Lars68 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Yesterday, I replaced the tortoise guard on my Sheryl Crow Southern Jumbo with a firestripe guard from James at www.firestripepickguards.com James makes beautiful handmade guards! I am extremely happy with the result! Here it is: http://www.firestripepickguards.com/wp-content/uploads/Larsj45.jpg Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 That's a nice job I still feel conned by the headline though . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 I still feel conned by the headline though . Then the headline worked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Yip. Though I'd still have opened the thread with a title like 'new pickguard' I just wouldn't have questioned your parentage when I did :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 Sheryl is also naked, not wearing her label. That could have made an attention getting topic title Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Looks great Lars and great work James! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 that's a really fine & beautiful job . the guitar looks even more stunning than before . to be honest I thought it was going to be a photo of Sheryl with a 1930's L00 or something like that lol JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 Thanks for the nice comments, guys! Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I like the look, it's nice. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarjtb Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 You even made me look. I waited until my wife left the room, and then open the thread. Thanks for the nice comments guys. Lars does a great job of Lars-ifying them with his back coating. The guitar looks great. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 You even made me look. I waited until my wife left the room, and then open the thread. Thanks for the nice comments guys. Lars does a great job of Lars-ifying them with his back coating. The guitar looks great. James Thanks James. Your product is superb! It's by far the best cosmetic upgrade available for modern Gibsons. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfish Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Sheryl looks hot in that firestripe. And I agree that James makes the best pick guards I love mine Fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Lars, a great look! Thanks for sharing your guitar and pickguard with us. James, you da pickguard man! We need to chat about a Fretboard Journal article about you and your craft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Hits the nail on the head, Lars. A winner. ..and lovely job, James. Tip of the cap to the craftwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Yup looks great!!! The first one you did was also amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Yes, I am very happy with the first one, too. It has a different look. The AJ has a Tobacco Burst wich is very different from the burst on the Sheryl SJ, which is brighter and a little more reddish. Here is the AJ: http://www.firestripepickguards.com/wp-content/uploads/larsaj1.jpg This is a much better photo than the one I just did for the SJ. I had to do the SJ with flash, while the AJ is in natural light. The lighting makes a big difference when trying to show subtle differences in burst colors. Both pickguards have my homemade paintjob on the flipside, just different color schemes to match the bursts. It's kind of cool to browse the owner photos on James' site. They all look a little different but good. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Yes, I am very happy with the first one, too. It has a different look. The AJ has a Tobacco Burst wich is very different from the burst on the Sheryl SJ, which is brighter and a little more reddish. Here is the AJ: http://www.firestripepickguards.com/wp-content/uploads/larsaj1.jpg This is a much better photo than the one I just did for the SJ. I had to do the SJ with flash, while the AJ is in natural light. The lighting makes a big difference when trying to show subtle differences in burst colors. Both pickguards have my homemade paintjob on the flipside, just different color schemes to match the bursts. It's kind of cool to browse the owner photos on James' site. They all look a little different but good. Lars Lars , what do you mean with your 'home made paint job ' ?? Nice guards , that last pic shows how well they're finished at the edges. Did you change the shape for the Sheryl crow? Aren't they the three pointed guards a la southern jumbo ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Lars , what do you mean with your 'home made paint job ' ?? Nice guards , that last pic shows how well they're finished at the edges. Did you change the shape for the Sheryl crow? Aren't they the three pointed guards a la southern jumbo ? Both guards are the standard shapes from Gibson for the AJ and SJ models. I find the look of the semi transparent vintage firestripe guards very attractive. They flow very naturally with the color of the burst, since in the old days the guards were placed on bare wood and then sprayed over. Hence, the gradual change in color of the burst from center and towards the edges became part of the guards. I have found that it is impossible to achieve this look by putting a firestripe guard on top of the finish on a modern guitar. They colors don't look right and everything becomes too dark. Also the adhesieve can be seen through the guards. This is true both for the current Gibson firestripe guards, as well as the ones James makes. Instead, to get the best look possible, I hand paint a burst pattern on the back of the replacement pickguards by using acrylic paint. It's an incredibly crude pattern but it works very well. I make the colors somewhat brighter than the corresponding part of the finish on the guitar. On the SJ guard I went from pink to maroon, and on the AJ I went from tan to brown. I try to pick colors schemes that look good from the front. By doing this, the color of the finsished guard, as seen from the front, replicates the natural gradual change of color of the oldies. It is a very easy and rewarding do-it-yourself project, made possible by James' wonderful product. