Pickguard with inlay

[Kelsey]

I am having a BTO built for my fiance for a wedding gift. I am getting a rosewood pickguard loose that I was planning on having inlaid with either his full initials or just the initial of his last name. Taylor is sending us the pickguard now (I just placed the final order for the guitar so won't receive that for a couple of months) so we can have it complete and ready to put on the guitar when the store receives it.

Does anyone have an example of a pickguard with initials inlaid? I am struggling with designing it - I want it to look good both while standing up (sitting in a guitar stand) and while being played. I've looked online but have not found much.

For those interested, it will be a GA with Venetian cutaway - Sitka spruce top and black sassafras sides and back.

Thanks!

[timfitz63]

That's a great idea for a wedding gift -- but probably a tall order to get a pick guard inlay (using initials) that will be readable with the guitar in either its playing orientation or sitting upright in a stand.  Not knowing the initials involved or the size of the inlay you were planning, I think you have two main possibilities:  do a small set of initials diagonally along one edge, perhaps near the sound hole or in the bottom corner; or do a monogram (single-letter) inlay similarly oriented, but perhaps a bit bigger and centered.  I think what will look best may depend on the letter(s) involved.

Good luck!   Show us a photo of how it turns out!

[Kelsey]

Thanks for your opinion! Yes I was thinking I'd do something on the diagonal....His initials are AJV but the more I think about it, I'd probably just get "V" on it....I think I'm gonna just have to trace a pickguard and then draw out some options.

Thanks again!

[Craig]

I can't help with the design but have you looked at http://www.nicholsinlay.com
he may be able to help and is highly recommended around these parts.

Craig

[Craig]

Just a thought seeing as you mentioned it will be sassafras back and sides (I have a sassafras 714 and it's gorgeous) but I did see some pictures of a sassafras Taylor with a dark stain on it and it looked extraordinary.

[Craig]

Found it

http://acousticletter.com/shop/taylor-custom-gc-sassafras-short-scale/#prettyPhoto[product-gallery]/8/

Just look at the back views.

[TaylorGirl]

Found it

http://acousticletter.com/shop/taylor-custom-gc-sassafras-short-scale/#prettyPhoto[product-gallery]/8/

Just look at the back views.

Wowzers!

[Craig]

Wowzers!

I'm glad it's not just me then :-)
That doesn't look like a particularly spectacular piece of sassafras but that stain really sets it off.

Craig

[Kelsey]

Thanks for all of your help and opinions! I ended up getting just a "V" on the diagonal. I haven't given him the guitar yet (its in hiding till our wedding next month) but there are some pics of it in the below thread:

http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=7602.15

Thanks again!