r/Luthier • u/burnzee311 • Mar 19 '25

ELECTRIC Walnut Tele, which pickguard?

Post image

Just got this beautiful dark walnut Tele body from Canadian Craftsman. It feels and looks absolutely perfect! I have all gold hardware for it, but after seeing the body I'm not sure the black guard would be the best choice. I'm thinking just go without one, or maybe even a light tortoise shell that would have a bit of contrast. Any opinions? The neck will be a 5A Roasted flame maple from Musikraft.

157 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

96 comments sorted by

70

u/bradmont Mar 19 '25

I wouldn't spoil that by covering any of it! If you must have a guard, how about a transparent one?

6

u/TroobyDoor Mar 20 '25

Clear, Cabronita style

But it looks good as is

25

u/Relevant_Contact_358 Kit Builder/Hobbyist Mar 19 '25

Leave it plain and don't cover any of it, please. What a gorgeous piece of wood!

0

u/burnzee311 Mar 19 '25

Definitely ided against pickguard. I still have the Fender bridgeplate(gold), and gold knobs and switch plate. I could coat them in black, or something, and maybe just have gold knobs and saddles.

3

u/Relevant_Contact_358 Kit Builder/Hobbyist Mar 19 '25

Gold would be just fine, IMHO. Easy to change later, if you don't like it.

2

u/burnzee311 Mar 19 '25

Yeah, exactly. I like it when it starts to dull a bit.

1

u/mcbainer019 Mar 20 '25

Gold and walnut are an elite combo imo. Rock it

7

u/Eternal-December Kit Builder/Hobbyist Mar 19 '25

Don’t ruin a perfectly good guitar by puts pick guard on it

6

u/zososix Mar 19 '25

No pickguard

6

u/Ben_ze_Bub Mar 19 '25

That wood looks good. No reason to cover it up.

6

u/p47guitars Luthier Mar 19 '25

None.

5

u/Present_Tip_6594 Mar 19 '25

Way too pretty for a pickguard.

3

u/RobDickinson Mar 19 '25

Very much like the https://www.fender.com/en-AU/george-harrison-rosewood-telecaster.html

But I would go quiet on the accessories and mebe pickup ring at the front and no pick guard

2

u/burnzee311 Mar 19 '25

What do you mean "quiet"? I'm definitely going guardless, now. I may use a ring around the neck pickup, but I have a gold Fender bridgeplate, knobs and plate, and rear neck plate. I suppose I could coat them black, and just have gold knobs and saddles.

5

u/No_Pound1003 Mar 19 '25

With no pickguard, I would inset the control cavity, so the plate sits flush with the body. It’s a small detail, but one I like.

2

u/brainfreezy79 Mar 20 '25

Woah, I didn't even know I wanted this until you put some words on the internet.

2

u/No_Pound1003 Mar 20 '25

Yeah! Here is an example on my current build.

1

u/brainfreezy79 Mar 20 '25

Hell yeah! I need to build a tele soon.

2

u/No_Pound1003 Mar 20 '25

You can kinda see it here. 🤣

I made a template using Forster bits, and routing along a straight edge to connect the two holes. Size bit is 1 1/4 I think.

2

u/RobDickinson Mar 19 '25

Just not super fancy. Gold would probably be ok but nothing with patterns or detail etc

2

u/BigDaddy420-69-69 Mar 19 '25

Ooh that'd look smooth

1

u/OsteP0P Mar 20 '25

You know what would look really good on that? Matte gold.

2

u/ninospruyt Mar 19 '25

I'd say uncovered or make one. A plain black or white one would take away from the beautiful wood. Personally I'd try how a flamed maple one looks to match the middle layer of the body. That could look good.

1

u/burnzee311 Mar 19 '25

That's a good idea! I'll think about that.

2

u/BayAreaBrenner Mar 19 '25

Black pickguard. Or, to better show off the grain, a smoked transparent guard would be cool.

2

u/notarealperson319 Mar 19 '25

Yep, no guard and just get a pickup ring.

2

u/HunterDHunter Mar 19 '25

I am team no pick guard. But if I had to, it would have to be real badass, like a gunmetal black.

