#1
|
|||
|
|||
Cutting pickup cutouts in bound archtop pickguard
Anyone have any tips for how to cleanly cut some pickup holes in a bound, L5-style pickguard? I have an old Yamaha AE1200s archtop (L5ces copy) and the original pickguard has long since succumbed to nitro rot. I have a tracing of the original pickguard and purchased an uncut bound L5 pickguard from Allparts. It fits very well, aside from needing the holes cut for the pickups and mounting screw.
Anyone have any tips for cleanly cutting a pickguard without cracking it? What tools should I use? I have a small jigsaw that I was thinking could work, maybe drill out the corners and then sand everything smooth, but I'm worried about cracking it. Maybe I should purchase a jewelers saw? |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Best to make a plywood template from your drawing. Make sure it fits perfect smooth all the edges, then tape (double side masking tape) the template to your pickguard and use a router with a pattern bit. I use a smaller laminate router. If you want to do it by hand, You could free hand it close with a coping saw, then use files to clean it up to the line.
__________________
Bryan |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I use a fein saw, super clean cuts
Steve
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Another vote for using a small router - that’s the way we did it when I worked in a guitar repair shop last century.
__________________
Go for the Tone, George |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I do have an oscillating saw (dremel, not a fein), hadn't thought about using that at all! How would you deal with the corners, drill them out? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
With a single fluted step drill, normal drill will possibly tear it
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
clamp the piece between some thin plywood to support it while cutting.
__________________
______________ ---Tom H --- |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I tend to do this with files only, but a template and a small router or dremel tool is the more pro way to do it.
__________________
Brian Evans Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia. |