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Scratch-It! pickguards - anybody here used one before?

fourstringbliss

Supporting Member
Oct 5, 2003
12,442
6,016
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Puyallup, WA
I found this business on the internet called Gig.Ink and they make pickguards, drum heads, and speaker grills. They make their pickguards on the site Scratch-It!. To make the pickguards the guy prints a design on vinyl which goes under a clear acrylic pickguard laser cut to the right size for your bass or guitar.

Here are some examples:

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Has anyone here used one before? I'm considering getting a vintage pearl one made for this bass:

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I'll stick to the classic 3 ply. I don't like change
Yeah, and that's the debate. I'm wanting to add a neck J pup and there's an American business that make me one in 4-ply white pearl from my original with the J route for $123. I can get one from this UK business for around $100 - and as I'm typing I'm realizing that's not enough of a $ difference. If I wanted to get one with my kid's face on it I'd go with Scratch-It! but for a normal looking pickguard it doesn't make sense.
 
I used them because I specifically wanted a pickguard with part of the logo from my band at the time. I wasn't going to find that in a store! 😀 It was perfectly made, I highly recommend, but I've since left that band and sold the bass it was on (with the original pickguard, of course)! 😆 As you already concluded on your own, I think it's best for truly custom, could never find it elsewhere stuff.
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Fender does this occasionally to get a “gold guard” when they don’t want to bother or incur the expense of going with anodized aluminum.
This is kind of my concern here, that it would come off like a photo-flame top. Since I'd be looking to get a pretty standard vintage pearl look the only reason I'd go this way is that the finish on this bass has a real depth to it, which this guard would also have.
 
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I bought this from Scratch.it. You receive a pdf to print to compare the dimensions, including holes position with the original plate. If you are carefull while doing it (printing at the proper scale, etc), and they explain you how to do, this is pretty easy. The result is good. The printing is not pixelized, but I assume it will also depend on the resolution of the picture you want them to print.

I forgot the name of the contact, but he was super friendly and responded quickly. Yes I recommend!
 
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I bought this from Scratch.it. You receive a pdf to print to compare the dimensions, including holes position with the original plate. If you are carefull while doing it (printing at the proper scale, etc), and they explain you how to do, this is pretty easy. The result is good. The printing is not pixelized, but I assume it will also depend on the resolution of the picture you want them to print.

I forgot the name of the contact, but he was super friendly and responded quickly. Yes I recommend!
The concept is cool. Years ago on a black DJ5 I put a clear pickguard with a dark gray woven carbon fiber mat under it. Loved the look.
Well, maybe I will go for it. It would be easier and cheaper than the other option. I've been toying with doing something like these:

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