How do I widen my pick guard for larger pickups?

Mshiple4

New member
So I’m trying to instal some jaguar pickups in my Strat, and the pickups are slightly larger than the holes in the pick guard, what’s the best way to widen the holes without damaging the pick guard too much? I’m not super handy, but I still have access to a lot of tools and saws and stuff. Thanks in advance.
 
Re: How do I widen my pick guard for larger pickups?

The benefit to using files is that they remove material slowly so you'll be more likely to end up with clean lines. And it's not too much work to remove like a mm if that's all the room you need. Sometimes I get impatient and use a dremel haha then try to clean it up with filing.
 
Re: How do I widen my pick guard for larger pickups?

Yes, files, and time. Be patient, and work slowly.
 
Re: How do I widen my pick guard for larger pickups?

So I’m trying to instal some jaguar pickups in my Strat, and the pickups are slightly larger than the holes in the pick guard, what’s the best way to widen the holes without damaging the pick guard too much? I’m not super handy, but I still have access to a lot of tools and saws and stuff. Thanks in advance.

Personally, I would special order a custom pickguard made exactly for the different pickups (in this case, Jaguar) you intend to use from someone like Pickguardian, and keep the original one. Sure, it'll cost a few bucks more but will look so much better.

Have you checked the pickup routing in the body to see if you need to enlarge those, too?
 
Re: How do I widen my pick guard for larger pickups?

You can most likely put those pickups in there without doing much of anything. Jaguar pickups should fit Strat covers just fine. In fact, they are close to identical pickups in terms of specs. The main difference should be that the bottom bobbin doesn't have the Strat-style "ear." Just remove the stock claw and cover from each one.

Antiquity Jaguar pickups:

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Re: How do I widen my pick guard for larger pickups?

Personally, I would special order a custom pickguard made exactly for the different pickups (in this case, Jaguar) you intend to use from someone like Pickguardian, and keep the original one. Sure, it'll cost a few bucks more but will look so much better.

Have you checked the pickup routing in the body to see if you need to enlarge those, too?

I second this Warmoth also has custom configurations in any style you would like for fairly short money.
 
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