Tone leather

[Della Street]

wanted to keep my favorite guitar, but give it new body. thought that with no changes to the electronics it should be a wash. https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/deformadog-d1-got-a-new-body-and-a-leather-pickguard.602031/

no.

it's a different guitar now. louder by a third, brighter by a quarter. much much different.

the changes:
crappy double-bound poplar body --> crappy single-bound poplar body with maple veneer
parchment plastic --> black plastic
fender 250 9-42 strings --> d'addario xl 9-40
3-ply plastic pickguard --> thick leather - just leather, no backing of any kind

i mean, i know the reason for the drastic sounds difference is the plastic color change, but what is your experience with leather? anybody tried it at all?

 

[StratUp]

Has to be African Leather or Honduran Leather. Otherwise it won't have the tonz.

 

[Della Street]

Has to be African Leather or Honduran Leather. Otherwise it won't have the tonz.

a guy made this one for me in Florida...

 

[JJ119]

I agree @Della Street .
Leather does evoke some anticipated as well as unanticipated sounds

Oh Snap!! Different use of Leather!!


I digress.
I had only seen a Tele that had a Leather guard on it. Never found out how it sounds.

My only ignorant thought would have been --
Even though it looks good, it would sound a bit more on the muddy side.

Thanks for sharing your idea.
IMHO it looks good!!

 

[revtime]

I know when I wear my full length leather duster I get louder and spankier. Or is that the leather chaps?

 

[3bolt79]

Assless chaps for spankier!

 

[Della Street]

it would sound a bit more on the muddy side.

no-no. definitely brighter, by a lot. it's probably mostly on account of the strings. fender strings are known to be dull, it seems.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

Leather in the right hands might make me belt out some tones (pun intended)

 

[kent1113]

Has to be African Leather or Honduran Leather. Otherwise it won't have the tonz.

I believe the ideal is Rich Corinthian Leather as promoted by Ricardo Montaban

 

[bluejazzoid]

Seems like a thread ripe for our resident "50 shades of rawhide" leathermaster @Bodean to chime in on!

 

[pn8830]

I'm not buying this toneleather stuff. We need audio before and after with the same setup. "Louder by a third" is too much of a change, even for a leather pickguard.

 

[Della Street]

I'm not buying this toneleather stuff. We need audio before and after with the same setup. "Louder by a third" is too much of a change, even for a leather pickguard.

but it is true...

 

[Slacker G]

I thought that leather would dampen the vibrations of the body somewhat.

 

[Bodean]

IMO to make a strat pickguard of leather sturdy it needs to be mounted over a thin piece of steel. Also you get some shielding at same time.

 

[Bodean]

Seems like a thread ripe for our resident "50 shades of rawhide" leathermaster @Bodean to chime in on!

Good one, lol

 

[datsunrobbie]

My guess would be the pickups are closer to the strings than they used to be.

 

[Della Street]

IMO to make a strat pickguard of leather sturdy it needs to be mounted over a thin piece of steel. Also you get some shielding at same time.

that's exactly what i thought when this one came in mail. it seemed very floppy.
but, now that it's mounted, there is no appreciable deflection anyplace. i didn't even need to add extra mounting screws.

 

[Robins]

Florida leather sounds better than Conolly if you don't want that British bite.

Take care,
Robin

 

[Full-Tilt-Tele]

wanted to keep my favorite guitar, but give it new body. thought that with no changes to the electronics it should be a wash. https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/deformadog-d1-got-a-new-body-and-a-leather-pickguard.602031/

no.

it's a different guitar now. louder by a third, brighter by a quarter. much much different.

the changes:
crappy double-bound poplar body --> crappy single-bound poplar body with maple veneer
parchment plastic --> black plastic
fender 250 9-42 strings --> d'addario xl 9-40
3-ply plastic pickguard --> thick leather - just leather, no backing of any kind

i mean, i know the reason for the drastic sounds difference is the plastic color change, but what is your experience with leather? anybody tried it at all?

View attachment 646577

I wanna' feel that leather when I ride...
Here's my answer...

 

[surfmatt]

My guess would be the pickups are closer to the strings than they used to be.

For sure, the pickup height makes a huge difference to tone and output level. The closer to the strings, the brighter and louder they get.