changing the pickguard on a model series

[cdwillis]

I recently picked up a model 3 with a pickguard routed for HSS and it's got the Kahler fulcrum tremolo on it. Thing is I can't stand the middle pickup because I always hit it when I'm picking. I don't want a tone knob either.

So I want to replace the pickguard with one routed HxS. Will a standard strat pickguard mount on the guitar with no problems? I thought maybe one of you guys have done it before and I don't have a strat to compare the pickguard to.

[straycat]

Standard strat pickguard has 11 holes and the model series has 8 holes. The standard strat pickguard from all parts or other vendors are cut just a little different and the holes don't match up.Just screw down the middle pickup to get it out of the way.You can get an unrouted pick guard and do it yourself.

[VitaminG]

I replaced the guard on my Model 1A with a flamed maple job from Warmoth.



I spent the afternoon digging through a bin full of pickguards looking for a match with the Charvel one until I found this one. The only hole that didn't match up was the one on the horn. As you can see, it's an 11 hole guard, but I just left the other 3 holes empty.

[Tekky]

There are actually 3 different strat pickguards. Two of them are 8-holes. I can't remember which one I ordered with my Model 1R (a mutt I made) But, it fit very well. But, if you have the wrong pickguard, filling and re-drilling shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's all going to be covered up by the pickguard anyway.

http://www.warmoth.com/pickguards/pickguards.cfm?fuseaction=pickguards_strat

[Bert K]

As you can see, it's an 11 hole guard, but I just left the other 3 holes empty.

Those 3 holes look, well, how shall I put it..., terrible! You could cut off the head of a screw and glue it in the hole with superglue. So you don't damage the wood beneath it.
Btw, pickguard looks fine!

[cdwillis]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was just going to order one from Warmoth along with some other parts I need so I'll just go ahead and do that.

[jrnic]

Just watch though. I put a regular strat style pickguard on my Model 1A body and the only problem I had was there was one spot where the route inderneath showed just a little. If you look at a regular strat it would be in the area right by the pickguard screw that is located right below the blade switch (hope that describes it enough!) I had to shift the pickguard around a little to make the gap "almost" disappear. It was enough that you really have to be looking in that spot to see it. Hope this helps!

[rjohnstone]

All Parts sells a blank with only 4 screw holes and no pickup routes.
Great for making monstrosities like this.

[VitaminG]

Those 3 holes look, well, how shall I put it..., terrible!

y'know, last show I played, someone came up to me and said they were really enjoying the music. Right up until they noticed the 3 screw holes, which apparently ruined their entire evening.

Just watch though. I put a regular strat style pickguard on my Model 1A body and the only problem I had was there was one spot where the route inderneath showed just a little. If you look at a regular strat it would be in the area right by the pickguard screw that is located right below the blade switch (hope that describes it enough!) I had to shift the pickguard around a little to make the gap "almost" disappear. It was enough that you really have to be looking in that spot to see it. Hope this helps!

That's just why I took the pickguard with me to the store. Most of the aftermarket strat pickguards I found didn't match up well to the Charvel guard. I only found a couple that were a close match, and fortunately, I liked this one.

[dg]

I've heard good things about Jeannie pickguards. They can do an exact shape match and whatever screw hole pattern (or none).

http://home.comcast.net/~pickguards/

[Bert K]

y'know, last show I played, someone came up to me and said they were really enjoying the music. Right up until they noticed the 3 screw holes, which apparently ruined their entire evening.
.

I'm sure you can do a great show even without a pickguard. But how about my idea to glue screwheads in the holes? That part I ment seriously.

[Tekky]

Why go through all of that work, when if he really wanted to, he could drill a couple small holes and add the other screws?

[Charvel3sc]

Why go through all of that work, when if he really wanted to, he could drill a couple small holes and add the other screws?

WORD!

[Bert K]

True, ten minutes of work. But maybe he wats to keep the body undamaged?

[Tekky]

True, ten minutes of work. But maybe he wats to keep the body undamaged?

I'm sorry, that just doesn't make sense to me. It's a pickguard. It covers up the "damage". I've never cut the heads off of screws before, but it just doesn't seem that the benefits would outweigh the risk here.