Pickguards...

[Shodai]

I liked Fender guitars. I do. Really. The only things I really don't like are the position of the volume knob on Strats, and that big chunk of plain old white or black plastic covering up the front of the guitar.

Most of my guitars are not what one would call common. So finding a pickguard was something I had just about given up on. Then I found Pickguard Planet. Got some very nice 4 ply tortoise pickguards for my Modern Player Plus Tele, and my MIJ Strat. Put in the Tele pickguard tonight, only required minor trimming around the control plate. Really compliments the burst. I won't get the Strat done until tomorrow, but here's the Tele:

Before:

After:

 

[Shodai]

I wish my phone took better pics. It really doesn't do it justice.

 

[ervjohns]

Nice looking pick guard, really makes a big difference

 

[PapaRaptor]

I think tortoise on a Fender burst is just about the best looking a Tele can be. I have one on my sunburst Bigsby Strat Edit: Tele (brain fart)
I've had really good luck using Kaish pickguards. I don't think I've even had to relocate screw holes when using them. Amazon sells them in just about any configuration and color you can imagine (even pink).
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=Kaish+guitar+pickguards&ref=nb_sb_noss

 

[Elio]

I think tortoise on a Fender burst is just about the best looking a Tele can be. I have one on my sunburst Bigsby Strat Edit: Tele (brain fart)
I've had really good luck using Kaish pickguards. I don't think I've even had to relocate screw holes when using them. Amazon sells them in just about any configuration and color you can imagine (even pink).
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=Kaish+guitar+pickguards&ref=nb_sb_noss

Hey @PapaRaptor, you're right, they do look good on a burst strat!

 

[Shodai]

I think tortoise on a Fender burst is just about the best looking a Tele can be. I have one on my sunburst Bigsby Strat Edit: Tele (brain fart)
I've had really good luck using Kaish pickguards. I don't think I've even had to relocate screw holes when using them. Amazon sells them in just about any configuration and color you can imagine (even pink).
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=Kaish+guitar+pickguards&ref=nb_sb_noss

I saw those but couldn't find them for the two guitars I wanted to put them on. My Tele is a Fender Modern Player Plus, which was only made for a couple of years then discontinued. I don't think I've ever seen a negative review about them. Nice player, good sound, very non standard configuration, and Fender made them in China. WD Music and Pickguard Planet were the only two places I found that had pickguards for this model.

Similar story with the Strat. It's a 1985 Contemporary Standard, made in Japan with the system one tremolo. Again, only made for a short time, and the bridge is wider than a traditional Fender bridge. Pickguard Planet was the only place that I found that had pickguards for this model.

So far, no issues with screw placement. The half moon cut out for the control plate was a little tight, so I did trim that back a bit. Otherwise everything lined up perfectly.

I'll be doing the install on the Strat tonight.

 

[MikeS]

I'm kinda partial to mine...

 

[MarkDyson]

Cool stuff. I struggled with this issue on the Spincaster project, and hating how that gorgeous wood grain gets covered up with a guard. Never did find an alternative to a simple plain black one that worked for me, so I just learned to live with it.

 

[Terry B]

I must be weird 'cause I like good old toilet bowl white pick guards on my Fenders. (But I sure do like Mike's)

 

[Shodai]

Well... It's done. And I gotta say, I like it. Kind of amazed at how much it changes the look.

Again, my phone takes horrible photos and doesn't really do it justice.

 

[MarkDyson]

Three thumbs up!

 

[steve o]

Well... It's done. And I gotta say, I like it. Kind of amazed at how much it changes the look.

Again, my phone takes horrible photos and doesn't really do it justice.

View attachment 10477

Now you did it! I have the same color of strat and always liked the look but not after seeing yours. I may have to make a purchase and pray I don’t screw something up on the guitar trying to swap it out. I hate/love all of you enablers on this forum .

 

[PapaRaptor]

I have a sunburst strat with black lipstick pickups and black knobs, with a black pickguard. I may have to latch on to a shell pickguard just to see how it looks. </Enabled>

 

[Shodai]

Now you did it! I have the same color of strat and always liked the look but not after seeing yours. I may have to make a purchase and pray I don’t screw something up on the guitar trying to swap it out. I hate/love all of you enablers on this forum .

My wife sends her apologies to your wife.

 

[sloslunas]

Very, very nice! You done good brother...

Steve

 

[MikeS]

I must be weird 'cause I like good old toilet bowl white pick guards on my Fenders. (But I sure do like Mike's)

Agree. For some reason I'm not a fan of tortoise shell .

 

[MarkDyson]

Agree. For some reason I'm not a fan of tortoise shell .

I like my pick guards in any color, as long as it’s black.

 

[tommytubetone]

Well... It's done. And I gotta say, I like it. Kind of amazed at how much it changes the look.

Again, my phone takes horrible photos and doesn't really do it justice.

View attachment 10477

It looks good Shodai. I was thinking of trying something similar with my Strat. I think antique white knobs would complete the look.

 

[blackcoffeeblues]

Tortoise on sunburst can't be beat---JMOP

 

[PapaBear]

I changed the plain white to Pearloid on my Teal Green Metallic Strat