Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

[Jeff_H]

......for my Mary Kaye style Strat.

It's a Musicraft body and a Warmoth neck, 22 frets; so it has the fretboard extension. Here's the issue. When I originally built it I used a one ply white pickguard from Callaham. I bought a new pickguard, from Stratosphere I think, but it didn't fit. The new guard was 3 ply and because of the fretboard extension I couldn't tighten the neck screws all the way down, as the pickguard was too thick.

I want a mint green pickguard and it needs to be vintage 8 hole. I don't want to drill new holes. No one makes a one ply mint green guard that I can find. Do I need to have something custom made, or am I missing something obvious?

Does anyone here have the ability to modify a regular mint green guard to fit my strat, and make it look great? I tried to file down the one I have, but it doesn't look good. I have limited skills with such things. I'd be more than willing to pay someone for their time and trouble if they could modify a guard for my guitar and make it fit perfectly.

Thanks All.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

https://www.creamtone.com/collections/pickguards-and-sets

 

[BTMN]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Try these guys! http://pickguards.us/index.html

 

[SawDusty]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Did you consider a tapered wedge in the neck pocket. Stew Mac has some really shallow ones. That might raise the extension just enough to clear the pickguard. If you go that route may previous attempts at trimming that thin wood resulted in cracks. I recommend carving with a dremel or burning with soldering if you need better screw hole clearance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

https://www.creamtone.com/collections/pickguards-and-sets

That pickguard is 3 ply too. Will their mint green fit my guitar? I actually found that guard while researching and in love their color.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Try these guys! http://pickguards.us/index.html

I my be able to have them make me something custom if that's what I end up needing, thanks Gene.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

First thing is to get a mint color you like. The "correct" color is a greyish green and Fender or Allparts is the closest (Allparts can be hit or miss depending on supplier).

The modifying the guard is next and I am sure there is someone local who can trim it easily. Heck send it to me and I can do it if need be.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Pickguardian has .060" 1-ply mint green plastic. Send them the guard that fit the guitar, and they will guarantee a perfect fit. I don't think I have ever seen a pre-made 8-hole single-ply guard in that material.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Is this a common problem with custom strat builds, with 22 fret necks? I honestly don't recall anyone mentioning this when talking about a Warmoth or other build. The problem with using the original pickguard as a template is the fretboard extension extends over it as well. Since its one ply, it's thin enough that the neck will tighten all the way down. So, any pickguard made to those dimensions in 3 ply will still not allow the neck to tighten down.

Ayrton, will you look at the mint green pickguard at https://www.creamtone.com/collections/pickguards-and-sets for me? I like this color visually and the bonus is I can get it aged, which I like too. Do you think this is a good color? Maybe I can just get something and send it to you? Mail is easy and cheap.

ItsaBass - Thanks. I'll take a good look at your link too and see what they can do.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Ok, I just looked at the original guard. The neck sat over this guard long enough for the color to fade slightly where the fretboard extension sat on it. You can just see it in the right light and at the right angle. I measured the shaded area and the width of the shadow was right between 3/16" and 1/4", so that makes it 7/32"........right? I need to find a tape with mm measurements, that might be more accurate. My wife might have one in her crafting supplies. More info to come....

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Yep, 7/32" is correct, Jeff.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Thanks Darrin, for the confirmation.

Well never mind Ayrton, Creamtone is sold out of their pickguard. My original guard came from Callaham and Callaham offers an aged mint green guard and if I order from them I know the hole pattern will line up. Maybe that's the way to go and then have that modified?

I never thought it would be so difficult to change pickguard.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

This is the look I'm going for, except I have a maple board and my guitar isn't relic'd.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

The Creamtone looks good, but you are on the right track by getting another Callaham.

Will the Callaham need trimming?

Leave the plastic on the guard and mount it up. Place a strip of masking tape over the area to be trimmed and then bolt on the neck. Trace onto the tape with a pencil to mark the fit and now you have a guide to trim too.

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

The Creamtone looks good, but you are on the right track by getting another Callaham.

Will the Callaham need trimming?

Leave the plastic on the guard and mount it up. Place a strip of masking tape over the area to be trimmed and then bolt on the neck. Trace onto the tape with a pencil to mark the fit and now you have a guide to trim too.

Good advice! Sounds like you may have worked on a few guitars before.:lmao::headbang:

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

Good advice! Sounds like you may have worked on a few guitars before.:lmao::headbang:

One or two...

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

The Creamtone looks good, but you are on the right track by getting another Callaham.

Will the Callaham need trimming?

Leave the plastic on the guard and mount it up. Place a strip of masking tape over the area to be trimmed and then bolt on the neck. Trace onto the tape with a pencil to mark the fit and now you have a guide to trim too.

Thanks Chris, I'll do just that. Yes, the Callaham will need trimming because it's 3 ply. The original guard only fit because it was a thin single ply. The new Callaham will still need to be trimmed by approximately 7/32nd if the dimensions are the same. I liked the Creamtone color the best, but they don't have mint green available. I'll check again before I actually order.

I have no ability or equipment to precisely trim the guard, so if you're still willing when I finally get this ordered, I may ask to send it to you to be trimmed. I might even think about removing the neck and sending you the whole guitar, so you can double check my work.....I am no expert at this by any means.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

I am happy to do whatever. Just let me know.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Need Some Help With A Pickguard.......

I am happy to do whatever. Just let me know.

You rock my friend, thank you so much. I'll reach out when I get the new guard. Trying to find a temp job at least this week and come to terms with losing my little dog.