

Where to buy custom ebony pickguard??-eastman-el-rey3-custom-jpg

**PTChristopher** · 02-19-2013, 09:24 AM

There are many ways to mount a PG. Many are best done with the guitar in-hand vs. someone sending you a PG that you then mount yourself. If mounting yourself, note that screwing down plastic is more forgiving than screwing down relatively thin ebony. Don't over-tighten if there is a screw at the upper tip of the PG.

If you want a 100% copy of you existing mounting, then you can always ship the existing PG to be copied. A careful tracing will also work in many cases.

Just watch out for PG mounts that need to be carefully set up. A great example is when the PG sits on top of the PU bezel. In this case the bottom of the PG may need to be carefully angled.

Pretty much any competent luthier can make your PG. It's a great way to use those FB blanks than have a defect somewhere,...

I suggest that you also have a meeting of the minds over "Ebony" if the aesthetic details are critical to you. There is considerable variety in color and streaking. Ebony from west Africa is arguably a better choice (vs. Madagascar if available). It can be streakier, but is more stable - which is nice for a PG if you are in a very variable climate.

Chris

**JPMike** · 02-19-2013, 09:46 AM

I will have to do some extensive searching when I get home! I think, it's a simple task.

**2bornot2bop** · 02-19-2013, 01:46 PM

and if you mail order a piece of blank Ebony remember that the shading may not be as dark as you prefer and require staining to get it as dark as you wish. I had to ship my pickguard back to have it darkened to my liking. Aaron suggested a rich dark ebony is not the norm...and in fact as nice a piece of ebony he had on hand for my guard the shade at best was a medium dark brown...which is why I elected to have it darkened to match the solid ebony tailpiece.

you can see the difference above. top photo is original ebony untouched. bottom photo shaded.

**PTChristopher** · 02-19-2013, 01:55 PM

Hi 2B,

One aspect of the decidedly mixed D'A USA experience has been their use of remarkably nice west African ebony on the later MIK guitars. This is often not all that dark, but very smooth and stable - which is endearing in many ways.

I think we are talking about a D'A labelled guitar here?

There is some of the famous Lacey Act at work here in terms of ebony availability. Except for one FB ready for a nylon string I am (sloooowly) building, I have only scraps of the deep black Madagascar ebony kicking around. The most readily available, and very fine stuff, is west African now. I have no idea how the various laws and distribution have made this the case, but it will be news if/when Madagascar ebony is widely available again.

So I suppose that the sales of Fiebings USMC black leather dye will be on the rise,...

Chris

**Archtop 13** · 02-19-2013, 06:17 PM

I've built them. Shipping to your side of the water isn't cheap for me though. Any luthier in your area should be able to kick one out pretty quickly. Something without binding shouldn't take long at all.

**jorgemg1984** · 02-19-2013, 07:44 PM

Mike it should be a pretty easy job for a luthier. Who sets up your guitars?

**JPMike** · 02-19-2013, 07:58 PM

Well, guys, thanks for trying to help.

I must say, I am a complete noob into creating things out of materials.

@Archtop_13 I will PM you, if we can come up with something.

@Jorge, the guy who sets up my guitars isn't a luthier but a tech guy, I might ask him if he knows anyone.

**jorgemg1984** · 02-19-2013, 08:10 PM

It should be really easy Mike, I am positive you'll find someone locally

**Woody Sound** · 02-20-2013, 05:17 PM

I think Lou at G&J has some D'A shaped guards in plain ebony. Not exactly what you are looking for, but maybe worth considering.

**2bornot2bop** · 02-20-2013, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

I think Lou at G&J has some D'A shaped guards in plain ebony. Not exactly what you are looking for, but maybe worth considering.

Huh? I've never seen a D'A style guard in Ebony on any D'A. Any pix?

**Woody Sound** · 02-20-2013, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

Huh? I've never seen a D'A style guard in Ebony on any D'A. Any pix?

D'Angelico Custom Built NYS 2 Archtop | eBay

WS

**2bornot2bop** · 02-20-2013, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

D'Angelico Custom Built NYS 2 Archtop | eBay

WS

Okay, that's an EBONY finish archtop, not an ebony pick guard. And that's an NYL2 model produced in Japan. Lou only carried the MIK D'A's before they were discontinued.

**Woody Sound** · 02-20-2013, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

Okay, that's an EBONY finish archtop, not an ebony pick guard. And that's an NYL2 model produced in Japan. Lou only carried the MIK D'A's before they were discontinued.

Um, it sure looks like an ebony pickguard. I never said that guitar came from G&J. I think you're mixing up two different issues. You asked to see a pic of an ebony guard, there it is. Unrelated, I spoke with Lou about a year or two ago and he said he had D'A shaped ebony guards to sell. That has nothing to do with the guitar pictured, which is a 15" custom built model. I ended up buying an Eastman guard instead.

**JPMike** · 02-20-2013, 09:32 PM

So where I am going to get an amazing new pickguard made?

**JPMike** · 02-20-2013, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

archtopguitarparts . Contact Antonio.

Also, Frank (fws6) from The Netherlands makes pickguards. Why don't you contact him? Frank has some nicely patterned stuff if you're looking for something other than ebony.

Thank you very much!! Will do in the morning!!

Have I mentioned how much I love this forum and it's community??