Whats up with my strat pickguard?

adampeter

I was going to change up my pickguard, simple i thought, its a 8 hole, but can't find one with this hole arrangement, help
Its a Fender CS strat
Its the central hole on the bottom that seems wrong

And this is what all seem to be online

ICBM

Fender have chosen to use the very short run '59-only 8-screw pattern for some unfathomable stupid reason. This kind of minutiae is supposed to impress detail nerds, presumably... all it does is make it a massive pain in the arse for everyone else - especially as it just looks wrong when you're used to the normal 8-screw locations.

There's also a 10-screw pattern which was used very briefly in the same year, before they finally settled on the (first of the) 11-screw patterns.

Your choices are going to be either to have a new pickguard custom-made to fit, or accept drilling new holes in the body.

Personally, I think multi-ply guards look wrong with anything less than 11 screws, so I would find an 11-screw one which matches the existing 8 screws - pay close attention to the one on the top edge between the middle and neck pickups - and drill the other three holes. But also be aware that if they've been strictly historically correct and routed the control cavity without the 'step' next to the switch, that won't fit either!

adampeter

ICBM said:

Fender have chosen to use the very short run '59-only 8-screw pattern for some unfathomable stupid reason. This kind of minutiae is supposed to impress detail nerds, presumably... all it does is make it a massive pain in the arse for everyone else - especially as it just looks wrong when you're used to the normal 8-screw locations.

There's also a 10-screw pattern which was used very briefly in the same year, before they finally settled on the (first of the) 11-screw patterns.

Your choices are going to be either to have a new pickguard custom-made to fit, or accept drilling new holes in the body.

Personally, I think multi-ply guards look wrong with anything less than 11 screws, so I would find an 11-screw one which matches the existing 8 screws - pay close attention to the one on the top edge between the middle and neck pickups - and drill the other three holes. But also be aware that if they've been strictly historically correct and routed the control cavity without the 'step' next to the switch, that won't fit either!

Cheers @ICBM , thats helped me out, gotta love Fender 

Funkfingers

The aluminium screening plate beneath the pickguard may also require modification to accommodate the additional screws.

adampeter

Funkfingers said:

The aluminium screening plate beneath the pickguard may also require modification to accommodate the additional screws.

Thanks mate, Fender do like to make a simple job a pain in the arse

stickyfiddle

ICBM said:

Fender have chosen to use the very short run '59-only 8-screw pattern for some unfathomable stupid reason. This kind of minutiae is supposed to impress detail nerds, presumably... all it does is make it a massive pain in the arse for everyone else - especially as it just looks wrong when you're used to the normal 8-screw locations.

 

It's not unfathomable. It's so that they can sell these to folks who already have a 58 and a 59/normal-8-screw and a 60 etc etc by convincing them that this one is different and therefore a necessary part of a collection...

adampeter

stickyfiddle said:

ICBM said:

Fender have chosen to use the very short run '59-only 8-screw pattern for some unfathomable stupid reason. This kind of minutiae is supposed to impress detail nerds, presumably... all it does is make it a massive pain in the arse for everyone else - especially as it just looks wrong when you're used to the normal 8-screw locations.

 

It's not unfathomable. It's so that they can sell these to folks who already have a 58 and a 59/normal-8-screw and a 60 etc etc by convincing them that this one is different and therefore a necessary part of a collection...

I think @ICBM was right, definitely "stupid"