Exact dimensions for 1920s L-5 pickguard?

[radiofm74]

Dear fellow archtop geeks,

does anyone know the exact measures of the pick guards mounted on 1920s L-5s?

This pickguard here would be perfect, but the measures are not indicated: Gibson L-5 1924-1929 TruVintage guitar pickguard celluloid tortoise w/ aged binding | fox-guitars.com

I'd buy from Fox Guitars, but I'm in Europe and between the rather steep price tag, shipping and taxes the pickguard would end up costing almost as much as I paid for the guitar, so I'm having it built locally. But there are no published measures that I know of.

The pickguard is for my Loar LH-700… my first acoustic archtop, and one that I have no plans to sell (hence the investment).

Thanks for any info you may share!

[hotpepper01]

I doubt if you can find a deal in Europe that has a better value/cost ratio in comparison of buying one of the one from your link. Such a nice tortoise bound celluloid PG simply belongs to that lovely LH700. Any EU custom made lookalike will cost you as well. Why take a risk of having one custom made by someone who has not done that model before? And hopefully end up looking just as good as the one in your link?
Go the extra mile, its only money...

I can not help, I have only a lookalike as well

[radiofm74]

Thx! The local guy here is well-reputed and I'm pretty happy to support local businesses. Trouble is he does not have access to the dimensions … yours looks very nice – so the measurings of that one would go a long way ;D

[hotpepper01]

Thx! The local guy here is well-reputed and I'm pretty happy to support local businesses. Trouble is he does not have access to the dimensions … yours looks very nice – so the measurings of that one would go a long way ;D

Oh, mine is not a Loar, it is a Sumi S5

[radiofm74]

Sure, I know. I wish I had one. But it's also modelled after a 1920s L-5 and the pickguard certainly has the right dimensions, so if you could measure it it would be very helpful. Thx!

[Steve Z]

Maybe 1929 Pickguards can help. He makes great looking guards and seems very knowledgeable based on his Facebook posts…

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1929 Pickguards

[stevo58]

I have a Fox I can trace for you and send, if that’s a help. I had it on my Loar, and kept it when I sold the Loar.

[radiofm74]

I have a Fox I can trace for you and send, if that’s a help. I had it on my Loar, and kept it when I sold the Loar.

I am not sure whether you mean that you could send (= sell me) the pickguard itself or just trace the pickguard contours on a sheet and send that. Either way it would be absolutely wonderful and I'd be extremely grateful for your help ;D

[radiofm74]

Maybe 1929 Pickguards can help. He makes great looking guards and seems very knowledgeable based on his Facebook posts…

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1929 Pickguards

What a great site! Thx!

[Spook410]

My suggestion would be to get a photocopy of the pickguard. Better than a trace.

[stevo58]

See if one of these works for you.

[radiofm74]

See if one of these works for you.

Apologies for not replying earlier! Somehow the thread alert didn't work.

I'll send along to the pickguard man and I'm sure this settles it for him. Thanks a million!!