I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

[Nioniocaster]

Hello everybody!

I was thinking about changing the pickguard of my MIJ 62s Stratocaster (2016). I observed on the net that these reissue strats DOESN’T have their 2nd* pickguard-screw-hole almost above the middle pickup like standards but at the top of the space between the neck and middle pickup. Found some other posts as well where this screw-hole is used as an distinctive characteristic.

So my question is:
Is the location of the pickguard holes related to the country of manufacturing or is related to the style/series(eg. ‘62s) or related to both of those (style+country)?

Will a MIJ 62s series strat pickguard be the same as a MIA ‘62s series pick guard? Will it fit both guitars assuming that the style/era is the same no matter the country manufactured?

*starting the circumferential counting of the pickguard-holes from the one located above the neck.


Thank you!!!!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

To all who ask

Once the new pickguard is in place
It covers the holes in the body from all previously installed pickguards

With the exception of oddly shaped one off pickguards

I watched a fellow on YouTube ding American Fender guitars because the screw hole don't line up with aftermarket parts

Once in place.
Only the screws of the current pickguard are visible

This may not answer your question
Please feel free to ignore me

 

[Nioniocaster]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

I wouldn’t ignore of course, and thanks for your feedback anyway.
There are lot of “tricks” to make a new pick-guard fit indeed, with the fake screws(cut just the screw heads and stick them to pg) being the one that I liked most.
I just would like to know if there are any fundamental design concepts to have in mind and use as a general rule when I’m after a “neat” way.

 

[Mincer]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

I find the weird different placement of pickguard screws really annoying. I know the pickguard will cover the holes, but man, how hard is it to have some kind of standards here? I can understand with older guitars 'back in the day', since Fender Japan sort of did their own thing. But man, it is a multinational company now. Get with it!

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

I picked up a scratchplate on eBay that didn't have screw holes drilled, and also came with a transparent "dummy" pickguard so you can measure against the body, then place it over the pickguard and get the holes to line up.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

I wouldn’t ignore of course, and thanks for your feedback anyway.
There are lot of “tricks” to make a new pick-guard fit indeed, with the fake screws(cut just the screw heads and stick them to pg) being the one that I liked most.
I just would like to know if there are any fundamental design concepts to have in mind and use as a general rule when I’m after a “neat” way.

Why on earth would you go to the trouble of cutting screws and glueing then in

That is silly
Just put the point of the screw thru the hole and twist the screwdriver
It has several nice consequences

One it cuts it's own hole in the wood
It fills the hole in th pickguard
It holds itself in place
It holds the pickguard in place

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

Do you have an 8 hole pickguard on your strat now, or is it an 11 hole? My bet is that your guitar has an 8 hole guard and you're looking at new 11 hole guards. The number of screw holes in pickguard accounts for the vast majority of screws not aligning with holes when guards are changed.

However, regardless of what you have, you can use either an 8 hold guard or an 11 hold guard. You will have to drill a couple new screw holes, but that wont be visible once the guard is on. Or, the easiest solution would be to put on a guard with the same number of holes you currently have.

If you post a pic of your guitar, we can tell you for sure. Just a straight on pic of the front of your guitar, so we can see the whole top.

 

[Nioniocaster]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

Why on earth would you go to the trouble of cutting screws and glueing then in

That is silly
Just put the point of the screw thru the hole and twist the screwdriver
It has several nice consequences

One it cuts it's own hole in the wood
It fills the hole in th pickguard
It holds itself in place
It holds the pickguard in place

Cause I want to keep my guitar in tact. It's ok for my MIJ but I wouldn't drill my CS one bellow.View attachment 89183.

 

[Nioniocaster]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

There are 11 holes, concerning my MIJ one, the one that I'm about to modify. Here is also a pic of this one:

.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

And the new 11 hole pickguard doesn't line up with the 11 holes on your CS?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: I need help with Stratocaster pickguard.

There are three official Stratocaster pickguards from Fender:

-8 Hole
-11 Hole 60’s (hole between Middle and Neck PU)
-11 Hole modern (hole closer to Middle PU)

All three are still offered, just get the hole pattern you need.

50’s http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/pickguards_genuinefenderstrat57.htm
60’s http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/pickguards_genuinefenderstrat62.htm
Modern http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/pickguards_genuinefenderstdstrat.htm

Of course WD will cut you anything.