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How do we make 'em??
It IS a long process that involves handling each pickguard around one-hundred times from start to finish - maybe that's why no-body else is making a similar product. The only way we found to make an all-timber pickguard stable in all climate and weather conditions, was to start with a base substrate of custom-made multiple-layered veneers. We laminate this up from Australian hardwood veneers, using marine-grade adhesives. The timber that we use has the same density as US Swamp Ash - this helps give the required added acoustic qualities of our pickguards.
Once the 'base' is thicknessed and levelled, then the selected decorative face veneer is adhered by pressure-bonding to the base, using those same marine adhesives.
The face veneers can be of any decorative veneer, and we will gladly source the timber of your choice for a custom order, but normally we would use either Figured/Flame, Quilted or Birdseye maples. Depending on what veneer stocks we have at the time, face veneers could be either one-piece, or book-matched.
The veneered blank is sanded and stained, then sealed and grain-filled on both front and rear. The decorative face has multiple finish coats of Urethane finish applied, while the back has three coats of conductive sheilding paint applied - this helps reduce noise, hum and radio or electrical interference.
rear sheilding paint applied reflected lighting on high polish finish
The face is then cut and polished to a mirror-like finish - pictured above is a shot with the reflection of my lights in focus. The reflective finish is difficult to show in the standard display photos on the product pages.
All pickup rout and mounting holes, including countersinks, are sealed, and have multiple finish coats to prevent moisture access. Edge shaping is straight cut for neck, bridge, and control-plate pockets, while outer shaped edges are at 60 degrees, which are also multiple-coat sealed, the visible edges are first stained to match the face colour. This can also be customised to your individual design if required.
After completion, each pickguard is then photographed and catalogued – the pickguard you choose is the one that is shipped to you when you hit the buy button!
Each Gilroy Guitars pickguard is fully guaranteed against production faults by a full replacement policy for 12 months, not including general wear and tear.
Have a question? Please use our 'Contact Us' page.
Tele pickguards available at last - some great colours and naturals in figured and quilted book-matched maple.
MORE . . . . . .
Gilroy Guitars started after a long association with music - I started in bands in Sydney's eastern suburbs - our first band was 'Lincoln and the Lawmen' - 1959, playing church hall dances Friday and Saturday nights. Many band changes - line-ups, gear etc... you know the deal - same then as now. Stayed as a part-time muso for ten years, until the family and other endeavours took over, but always had a guitar under the bed, plunking away at weddings, twenty-firsts and such.
'Adam and the Serpents' - great names back then (lol) - Adam, Mike Redstone (bass), Mike Allan (drums) - wished I had that Guyatone still - this one was around 1960 . . . . .
This one from early 1962 - 'the Premiers' - we did Police Boys Club gigs in central NSW, as well as many gigs in the early Sydney rock and surf scene - Ross Raymond (drums), Dave Humphreys vocals, Mike Redstone on bass - I should'a kept that Jaguar too . . .
Now my wife Vivienne helps in the business, we've come back to music after many other pursuits, farming, restaurants, potting, it's hard to give up the music . . . .
Cheers....
Peter Dobinson
It IS a long process that involves handling each pickguard around one-hundred times from start to finish - maybe that's why no-body else is making a similar product. The only way we found to make an all-timber pickguard stable in all climate and weather conditions, was to start with a base substrate of custom-made multiple-layered veneers. We laminate this up from Australian hardwood veneers, using marine-grade adhesives. The timber that we use has the same density as US Swamp Ash - this helps give the required added acoustic qualities of our pickguards.
Once the 'base' is thicknessed and levelled, then the selected decorative face veneer is adhered by pressure-bonding to the base, using those same marine adhesives.
The face veneers can be of any decorative veneer, and we will gladly source the timber of your choice for a custom order, but normally we would use either Figured/Flame, Quilted or Birdseye maples. Depending on what veneer stocks we have at the time, face veneers could be either one-piece, or book-matched.
The veneered blank is sanded and stained, then sealed and grain-filled on both front and rear. The decorative face has multiple finish coats of Urethane finish applied, while the back has three coats of conductive sheilding paint applied - this helps reduce noise, hum and radio or electrical interference.
rear sheilding paint applied reflected lighting on high polish finish
The face is then cut and polished to a mirror-like finish - pictured above is a shot with the reflection of my lights in focus. The reflective finish is difficult to show in the standard display photos on the product pages.
All pickup rout and mounting holes, including countersinks, are sealed, and have multiple finish coats to prevent moisture access. Edge shaping is straight cut for neck, bridge, and control-plate pockets, while outer shaped edges are at 60 degrees, which are also multiple-coat sealed, the visible edges are first stained to match the face colour. This can also be customised to your individual design if required.
After completion, each pickguard is then photographed and catalogued – the pickguard you choose is the one that is shipped to you when you hit the buy button!
Each Gilroy Guitars pickguard is fully guaranteed against production faults by a full replacement policy for 12 months, not including general wear and tear.
Have a question? Please use our 'Contact Us' page.
Tele pickguards available at last - some great colours and naturals in figured and quilted book-matched maple.
MORE . . . . . .
Gilroy Guitars started after a long association with music - I started in bands in Sydney's eastern suburbs - our first band was 'Lincoln and the Lawmen' - 1959, playing church hall dances Friday and Saturday nights. Many band changes - line-ups, gear etc... you know the deal - same then as now. Stayed as a part-time muso for ten years, until the family and other endeavours took over, but always had a guitar under the bed, plunking away at weddings, twenty-firsts and such.
'Adam and the Serpents' - great names back then (lol) - Adam, Mike Redstone (bass), Mike Allan (drums) - wished I had that Guyatone still - this one was around 1960 . . . . .
This one from early 1962 - 'the Premiers' - we did Police Boys Club gigs in central NSW, as well as many gigs in the early Sydney rock and surf scene - Ross Raymond (drums), Dave Humphreys vocals, Mike Redstone on bass - I should'a kept that Jaguar too . . .
Now my wife Vivienne helps in the business, we've come back to music after many other pursuits, farming, restaurants, potting, it's hard to give up the music . . . .
Cheers....
Peter Dobinson