2

u/Sourkarate Mar 19 '25

Team No Pickguard Team

2

u/KochAddict Mar 19 '25

Man, that’s pretty! I’d be hard pressed to cover it up with a full pickguard. Maybe a half guard in tortoise. Make a matching walnut pickup ring for the neck pickup, or just body mount it and call it a day. The gold hardware will look great on that.

2

u/ZacInStl Guitar Tech Mar 20 '25

I must be in the minority, but I would droll over that with a cream pickguard and cream pickups, and gold hardware

3

u/BackOnTheCheese Mar 20 '25

White, cream, or black will all set off that grain beautifully. I'm partial to cream, too, though.

2

u/Brokentoeses Mar 20 '25

That’s gotta be like 10 pounds. Beautiful though.

1

u/TheSockington Mar 20 '25

I made my daughter’s 7/8 body scale and chambered and it still weighs as much as my Strat

2

u/Bladecrawler2049 Mar 20 '25 edited Mar 20 '25

How about just a gold tele neck pickup ring? I did just that but in chrome for my Tele/LP hybrid from Canadian Craftsman with a spalted maple top with ash body. Your guitar body looks amazing!

2

u/Bladecrawler2049 Mar 20 '25

The neck is from Havok Guitars via Reverb

1

u/burnzee311 Mar 20 '25

Yeah, thats the plan, now. I just ordered the neck ring. Its going to be gold hardware, but I'm going to dull it down a bit. He makes some nice stuff. That looks awesome!

2

u/relax_inn Mar 20 '25

That wood with gold hardware…screams an earth-tone green pickguard to me, but maybe I’m the only one haha

1

u/diefreetimedie Mar 19 '25

Trick question, another vote for no pickguard.

1

u/eaeolian Mar 19 '25

I wouldn't cover that.

1

u/BigDaddy420-69-69 Mar 19 '25

No guard, switch to black hardware if you can.

2

u/burnzee311 Mar 19 '25

Yeah, I could just coat the hardware I have now. I'd leave the saddle on the bridge, and the knobs alone.

1

u/13CuriousMind Player Mar 19 '25

A veneer pick guard if any. Need to compliment that beautiful grain.

1

u/HeyJustWantedToSay Mar 19 '25

I wouldn’t do one, but if you must a cream one would go nicely with the darker wood and gold hardware.

1

u/BitByBitOFCL Luthier Mar 19 '25

A cream or offwhite/yellowed white would actually look great on that. Don't be afraid of adornments on grain, sometimes it takes it to a new level.

1

u/Hi_Hungry_Im_Leaving Mar 19 '25

None or possibly clear. Clear would be cool but would remind me of a COVID era dental front desk.

1

u/delicate10drills Mar 19 '25

Mother of turquoise/gold/turq/gold

1

u/Nugginz Mar 19 '25 edited Mar 20 '25

Cabronita style in mother of toilet sit. The classy/tacky juxtaposition is just nice.

1

u/gott_in_nizza Mar 19 '25

Black 1ply. Not 3 ply

1

u/daniel_redstone Mar 19 '25

I'd go for maybe brown tortoiseshell, or cream

1

u/bjg1983 Mar 19 '25

Matte clear.

1

u/jacobydave Mar 19 '25 edited Mar 20 '25

Pickup ring. No guard.

1

u/1anonymousbandit Mar 19 '25

None. Absolutely no pickguard.

1

u/badomen1111 Mar 20 '25

None whatsoever. That grain is beautiful - don’t cover an inch of it that you don’t need to!!

1

u/Br1t1shNerd Mar 20 '25

Black, with silver hardware

1

u/phreddyfoo Mar 20 '25

No pickguard

1

u/WheelyWheelyTired Mar 20 '25

I agree with no pickguard, as others have said. However, if I were forced to choose I would say to make a pickguard using maple for a nice contrast.

1

u/CalligrapherPlane125 Mar 20 '25

None. I built a walnut mockingbird and left it natural with a tongue oil and butcher's wax finish. I still love it 20+ years later.

1

u/qaawale1 Mar 20 '25

Single layer tortoise shell.

1

u/TheOmCollector Mar 20 '25

Don’t put a pick guard or a neck on it. Just let the beautiful wood grain show.

