You’re Excited! You got your new awesome loaded pickguard. BUT will it fit?
Updated: 2023.08.26 by Bruce Baker Gombrelli
Here is your pre flight check list:
- How many screw holes hold on the pickguard? 11 or 8? (Modern vs Vintage) – Most Stratocasters are 11 hole. Some Korean or Asian manufacturers Strat copy are not correctly drilled for spacing. MIM/US and “most” Squiers are fine. (Hint: Either way you can drill the holes you need and the pickguard will cover the drill hole)
- Is the ROUTE (the electronics pocket) deep enough? Some Squier models like 2000s Affinity Strats have a shallow route. This isn’t deep enough for a push pull pot so either you have to route it out yourself or buy one of pickguards that use a micro switch instead of a push pull switch. See the picture below. You’ll notice that the route for the controls is the same as the pickups, and only the switch area is routed deeper. BIZARRE huh? Why not just route it all out? go figure, maybe to make the guitar a tad heavier. MOST AM, MIM and later Squiers have a normal deep routing. Current Squier are deeply routed, no problem.
- The STEALTH SERIES is NOT compatible with Shallow routing, it uses PUSH PULL that are deeper (works in all normal MIM/AM strats) The COMPATIBLE SERIES is workable on most shallow routings situations and is recommended for most Squier situations except newer Squiers which seem to always have deeper pockets.
- Does your Stratocaster have active electronics? (A Battery or Battery compartment). – This should be obvious but GG Loaded Pickguards are passive and require no battery pocket. So they will install but not use the battery.
- Hard Tail and Floyd Rose – These require custom pickguards, do not use normal pickguards on these (unless you plan to route them out using a dremel)
- If you buy and HSH or HH pickguard make sure the NECK location has enough space to fit the pickup in the Neck. Most of the time the Bridge routing is fine, except on “Vintage” 3 SSS routed bodies.
- American Special and Performer will likely require that your remove the neck to change the pickguard. It will fit, it’s just a bit more work.
- Also, if the route is very shallow, with HSH, HSS, HH you may need to cut off the end of the pickup mount screws. Not normal but it can happen and just use a good set of small bolt cutters.
Screw Hole Alignment
Sometimes these aren’t exact! A screw can “angle” in no problem but is the position is too far off a new hole might have to be drilled (RARE!!). If you hole is too big (screw is to loose) use a toothpick and some wood glue, cut the toothpick to depth, stick in it the hole with glue then screw in)
Will it fit link (Greasy Groove templates)
MIM Stratocaster
I don’t know of any MIM (Made in Mexico) or US model they won’t fit but some, watch out for HH, HSH and HSS models into vintage bodies routed for SSS.
SQUIERS, OTHER ASIAN VERSIONS and PARTCASTERS
GG USA Loaded PIckguards are designed to be a drop in replacement however with some Squiers or copies; that can’t be done without modifications. potential fit issues. You can remove your current pickguard to check the cavity for size and make a note of the screw holes. We make both 11 hole Modern and 8 hole vintage pickguards but the biggest issue would be the actual foot print of a standard Strat pickguard isn’t supported.
Indonesia and china non Fender: Often use non standard parts from tuning heads, to bridge sizes and placement, to pickguard screw locations so if it’s not a Fender, be conscious of a larger potential issue probability’s.
SQUIER WARNING: Ones that might have issues
- HARDTAIL SQUIER (holes do not align)
- SHALLOW ROUTING: You can only use the “micro switch” style.
SHALLOW ROUTE SQUIER PICTURE
Example:
NOTICE THAT THIS OLDER AFFINITY HAS A SHALLOW ROUTE, ONLY THE SWITCH AREA IS ROUTED OUT
Also note this this has 8 holes instead of the normal 11 – This is vintage but the spacing on the holes MAY not be exact so verify that.
If you purchase a HSH or HH pickguard make sure your routing has enough room for the NECK Humbucker.
Routing
All recent FENDER Stratocasters have depth on the electronics pocket so that’s not a problem. (just watch for those early Squiers).
SSS vs HSS vs HSH vs Swimming Pool
- SSS – Is routed for 3 single coils, humbucker won’t fit – NOTE: Performer and Classics have a VERY tight route and may require neck removal.
- HSS – Is routed for a bucker in the bridge and 2 single coils
- HSH – (Current MIM Players for example) are routed with Humbucker Single Humbucker even if they have a SSS pickup arrangement
- Swimming Pool – This is no longer done. You’ll mostly find these in the 80s and they can fit ANY combination of pickups you want.
Fender PICKGUARDS
Normally all Fenders use Modern 11 hole pickguards however, they’re are a bunch of models like 50s that use 8 Hole Pickguards, always check, but the biggest deal is the SSS route.
65 Strat – Countersunk Holes for Pickup and Switch. Notch in neck pocket area.
62 Strat – Unusual spacing for screw on the top by middle pickup. Notch in neck pocket area.
57 vintage – 8 Hole.
Modern – Anything else is standard 11 hole with the nothing countersunk and top middle screw lined up with middle pickup top edge.
3 Ply – introduced in 1959 with 11 hole
SSS routings will not accept and HSH, HSS or HH Pickguard (see below)
SSS Routing (Mostly with “Classic” Stratocasters that are SSS
HSH Routing (THE MOST FLEXIBLE CLEAN ONE) – Player Strats have this
HSS Routing
Swimming pool
This one makes me cringe but alas, you could load up 4 buckers into this with a custom pickguard. HA HA – Destroyer Designing…