clear pickguard on rear routed strat body

[Sp4zRX]

okay, just like the title says. I wanna do it. I found a couple threads on this topic and it seems like it might be more trouble than its worth but maybe not.

As I understand it, if I have Warmoth drill my holes in the body, then they wouldn't even fit on an undrilled pickguard. And if I get a drilled pickguard, then the knob will be too close to the edge.

I have been thinking about the second option which is to get the pickguard pre-drilled, then drill the holes in the wood myself. The thing is, I am only using one Volume and one Tone knob and they are in the place of the standard Tone knobs. In other words, I don't have a knob where the traditional Volume knob is. Based on my measurements, the knob that would not fit, if I used standard pickguard as a template for drilling, is the Volume knob. Is this correct?

If this is the case then I plan on buying some .03" clear plexiglass and cut out a pickguard using a standard pickguard as a template. I am hoping that this will be thin enough that I won't experience trouble with the lever switch.

Does this sound doable or am I just setting myself up for failure?

 

[stratamania]

You can get custom pick guards made to your measurements. Try www.pickguards.com

Or if you don't mind a less than conventional shape make or adapt a pickguard that is a partial guard that doesn't go over the control positions.

 

[Cagey]

I hate to be discouraging, but I'll tell you - I've been working on guitars for a helluva lotta years and I'd still rather take a beating than cut out a pickguard. I won't go into all the gory details, but believe me - it's worth it to send away to a shop that specializes in such things. A lotta people here use Terrapin Guitars, but I'm sure there are others out there.

 

[Sp4zRX]

thnx!!! I have read enough of your posts to know that if you say its not worth it, to just simply trust you.

I think I might go with Terrapin Guitars. The only thing that worries me is the thickness of the pickguard. I preferably want to go tinted acrylic and those are 0.125"   

Will I run into any problems if I have Warmoth only cut a switch slot and no pot holes, then have Terrapin drill for the two Tone knobs and cut a slot for the switch, being that I am not putting a pot where the traditional volume is? Or would I be better off just getting the pickguard with no holes drilled and just drill both the body and pickguard myself for the pot holes?

 

[Fat Pete]

I think a standard blade switch might make things difficult for 2 reasons. 1, location - I don't think the position on Warmoth's rear routed bodies is exactly the same as the standard pickguard position so you'd need to make a very accurate drawing for Terrapin and 2, - 'panel' thickness - if you look at rear views of rear routed Strat showcase bodies, you'll see that the switch location is rebated a little because the switch won't work (well) through 1/8" of material, which is what you'll end up with if you put a plate on top. One option might be to make a larger slot - maybe 3/8" wide and long enough to include the switch screws - I've seen this done on something (Ibanez?) Or, use a toggle switch if your pickup arrangement allows it.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I think it would only be as hard as you make it. 

The thing I would do is order the pickguard with no control, switch, or pickup predrilled holes.  I would order the body with all of the control, switch, and pickup cavities alp drilled.  Then I'd mount the pickguard on the body (obviously with no pickups or controls mounted.

Then:

-for the pickups, drill a hole through the pickguard in the center of where each pickup cavity is.  Using a trim bit, the kind with the ball bearing on bottom, use the pickup cavity in the body to open each pickup hole to size of the cavity.  *this is only if the pickups would be wood (direct) mounted to the body.

-for the pots, from inside the control cavity going out through the pickguard, use a forstner bit the same size as the control holes (should be 3/8").  Done.  If you want to recess them, use a unibit to open the holes up bigger than the knobs.

-for the switch, use a 1/2" router bit on a piece of wood to make a large, pill shaped jig.  The idea is that the switch will be recessed, completely encircling the switch and mounting screws. 

I'll look for a pic to explain what I mean.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Obviously not for a Strat, but illustrates what I was talking about using the body for a jig.  Notice the pickup cavities are the same as they would be on the body, the pot holes have a bigger diameter than knurled metal knobs, and pill shaped switch route is bigger than the switch.

