Brian May Guitar Pickguard Inlays: MayStar and Badger

In this video, I demonstrate CAD design, CNC cutting and inlaying the mother of pearl MayStar and badger motifs on the acrylic pickguards of Brian May's famous Red Special guitar and his Guyton arch top semi acoustic guitar.
The MayStar was designed and inlaid by Greg Fryer of Fryer Guitars, Australia during his repair and restoration work on Brian's Red Special in 1997. The badger motif was designed and inlaid by Andrew Guyton ‪@andrewguyton2743‬ of Guyton Guitars when he modified the arch top semi acoustic in 2014 ready for the tour with Queen ‪@Queen‬ + Adam Lambert‪@AdamLambert‬ . Brian is a renowned animal rights campaigner and has championed the cause of foxes and badgers in the United Kingdom.
The guitar featured in the thumbnail image and in the video is my Burns Signature Red Special BHM4787. I modified this guitar to upgrade it from the standard specification. You can find details of this project and other Brian May related guitar and equipment on my website, dsgb.net
00:00 - Introduction.
00:21 - 2 inch diameter black acrylic sampler discs.
00:34 - MayStar motif CNC design.
01:08 - MayStar motif CAD cutting layout.
01:27 - Badger motif CAD design.
01:55 - Badger motif CNC cutting layout.
02:31 - CNC cutting sequences (mother of pearl sheet).
03:59 - CNC cutting sequences (acrylic/perspex sheet).
04:27 - Dry fit test.
04:41 - Black cyanoacrylate superglue.
05:00 - Gluing the mother of pearl inlays into the acrylic disc.
05:50 - Acrylic sampler discs after the superglue has cured.
06:04 - Flatting back with graded abrasive papers.
06:40 - Polishing to a gloss finish with automotive cutting compound.
06:47 - Examining the finished inlays.
07:03 - Outro and closing comments.
#BrianMay #RedSpecial #BrianMayRedSpecial #RedSpecialguitar

[@Lukeyourself]

Well done, Doug! Always enjoyable and informative.

[@dsgb]

Thanks Luke. This was intended to be a 'quick and dirty' look at Brian May inlays'. I think it was "mission accomplished".

[@tribesmanjohn]

Great video. Always a wonderful sight when I see a dsgb upload

[@dsgb]

I could be spending time with my two wonderful children instead of doing this. 😂👍🏻

[@TheRedSpecialGuitarPodcast]

DSGB providing all the informative Brian May related content. Great stuff Doug! Love your work as always

[@dsgb]

Thanks buddy. I appreciate all you're doing to document the personal testimony of amateur Brian May enthusiasts. 🙏🏻😀

[@MAPRIDEL]

Great video 😍
Thanks for your time. 💖

[@dsgb]

Thanks for your kind comments. 🙏🏻💜

[@danielgreen6658]

Alright doug great video every video you make is always interesting and knowledgeable just love them keep well.dan 🎸

[@dsgb]

Thanks Dan. I'm pleased that you enjoy them. Doug 👍🏻😀

[@spidey4fun]

Excellent video. Might try this. I used resin with pearl tint. This looks much nicer.

[@dsgb]

Thanks Brad. As I found with Paua shell nacre while building my Brian May Red Special, the appearance changes as you reduce the thickness, a bit like digging through the earth's crust. 😂 In this case, the left section of the badger's head developed a dark spot. This is irritating so probably one up vote for the resin + pearl tint method. 🤔

[@petercole2283]

Great video Doug

[@dsgb]

Thanks Peter! 👍🏻😀

[@benbelben8931]

Great work Doug ❤

[@dsgb]

Thanks Ben! 💜😀