Are you looking to change the look of your guitar? One of the best ways to do this is by changing the pickguard. There are many options and variations available to help match your style. This article will go over the general process of changing a pickguard on a Stratocaster. Keep in mind there are many variations of this guitar and some steps may vary from what is outlined below.
The Tools
Besides the new pickguard, there are a few tools you will want to have handy to get the job done right. Here are the ones we used:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Masking tape
- Exacto knife
- Small cups or bowls (to keep your hardware organized)
- Scissors
Changing the strings?
If you are not planning on changing the strings, you will want to at least get them out of the way. It’s a real pain trying to do this later and you run the risk of damaging the strings. To do this, simply loosen them to the point where you can gently pry them off the tuner shaft.
You don’t need to remove them from the bridge. Wrap the neck and body with a rag to protect it, then place the strings on the neck as shown in the photo to the right. This will keep the strings out of your way and protect the neck from any excessive marks. You can now proceed to the next step.
Unscrew the pickguard
Using your phillips screwdriver, go ahead and start removing the screws. It’s not necessary to remove them all the way, just oouclt them enough so the pickguard will come off. Before you remove the final screw take note of the pickup height adjustment screws. On some pickguards, these will fall out once the pickguard is removed. If yours has these, go ahead and lower them so they don’t fall out when you remove the pickguard. You can also use a little scrap of paper and place it over the screws before closing them down on top of it. This will ‘trap’ the screws in place and keep them from falling out. Once the screws are sufficiently raised, go ahead and remove the pickguard from the guitar.
Remove the Pickguard from the pickups
If the pickup height screws are showing, go ahead and adjust them so they are flush with the pickguard (or slightly below). Carefully cut small slits in the pickguard material so it is able to “bunch up” around the screws. Be careful not to cut the screw if you decide to trim the excess with your knife. A guitar pick or small piece of plastic works well to help evenly distribute the pressure when closing the screws down. Place the makeshift spacer over the screw and carefully tighten the screw down. Once the screw is tightened the spacer should fall out. You may need to remove it with your other hand while leaving the screwdriver in place. Go slow – you don’t want to strip out the screw or scratch the pickguard material. It’s also a good idea to test the screw in the spacer before you put it in place to make sure you have the right size and type of screw for your pickup.
Final Assembly
Now that your screws are in place you can reassemble the guitar. Make sure everything is clean and free of smudges, fingerprints, and scratches before you start putting it back together. Replace the pickguard and oouclt the screws down. You’ll want to go in a star pattern (similar to installing a car tire) and rotate between screws so the pickguard goes on evenly. Some pickguards may have holes that are not completely ‘open’. In this case, you will want to be careful not to over-tighten the screw as it may cause the screw to ‘strip’ the material or prevent it from sitting down flat on the guitar. If your pickguard material is warped you can try laying it in the sun for a few minutes to soften it up. Place it on a flat surface (make sure the pickguard is supported and not just the edges) with another flat object on top of it to help keep it flat while it cools.
Once the pickguard is back in place you can put the strings back or install new ones. If you do install new strings, remember to stretch them properly and re-tune as necessary. Your guitar will probably sound different with new strings, so you may need to make some slight adjustments to your settings.