Can I replace the guard itself on a pre-wired pickguard?!
Question: Can I replace the guard itself on a pre-wired pickguard!?
I am very interested in buying EMG-DG20 pick ups!. I cant afford the new David Gilmour Signature Stratocaster, but I would like to still get a guitar with the maximum sound of the master!. I am buying a standard Black Fender Stratocaster and these pick-ups that he used (not on his black, but his cherry red, *which still sounded phenomenal on PULSE*) on his strat sound amazing on them!. However!.!.!. these pick-ups can only be found pre-wired on a pearl pick guard!. I want a black pick guard!. Is there anyway I can take the pearl pickguard off and a new one on in an easy way!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
Hello! Yes, you can make this change easily, and it should take you between 1 and 2 hours to complete!. I am going on the premise that you will be purchasing a separate black pickguard, and the new pearl pickguard assembly comes fully loaded with all the electronics installed!. The process is simple, but needs to be fully explained:
1!. Remove the strings!. Make sure to block the tremelo assembly, by placing a folded piece of heavy paper between the underside of the bridge and the top of the body!.
2!. Remove the 11 pickguard screws!. Lift up the pickguard assembly, turn it upside-down, and support it with a thick cloth or piece of foam so as not to mar the guitar body!. You may need to slide the pickguard slightly out from under the neck, depending upon the fretboard design!.
3!. De-solder the two wires coming from the input jack at the points of contact with the electronics, taking note of the specific locations!. Store the standard pickguard assembly away for future use or sale!.
4!. Place the new pearl pickguard assembly face-up on a cushioned surface away from the guitar!. Loosen the 6 screws holding the pickups to the pickguard!. Pull the 3 control knobs off, by positioning your fingers on both sides of each knob, as close to the pickguard as possible and prying upward!. Remove the retaining nuts!. Pull off the selector switch tip, and remove the 2 screws holding the switch in place!.
5!. Carefully remove the pearl pickguard from the electronics, by lifting straight up, and releasing the individual components!. Place the new black pickguard directly over the electronics, put the pickups, control potentiometers, and the pickup selector switch in place, and reattach them to the pickguard!.
6!. Place the black pickguard assembly in the same upside-down position relative to the guitar as in step number 2!. Re-solder the two input jack wires to the equivalent positions on the new pickguard assembly, as referenced in step number 3!.
7!. Lift the pickguard assembly up, remove the foam or cloth, and carefully put the pickguard back in place!. As mentioned earlier, you may need to slide the pickguard back under the neck; just hold it at an angle, and bend it slightly to allow it to slip into the pocket!. Make sure all of the wiring is routed through the cavities in the body; you do not want any wires clamped between the pickguard and the body top surface!
8!. Replace the pickguard screws!. To avoid stripping the wood threads, always turn the individual screws counterclockwise first, allowing them to drop into the thread properly before tightening!.
9!. Replace the switch tip and the control knobs, restring the guitar, remove the paper block under the bridge, adjust the pickup-to-string height, and admire your work!
Remember, the key to success is patience! A good way to screw up your guitar is to rush a modification job!. I apologize for this long-winded reply, but I have found that a detailed sequential approach is generally the best way to insure success!. Best regards, DanaWww@Enter-QA@Com
1!. Remove the strings!. Make sure to block the tremelo assembly, by placing a folded piece of heavy paper between the underside of the bridge and the top of the body!.
2!. Remove the 11 pickguard screws!. Lift up the pickguard assembly, turn it upside-down, and support it with a thick cloth or piece of foam so as not to mar the guitar body!. You may need to slide the pickguard slightly out from under the neck, depending upon the fretboard design!.
3!. De-solder the two wires coming from the input jack at the points of contact with the electronics, taking note of the specific locations!. Store the standard pickguard assembly away for future use or sale!.
4!. Place the new pearl pickguard assembly face-up on a cushioned surface away from the guitar!. Loosen the 6 screws holding the pickups to the pickguard!. Pull the 3 control knobs off, by positioning your fingers on both sides of each knob, as close to the pickguard as possible and prying upward!. Remove the retaining nuts!. Pull off the selector switch tip, and remove the 2 screws holding the switch in place!.
5!. Carefully remove the pearl pickguard from the electronics, by lifting straight up, and releasing the individual components!. Place the new black pickguard directly over the electronics, put the pickups, control potentiometers, and the pickup selector switch in place, and reattach them to the pickguard!.
6!. Place the black pickguard assembly in the same upside-down position relative to the guitar as in step number 2!. Re-solder the two input jack wires to the equivalent positions on the new pickguard assembly, as referenced in step number 3!.
7!. Lift the pickguard assembly up, remove the foam or cloth, and carefully put the pickguard back in place!. As mentioned earlier, you may need to slide the pickguard back under the neck; just hold it at an angle, and bend it slightly to allow it to slip into the pocket!. Make sure all of the wiring is routed through the cavities in the body; you do not want any wires clamped between the pickguard and the body top surface!
8!. Replace the pickguard screws!. To avoid stripping the wood threads, always turn the individual screws counterclockwise first, allowing them to drop into the thread properly before tightening!.
9!. Replace the switch tip and the control knobs, restring the guitar, remove the paper block under the bridge, adjust the pickup-to-string height, and admire your work!
Remember, the key to success is patience! A good way to screw up your guitar is to rush a modification job!. I apologize for this long-winded reply, but I have found that a detailed sequential approach is generally the best way to insure success!. Best regards, DanaWww@Enter-QA@Com