Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L instruments produced from 1980 to 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
HunGLish
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:01 pm
Location: Hungary

Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by HunGLish »

Hi,

I bought an 1991 SC-3 which has a solid (single ply) black pickguard. There are some minor cracks around one of the screw holes of the pickguard, and I would like to glue it to stop spreading. What material can that be? Probably ABS, then I could use acetone to weld it, but I'm not sure and don't want to experiment with this beauty if someone knows this.

Thanks!

P.S.: I will post photos later after I clean and set it up as it is quite an interesting SC-3.
User avatar
Craig
Site Admin
Posts: 11349
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:52 am
Location: Either Coto De Caza, CA or Paso Robles, CA

Re: Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by Craig »

HunGLish wrote:Hi,

I bought an 1991 SC-3 which has a solid (single ply) black pickguard. There are some minor cracks around one of the screw holes of the pickguard, and I would like to glue it to stop spreading. What material can that be? Probably ABS, then I could use acetone to weld it, but I'm not sure and don't want to experiment with this beauty if someone knows this.

Thanks!

P.S.: I will post photos later after I clean and set it up as it is quite an interesting SC-3.
Contact the original G&L supplier of pickguards - Chandler Guitars, to find out the material they use for your pickguard.
Here is the link to their G&L SC-3 pickguards: https://pickguardheaven.com/product/pg- ... -usa-sc-3/.

Hope this helps.
--Craig [co-webmaster of guitarsbyleo.com, since Oct. 16, 2000]
Welcome! Read This First
Got a G&L question? Check out the: G&L Knowledgebase
Current G&L Specifications and Options
HunGLish
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:01 pm
Location: Hungary

Re: Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by HunGLish »

I did that some days ago and I got a quick answer from Chandler Music, that they didn't made the pickguards for G&L at that time, so I should ask G&L.
User avatar
Craig
Site Admin
Posts: 11349
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:52 am
Location: Either Coto De Caza, CA or Paso Robles, CA

Re: Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by Craig »

HunGLish wrote:I did that some days ago and I got a quick answer from Chandler Music, that they didn't made the pickguards for G&L at that time, so I should ask G&L.


Hm, Chandler should have made that pickguard for your 1991 SC-3. It wasn't until after 2015 that G&L started making their own pickguards.

Here is the quote from Chandler's website:
Please Note:
Beginning in 2016, we were no longer the OEM pickguard supplier to G&L, so please contact us if your guitar does not have our part number written on the back or was made after 2016.
--Craig [co-webmaster of guitarsbyleo.com, since Oct. 16, 2000]
Welcome! Read This First
Got a G&L question? Check out the: G&L Knowledgebase
Current G&L Specifications and Options
User avatar
Katefan
Posts: 501
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 2:34 pm
Location: Boca Raton

Re: Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by Katefan »

I believe outsourcing to Chandler was a BBE thing… Jos might be able to shed some light on this.

Cheers,
KF
User avatar
yowhatsshakin
Posts: 3340
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:00 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by yowhatsshakin »

KF and Craig are correct. I am very surprised by their answer but whomever answered your question might just have taken your question in a narrow scope as what the situation is now not what it was in the past. OTOH, they might have gotten rid of all the blueprints which would be a shame.

- Jos
HunGLish
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:01 pm
Location: Hungary

Re: Pickguard material of 1991 SC-3

Post by HunGLish »

Thanks guys! My question was exact and their answer too: "you need to ask G&L. we did not make their pickguards back in 1991."

But never mind, I found an irreparable defect on the pickguard when I disassembled the guitar: one of the previous owners filed away a lot from the original pickguard around the bridge plate. He didn't know how to set the guitar up, so the pickguard was in the way of the vibrato movements...

So I copied the original pickguard to a new sheet of blank. My other hobby is woodworking so I have all the knowledge and equipment required. I scanned the bridge plate with a flatbad scanner, imported the image into the modelling software, 3D-printed a piece of plastic with the contour of the bridge and glued it to the original pickguard. Then I could simply copy the pickguard on the router table to a piece of MDF to create a template. The result is superb, like a brand new original pickguard. And I have the template to create more if I want.

I know I could order one from Chandler, but don't want to pay a fortune for a piece of plastic. The US price is okay, but with shipping to the EU + customs + VAT + customs handling fee it would be around $98 :shock: It was fun to copy it, I like to do things like this.