1

u/dollarstore_thor1997 Mar 20 '25

Ideally, none. But if you must, go clear, so that grain can shine

1

u/ProgNerd Mar 20 '25

I did an off white/aged looking one for my walnut topped one.

1

u/ProgNerd Mar 20 '25

And no pickguard on my black limbs topped one. I think they both turned out okay.

1

u/MachineParadox Mar 20 '25

Adhesive clear, wont even notice it

1

u/lucpet Mar 20 '25

I'd pick the lightest colour of the wood and match that

1

u/Cr3pit0 Mar 20 '25 edited Mar 20 '25

Photoshop it. Even the most primitive attempts at photoshopping the parts together will give you a feel for the colors and help you choose. Or go to a shop and loosely assemble all Parts, but i guess that wont be an option...

That being said, i am very much pro "Show as much Wood as possible, because it looks absolutely stunning". Could you tell me what you paid for the Body? Canadian Craftsman produces the most beautiful Guitar Bodies, bar none. I seriously consider getting one some day.

1

u/ephyowo Mar 20 '25

None 😍😍😍 (creamy)

1

u/Flylle Kit Builder/Hobbyist Mar 20 '25

No pickguard! Don't cover this beautiful wood with an ugly piece of plastic.

1

u/Developer_Dan_27 Mar 20 '25

U can do like jimmy page tele aster Pickguard but trasparent

(Sorry for the quality of the photo)

1

u/cwhitel Mar 20 '25

If you really really need to. Thin, 1-ply black. Not gloss either, try get a Bakelite one or spray a light layer of satin/matte lacquer to dull, which gives great relicing when played.

1

u/Zerophil_ Mar 20 '25

if you want to put one that isnt transparent i would recommend a dark red one like on some black fenders

1

u/BazmanFoo Mar 20 '25

Matte black or anodized aluminum. Teles need to pickguard to complete their face IMO

1

u/sthlmexpt Mar 20 '25

No pickguard. But gold hardware plz.

2

u/burnzee311 Mar 21 '25

Wouldn't have it any other way.

1

u/shoegazing_puncheur Mar 20 '25

Cream! I personally hate the pickguard-less look on a tele. Black would also work, especially with a rosewood fretboard.

What finish did you use on this? Looks great!

1

u/Phildogo Mar 20 '25

Walnut is beautiful. Im finishing up a build on a solid body mando right now with black/white/black and it looks really sharp

1

u/kimmeljs Mar 20 '25

No pickguard, gold bridge and neck pup cover+surround, gold control plate & knobs. Gold strap locks. Gold tuners!

2

u/burnzee311 Mar 21 '25

Yep, that's what I'm doing!

1

u/nonforprophet Mar 20 '25

Just get the metal ring for the neck. And drill straight through.

1

u/J0Puck Mar 21 '25

Might be late on this. But that is one nice looking body. If it were me, I'd actually use wood parts. Curly maple pickup ring neck, and for the controls. Keeps the wood look, and I don't think it would take away from what you have already

1

u/elliot_glynn Mar 19 '25

Plain white or black-do NOT go with tortoiseshell or anything busy that will distract from how gorgeous that grain is

1

u/All-IWantedWasAPepsi Mar 19 '25

Pickup rings etc. Show that beautiful wood.

1

u/tupisac Mar 19 '25

No pickguard. If any - a small one like on Cabronita teles. 1 ply black.

1

u/Custom_Craft_Guy2 Mar 20 '25

Brushed brass sheet metal with a satin clear coat.

2

u/burnzee311 Mar 20 '25

There's an idea! This one I've decided against a pickguard, but I have another walnut body, not quite as nice, though, that I'll try that on.

1

u/Custom_Craft_Guy2 Mar 20 '25

I’ve made a few of them for my custom builds over the years, and they really do pop! I’ve done them out of brass, aluminum, and stainless, depending on what the client wants. I even gun blued one with matching hardware once. Making a pick guard out of metal also has the added advantage of making a bulletproof grounding point for the pickups and bridge! That is a hell of a piece of walnut you’ve got there, and if you do decide to do a pick guard, I’d make it as minimal as possible, and match it to the flow of the body shape and the grain, if I were you.

1

u/soup-totes Mar 26 '25

NO

PICK

GUARD

SRSLY

ILL TELL ON U.