Painting a pickguard?

Nsatke81

Nsatke81

New member
Hi all,

I wondered if anyone had any experience painting a pickguard with acrylics and how one could preserve the artwork.

I have a friend that wants to paint my 76 explorer guard and am not sure how would be the best way to preserve it. Thanks!


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i have an '03 splattercaster from fender and the pickguard is painted. ive played it a bunch and its held up fine. i assume they shot clear over it when it was dry but who knows
 
The best you can do is a couple of coats of clear. The smart way to go would be to hand-cut two thin plexiglass pickguards and place the artwork between them.
 
The best you can do is a couple of coats of clear. The smart way to go would be to hand-cut two thin plexiglass pickguards and place the artwork between them.
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If you're going to do that, you buy the clear pickguard and paint your art ON THE BACK. Then, it won't get scratched off.
 
I painted clear plastic with gold acrylic on the back to cut a custom pickguard once. Similar to Gretsch style pickguards, but for a V
 
Window tint is thin plastic
if you get the 70 percent with only 30 percent shaded
placed directly on will be practically invisible

Dont paint with acrylic
Wont stick to the plastic pickguard

Use oil or ink
 
I've painted several pickguards with varying levels of success. My best advice is to try different paints on a scrap pickguard or on the back of your pickguard... let them dry, do your clearcoat or whatever else, and test their durability. I've had a few painted pickguards lose chunks of paint, one that seems bulletproof, and one that shows pick scratches. Definitely not an exact science.
 
Thank you everyone for the expertise. I’m racking my brain trying to figure out a better way to display the art should I decide to go with it.

Maybe canvas under a clear guard?


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ICTGoober said:
If you're going to do that, you buy the clear pickguard and paint your art ON THE BACK. Then, it won't get scratched off.
Click to expand...

Again, you failed to read the post. Two thin plexi sheets with the painting in between the two sheets. It won't get scratched off!
 
Again, you failed to read the post. Two thin plexi sheets with the painting in between the two sheets. It won't get scratched off!
Click to expand...

You failed to understand that my suggestion WAS BETTER. The paint can't get scratched off if it's on the underside of the pickguard.
 
The worst possible paint to use is acrylic. Lacquer or oil-based enamel with a clear polyurethane top coat would be better. Or best yet would be as suggested...two clear sheets with the painting between the two. But even then, absolutely don't use acrylic.
 
ICTGoober said:
You failed to understand that my suggestion WAS BETTER. The paint can't get scratched off if it's on the underside of the pickguard.
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I get what you are saying but the artist would have to in fact paint the layers of the image backward if it were painted directly on the clear pickguard. This could prove to be difficult. Whereas the artist could paint the design on any medium they are comfortable and it can be placed under the clear pickguard.
 
ICTGoober said:
You failed to understand that my suggestion WAS BETTER. The paint can't get scratched off if it's on the underside of the pickguard.
Click to expand...

Better than what?!
In what respect could it possibly be better?! (Perhaps in your mind only!)

Even painting on the underside (which would be extremely difficult, as Securb pointed out) if you use acrylic paint it will chip/peal off without even being exposed to any wear or scratching.
 
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