Strat Pickguard.. 8 hole vs 12 hole

[photoweborama]

I just put an 8 hole pickguard on one of my Strats. Will there be any noticeable difference? I can tell the switch feels a bit "hollow", but will it cause any "problems" down the road? It seems to fit pretty snug.

[photoweborama]

Oh come now... really?

[Tele-Bob]

Oh yeah. It's perhaps the most often overlooked part of the "vintage tone" equation. A guys customizes a nice Strat with all the right p'ups and parts and then wonders why he's not getting that true vintage tone. Well, the dumbass is still using an 11 hole pickguard, that's why!

[OneL]

Yeah those three extra screws really mess with your tone.

[Tele-Bob]

You think it's funny? Go ahead and just try taking three of the pickguard screws out of your 11 hole pickguard. Now, tell me you don't hear a difference. And if you don't hear the difference, you don't know what good tone is anyway.

[Wilko]

Well. The 8 hole PVC guards are one ply where the 11 hole celluloid guard is laminated.
I much prefer the sound of the 11 hole greenguard on my slab board strats. Nice warm tone.
For my maple necks, 8 hole is the only way to go!
None of those crap guards when they put that screw too close to the middle pickup. That's probably the lamest thing that CBS did to the strat...
WTF were they thinking, moving that screw almost a whole inch!

[photoweborama]

Well, it's a three ply Fender brand 8 hole pickguard... I take it by the sarcasm.... It does not make much of a difference

I did have to drill one hole in the body... to fit it... I'm sure THAT will change the tone a TON!

I had to change it on this new guitar. For some reason the other pickguard had like a thin plastic film as a topcoat, but some of it started to de-laminate. I just thought it was a "rippable" plastic, so I pulled it off up till I found it was not supposed to come off...

[mgade]

For some reason the other pickguard had like a thin plastic film as a topcoat, but some of it started to de-laminate. I just thought it was a "rippable" plastic, so I pulled it off up till I found it was not supposed to come off...

HA, I've tried that too. I like the rough look though. A little loose plastic film in the corners makes me want to put it in the fridge. It also hold on to finger grease a lot better now, making interesting patterns when the pick scratches it.. :ahem

[Kap'n]

Well, it's a three ply Fender brand 8 hole pickguard... I take it by the sarcasm.... It does not make much of a difference

I did have to drill one hole in the body... to fit it... I'm sure THAT will change the tone a TON!

I had to change it on this new guitar. For some reason the other pickguard had like a thin plastic film as a topcoat, but some of it started to de-laminate. I just thought it was a "rippable" plastic, so I pulled it off up till I found it was not supposed to come off...

Dude, like they said, 8-holes sounds like crap with a lam guard. It's a good thing you drilled the holes. It takes the pressure off the laminate, and opens the sound. I bet it sounds like someone took a layer of tissue off of the speakers.

If the hole is well placed, it can be good, especially if you fill it with a screw. A micro-magnetic tone chamber. The screw must be chrome or nickel plated steel. Stainless really mess with the magnetic fields. Brass can work, if you wear a copper bracelet.

As the delaminating plastic bit. I did that with my parents plastic tile floor last week. I thought it was a piece of tape. Who knew?

[photoweborama]

You guys crack me up...

[Kap'n]

have you tried a ceramic switch tip on your 5 way??

it's not vintage, but the tone advantages are worth the mod !!

Yep, the bottom end is much more solid. Less compression.

You should hear these, when attached to a candy panel AC-30.

http://marigoaudio.com/audiophile.htm

[Kap'n]

have you tried short guitar straps for better tone yet?

I dunno. I think leather works better for high-gain styles. Studded leather provides a spikier high end that works great for metal, whereas conchos rounds the tone for texas blues. Of course, if it has fringe, it diffuses the high end, and adds a bit of compression that works great for country styles.

Nylon webbing's spongy texture makes for great MOR, while hemp works equally well for folk, protest rock and rock-rap.

Those spin straps work great for 80's pop-rock.

[photoweborama]

And I believe every word of this...

Here is the strap that came with the guitar.. Python.. In fact the photo even shows the guitar I bought....

What will leather and Python do for the tone? and it is a LONG strap...

[Kap'n]

What will leather and Python do for the tone? and it is a LONG strap...

Well, it'd be good for a nice slinky tone and country blues bends. The extra length provides a nice low frequency resonance. From a purely ergonomic standpoint, the extra comfort would allow for extended soloing.

I prescribe Duane Eddy medleys, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Outlaws material.

[grandturk]

The secret to fat tone in a strat is a cream pickguard. It imparts the singing sustain of a Les Paul, complete with hollow midrange and note bloom, not to mention even order harmonics.

[photoweborama]

The secret to fat tone in a strat is a cream pickguard. It imparts the singing sustain of a Les Paul, complete with hollow midrange and note bloom, not to mention even order harmonics.

Now ya tell me, after I already put that new one on!

[fezz parka]

I prefer to use an 8 hole guard, but I only use five screws. It's my tone secret. ;)

[grandturk]

I prefer to use an 8 hole guard, but I only use five screws. It's my tone secret. ;)

Forget about tone for a second and let's talk about playability - I use 4 screws in the 8 hole pickuguard on my Charvel, and man, it is a total shred machine - the guitar is lighter, there's definately less string tension. I'd equate 4 screws to a scalloped fretboard - you have to learn how to play all over again, but when you do - watch out!

[Wilko]

The pickguard is often overlooked as a tone contributor.

I was all upset when my greenguard cracked at the neck pickup. Man that sure opened up the sound. Like yanking the covers off a paf.

[fezz parka]

The pickguard is often overlooked as a tone contributor.

I've often found that tortoise shell guards darken the tone. :rofl

[photoweborama]

I've often found that tortoise shell guards daken the tone. :rofl

Would Black darken it further?

[fezz parka]

Tortoise shell is the P90 of guards.

[moonpie]

Most of you probably adjust your pickguards with the guitar laying flat on a bench, then you bitch cause the guitar won't play in tune.



It's magnetics.

Here's what I do, just between you and me:

With the guitar in playing position, I stand in front of a mirror.
I start with the screw closest to the ceiling. I use a compass to find True North, and adjust the uppermost screw so the slot points to True North.

It's tricky, because both ends of the slot in the pickguard screws look the same. You'll know if you've got one out of phase.

Anyway, start with the uppermost pickguard screw and adjust the North end of the slot with True North. Then, in a counter-clockwise manner, move around the pickguard, and adjust the pickguard screws in various degrees to make 360 degrees, or Full Circle.

It really doesn't matter if it's an 8 or 11 hole, as long as the adjustments of all the screws add up to 360 degrees. DO NOT COUNT THE GUIDE SCREW!!!!!

This is set to True North and acts to anchor the tones from the other screws, whether 8 hole, 11 hole, etc.

Just make sure you alter the rest of the screws to add up to 360 degrees total.
It takes some tweaking, but that's a starting point.
If you do it right, the screw nearer the neck pocket on the treble side should
point directly to Venus at 7 P:M: CST if you face East.

If strap angle becomes an issue, glue velcro (the hook part) onto the back of the guitar and use a wool blanket for a poncho. If you use this method, you need to use a level and a feeler guage to get the angle just right, but it's worth it.

[chuckocaster]

shit moonpie, maybe you should be giving me guitar lessons.

[moonpie]

Aw, it's nothing. I'm just another screwguru......but I think there is so much more to guitar.

[Kap'n]

The pickguard is often overlooked as a tone contributor.

Dude, it's the SOUNDBOARD! You wouldn't buy a laminate top acoustic, would you? That's why those 50's strats sound so awesome!

[Kap'n]

Tortoise shell is the P90 of guards.

I almost spit out my beer on that one!

[fezz parka]

I almost spit out my beer on that one!

As far as tone goes, everything sounds better with beer. Daisy Rock's rock with a little Pabst Blue Ribbon....

[fezz parka]

I leave the trem plate on. It's like a little reverb chamber in the back of your guitar! That and the fact that the springs can pull a large amount of stomach hair out when wearing an open shirt or no shirt (when playing the raucous rock'n'roll of Journey, for example).

[chuckocaster]

jeff beck style, cut down. not as open sounding as off, and not as muffled as on. kind of middle of the road. best of both worlds deal.

[chuckocaster]

i think this about sums it up.




but the real question is, what about dimes under the bridge? what do ya'll think of that tone?

[Wilko]

[fezz parka]

but the real question is, what about dimes under the bridge? what do ya'll think of that tone?

As Spose said, gotta be pre '64 for the vintage silver tone...

[chuckocaster]

that'll be the next upgrade spose. right now i'm using some late 70' early 80's dimes and they are real close. maybe if i could find some 62 dimes or something it might be better.

[photoweborama]

Man.. Can these threads get out of hand! Don't ya love it?

[Wilko]

I tried the dime thing but they kept falling out when I used the trem...

maybe I'm doing it wrong.

[Kap'n]

As far as tone goes, everything sounds better with beer. Daisy Rock's rock with a little Pabst Blue Ribbon....

Somebody played the HELL out of a Daisy Rock at the last FDP NE Jam. Funny as hell. I forget his name. It was the flower model.

[FrankJohnson]

Funny -

I installed a JV 1 ply , 8 hole guard on my MIM 2-tone strat....it is a very typical guitar, typical neck, and I will say it does sound good.

Not vintage, not better than a MIA strat, or any other model, just really good. The clarity is good, the tone is very "Los Lonely Boys" and can pull nice pinch harmonics, good grit and I like the ability to control the tone of the Bridge pup.

The p-guard was loaded and wired, so I cannot compare it to the 11 hole counterpart, but it seems to do the job.

FJ

[Tele-Bob]

"Somebody played the HELL out of a Daisy Rock at the last FDP NE Jam. Funny as hell. I forget his name. It was the flower model."

That was peter r, known for his furosity on all things fretted. It takes a real man to play a Daisy Rock and have it sound that good! He should be attending the jam tomorrow.

[photoweborama]

I dig that strap!

if you can't find a home for it...I could help you out.

Sorry Spose, I'm keeping it. It came with the guitar, but my friend that did the review on it never said how much it costs.

Well I went on their web site to look it up.. This strap cost $200.00.... Yes, you read right Two Hundred Dollars... I checking on how much it will cost to shorten it, since I'm much shorter than the last owner.