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullmental Alpinist Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I'm a bit confused on how your paint job works, Lars, but your pickguards look great. To help me understand, could you please go out and buy a new Gibson and another pickguard from James? Then do what you do while taking pictures of it for us so we can actually see how to do it. Consider it a Christmas gift for yourself and for your friends here. FMA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Both guards are the standard shapes from Gibson for the AJ and SJ models. I find the look of the semi transparent vintage firestripe guards very attractive. They flow very naturally with the color of the burst, since in the old days the guards were placed on bare wood and then sprayed over. Hence, the gradual change in color of the burst from center and towards the edges became part of the guards. I have found that it is impossible to achieve this look by putting a firestripe guard on top of the finish on a modern guitar. They colors don't look right and everything becomes too dark. Also the adhesieve can be seen through the guards. This is true both for the current Gibson firestripe guards, as well as the ones James makes. Instead, to get the best look possible, I hand paint a burst pattern on the back of the replacement pickguards by using acrylic paint. It's an incredibly crude pattern but it works very well. I make the colors somewhat brighter than the corresponding part of the finish on the guitar. On the SJ guard I went from pink to maroon, and on the AJ I went from tan to brown. I try to pick colors schemes that look good from the front. By doing this, the color of the finsished guard, as seen from the front, replicates the natural gradual change of color of the oldies. It is a very easy and rewarding do-it-yourself project, made possible by James' wonderful product. Lars Very cool, Lars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 FMA, by all means, if you transfer sufficient funds I will do a step-by-step photo documentation of the process I realize now when reading back what I wrote, that painting the back of the pickguard may sound more involved than it really is. It is really very easy. All firestripe pickguards, past and present, are semi-transparent. There is a pattern in the pickguard material with dark swirls etc, but in the lighter, non-colored parts of the material, whatever is underneath is visible when the guard is in place. In the past, the guards were put directly on natural wood and then the burst was sprayed on the whole guitar, over the pickguard. That made for a very naturally, flowing look. Today, the guitars are sprayed and the guards are applied on top of the burst. So when placing a transparent guard over the burst it looks too dark. Therefore, I paint the back of the guard with brighter colors than the actual burst colors on the guitar, this gives the right look from the front. Anyone else care to help me explain. English is my second language... Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PickitPaul Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I had mine painted white on the back, but it stood out too much when on the burst. What color do you spray on the back to make it blend in better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 I had mine painted white on the back, but it stood out too much when on the burst. What color do you spray on the back to make it blend in better? It would depend on the color of the burst on your guitar. On my AJ I started with a tan color and gradually darkened it to end up with brown in the areas of the darkest part of the burst. On the SJ I did the same thing, but going from light pink to maroon. I simply paint gradually darker bands about half an inch wide. I don't spray. I just use my kids acrylics. Very crude, but easy... Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbuck Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 It would depend on the color of the burst on your guitar. On my AJ I started with a tan color and gradually darkened it to end up with brown in the areas of the darkest part of the burst. On the SJ I did the same thing, but going from light pink to maroon. I simply paint gradually darker bands about half an inch wide. I don't spray. I just use my kids acrylics. Very crude, but easy... Lars I agree with the others here that it looks very convincing. Maybe consider using the old guard you took off to demonstrate your pickguard coloring method. Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Here is another one of James' pickguards just as it came from him, with no paint on the back. One half of the guard is over a red piece of paper, while the other half is over white paper. It is easy to see how the guard changes color depending on the background. Maybe this photo helps explain how painting the back of the guard can affect its appearance. http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/2e225b1c77012ce5ea1ecde7dba5bc9c6a76789.JPG Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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