Hey guys thanks for the comments and suggestions, I greatly appreciate it.
@Rick G - Yea I see I should have lined or 180'ed the pen out when I took the pictures. I will try to be more aware next time.The angles are the same top and bottom, although I realized after I cut and started gluing that the bottom section of this blank has a 1/16 longer maple segment. I also realized after turning this one I need to line grain up better to make it look a smidge better overall.
@hewunch thanks for the suggestion. I am just getting started and more so wanted to see if I could do it. I was told I should just throw the scraps away and that just seemed wrong to me...
I may take your suggestion and stop by a music store and grab some picks and maybe some pick guard, or try a soda can on my next one though I am not sure when that will be, I think my next feat is to learn how to turn between centers versus using an mandrel.
Once again thanks for the feedback everyone, I am trying to learn as much as I can about this new addiction I seem to have been genetically blessed / cursed with.
Curtis