Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

[sean hood]

I am replacing my pickguard, probably with a stainless steel one from http://www.preciousmetalproducts.co.uk

Are there any potential problems? The salesman said they discontinued their chrome finish in part because they needed to use a softer metal that was magnetic and could interfere with the pickups. He assures me that stainless steel presents no such problem.

Any input/comments/suggestions? Thanks,

Sean

 

[some_dude]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

I can't answer your question, but I'd like to say that normally I really don't like metal pickguards, but those are really, really nice. I'm actually thinking about getting one now.....

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

I have a brass pickguard on my Strat. It adds mass/sustain, and looks very nice. Gives the guitar a nice, 'warm' look.

 

[Davey]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

i'm trying to put together a design for my SG's pickguard and cut it out of a diamond plate hehe

 

[yes-fan]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

they can get dents maybe?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

they can get dents maybe?

How hard do you swing your axe?

 

[beandip]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

They can provide great sheilding if you use it right. I mean, dead quiet.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

they can get dents maybe?

Dents?! How hard you playin', dude?!

 

[Cory_Dylan]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

for them to provide shielding remember you'l have to solder them to ground... pair that with some copper shielded cavities and i bet it would be dead quiet. i still don't like them tho... maybe if my name was kirk hammet :laugh2:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

I'm glad I saw this post, so I can save you from some problems. I really like the aluminum and stainless pickguards on the right guitar, but there's one inherant problem with them. If you play mostly clean to midgain, you may have no problem, but if you use highgain or lead channels, the vibration of the pickguard gets picked up by the pickup and creates microphonic noise. It's similar to an unpotted pickup.
No worries, tho, there's an easy solution. You can buy a sheet of sticker paper at an art store, stick it to the back, then trace off the trimmings with a razor knife. Or, evenly stripe the back of it with black electrical tape. This will dampen any resonance that the pickguard gets from the body. Before you install the guard, wrap a little bit of black electrical tape around the bottomside of the pickups too. This will basically pot the guard and the pickups, killing all chance of microphonic squeal. Do this, and you'll have no problem. The strat in my picture now has the same engine turned aluminum guard only now it's an H-S-S guard with a C-5/2 Fat 50's.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Metal Pickguard - Any Potential Problems?

GAS!!! :32: