How to Make Guitar Back Covers
The cover plate on the back of a guitar provides access to either the guitar's tremolo system or its electronics. While the design of the back cover will stay fairly consistent among various guitar models, implementing a simple screw-secured plate, the form of the cover can range from the mundane to the extravagant. Ordering a replacement for a lost cover may not always be possible, especially if you own a limited edition or an out-of-production guitar. Replace your guitar's back cover at home using a sheet of acrylic and some power tools, and end your search for a new cover plate.
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Things You'll Need
- Table saw (diamond ring blade)
- Acrylic sheet
- Safety goggles
- Heavy-duty gloves
- Craft knife with blades
Instructions
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1
De-tune your guitar so that only a moderate amount of slack is in the strings. Place the guitar face-down on a soft surface, such as a pillow or a couple of towels.
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2
Place a small piece of an acrylic sheet over the opening on the back of your guitar. Hold the acrylic in place with one hand, while using the other hand to trace the perimeter of the opening on the back of your guitar with a marker.
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3
Place the acrylic sheet onto a stable work surface and then score the top of it with a craft knife. Score the acrylic along the line you traced of the guitar's back hole.
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4
Place the acrylic onto the table area of a curved cutting saw. Put on heavy-duty work gloves and safety goggle to protect yourself while you work. Lower the blade guard. Lower the hold-down bar onto the top of the acrylic.
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5
Power on the saw, and then slowly slide the acrylic toward the saw plane. Slowly feed the acrylic into the sawing plane, bringing the blade up to the marked outline on the glass. Angle the acrylic so that the blade intercepts the outline at an acute angle rather than a right angle.
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Guide the acrylic so that the saw cuts along the traced outline on the acrylic. Power off the saw after you've cut out your back cover from the acrylic.
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Place the acrylic cover over the opening on the back of your guitar and then use your marker to mark the guitar's screw holes onto the acrylic. Remove the acrylic cover from the guitar. Put back on your safety gear, if you have removed it after powering off the saw.
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Use a power drill to drill holes through the marked areas of the acrylic, using a drill bit that matches the size of your screw hole. Place the back cover over the guitar's back opening, and then secure the acrylic to your guitar, using the appropriate screws for the holes.
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