Mounting pickups with no pickguard.

[exalted]

Hey all,

While I'm waiting for the insurance check so I can start my Warmoth, I'm trying to get a random-parts guitar up and running. I have a strat body that was routed for H-S-H, but the pickguard was S-S-S.

Is it possible to mount humbuckers without a pickguard? I'm trying to spend as little money as possible getting this one up and running so I can put it all into my Warmoth. And naturally, I don't care how it looks - as long as it plays.


I mean, I see on the EVH Frankenstein replicas, it looks like the pickups are just screwed into the body. Will that work? What if I need to raise them up?

 

[bpmorton777]

you cant scrape together $22 for a pick gard?

Brian

 

[exalted]

I probably could. But since I just had ALL my gear stolen, I don't really have time to wait for a custom pickguard, and I don't think a lefty H-x-H strat pickguard is something I can pick up at the local GC (even if it hadn't burnt down on Saturday).

I have my band waiting for me, and not having a guitar is starting to really get me down.

Not to mention this guitar's body is so ugly that paying money for a shiny new pickguard would be a waste.

 

[blue313]

When body mounting, youll need to modify the pickup mounting holes so that the screws can slide freely.  Otherwise its a bitch to adjust them cleanly.  The upward tension is from foam or springs underneath it.  I like foam for this.

Another option since looks arent an issue.  Get a piece of plexiglass or plastic and hacksaw/file/drill it to shape while waiting for a custom one.  It saves you from a semi permanent mod on the pickup adjustment holes.

 

[exalted]

Thanks for the advice! I have the old pickguard, and I'm thinking of just cutting it up into little strips and drilling holes into those.

I'm short on cash, but I've got nothing but time on my hands.  We'll see what happens...  :toothy11:

 

[stratplayer1]

you could try to cut the pickguard to fit the humbuckers in it and use it, or just mount it to the wood with the foam idea, either will do, sorry to hear about your situation man, best of luck getting things back together

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

I was thinking exactly the same as stratplayer1
I had an old no-brand guitar which originaly was SSS, with a allround routing.
I wanted HSH, so I carefully modded the pickguard I allready had.
It worked great! Just be sure to get the screwholes (I'm sure there is something wong with this word :/ ) so that you don't have to drill new holes to attatch te pickup!