I often do the same thing to myself. I guess I just want everything to be perfect but I always seem to get in a rush as I get closer to the end part of my projects. I guess for me it is part of my nature. As far as your plaque goes, it looks really well done. I like to make backer boards on almost all of my pieces whether it call for one or not. That is because I feel it helps make the work stand out much better with a high contrast backer board. If I was making this one with the dark wood you have, I would use a small metal washer and putting the pencil in the hole of the washer, I would trace around the entire outline and make that, the pattern for my backer board. I especially like the entire outline around my plaques because it kind of acts as a frame too. I would paint the backer board White and when glued on, it would help to make those letters and frets stand out really well and it is a whole lot easier then trying to paint the inside of the cuts that you want to make stand out. oh, and keeping the plaque thickness at no more than 1/4 inch also helps everything stand our better too
Dick
heppnerguy