 

[Cagey]

I think I might go with Terrapin Guitars. The only thing that worries me is the thickness of the pickguard. I preferably want to go tinted acrylic and those are 0.125"   

.125" is too thick. Warmoth's parts are .090" and leave no space under the fretboard extension. Anything thicker than that is going to break the fretboard loose of the neck and ruin your day.

Will I run into any problems if I have Warmoth only cut a switch slot and no pot holes, then have Terrapin drill for the two Tone knobs and cut a slot for the switch, being that I am not putting a pot where the traditional volume is? Or would I be better off just getting the pickguard with no holes drilled and just drill both the body and pickguard myself for the pot holes?

Tough to say without knowing how comfortable you are with drilling holes and what you have to drill with. If it was me, I'd mount the 'guard and then drill the holes (using Forstners or brad point bits) so everything lines up clean and perfect. As for the switch slot, those are no fun without a jig and should probably be jobbed out.

 

[Cederick]

I hate to be discouraging, but I'll tell you - I've been working on guitars for a helluva lotta years and I'd still rather take a beating than cut out a pickguard. I won't go into all the gory details, but believe me - it's worth it to send away to a shop that specializes in such things. A lotta people here use Terrapin Guitars, but I'm sure there are others out there.

Dude, it's not rocket science, just put on the best punk rock shirt you have and go nuts;

(however, I put in VERY little effort into this pickguard, but filing the ends a bit more and it would have been super nice, I actually did a better looking one for a friend a while ago, who wanted a 1 humbucker pickguard for his Charvette superstrat)

(oh, and that neck pickup hole is way off center... I'm gonna put in the pickups once the guitar starts being finished and see if it really affects the sound a lot, otherwise I will leave it as a beauty mark  :icon_biggrin: )

 

[Cagey]

I know it's not rocket science. But, neither is making a prime rib roast or cutting a hot chick's hair. Still, not something you want to practice on without a good foundation in the methodology and the proper equipment. Failure is not an option.

 

[stubhead]

This is one of those things that's "hard" because it's too easy. Like, it's hard to stir your coffee with a 75 hp Mercury outboard engine (even the little 35 hp guys are tricky, depending on your {tea} cup size). Pickguard plastic is hard to work with because it's so soft, it cuts and finishes real easily?  :icon_scratch:

 

[Sp4zRX]

.125" is too thick. Warmoth's parts are .090" and leave no space under the fretboard extension. Anything thicker than that is going to break the fretboard loose of the neck and ruin your day.

Okay, that is some important information. You probably just saved me from having a really really bad day!

I ordered the body today and here she is:



and this is a rough photoshopped version with what I am going for.


I can't find any tinted acrylic thinner than 0.125" and I have been searching for both guards and just regular sheets. So I think I am just gonna go with the Terrapin tinted at 0.125" and do either a little sanding under the fingerboard or completely trim out the guard from under the neck. If it doesn't work, well, then I am out on the guard. Its worth a shot, Imo.

I am having Warmoth only cut the slot for the strat switch and I will be drilling the pot holes myself.

 

[Fat Pete]

If you haven't already got the neck you could always order a 21 fretter with no overhang.

 

[KorinaCrazy]

The pickguard is  cool, but that BK is beautiful. Not sure I'd cover it up...  :icon_scratch:

 

[Sp4zRX]

If you haven't already got the neck you could always order a 21 fretter with no overhang.

I already bought the neck a few months ago and it is a 22 fretter.

 

[Sp4zRX]

The pickguard is  cool, but that BK is beautiful. Not sure I'd cover it up...  :icon_scratch:

Thats why I want to do a clear, errr, tinted, pickguard.  :icon_biggrin:

Strats just look strange to me without the pickguard. So I felt this was a good compromise. It has a pickguard but can still see the grain under the guard

 

[stratamania]

If it's for aesthetics you get the pickguard and then drill your holes as planned, it might be worth putting it together without the pickguard and see if it grows on you without a pickguard.

If it still looks wrong then after a month or so you could fit the pickguard along with its own holes.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

If you can't find tinted acrylic thin enough, get clear, and then stick a piece of window tinting film to the back of it before you mount it to the body.