Need Quick Advice on a Pickguard

[marnold]

Someone on the Floyd Rose forum posted a link to this evilBay auction selling tortoise shell pickguards designed for my Floyd DST-3. What do you think about the red look with black pickups and a tortoise pickguard? Heck, for the price I might as well just buy one and be done with it.

I found this guitar online with a similar setup except my pups are black and there's a Floyd.

 

[tunghaichuan]

I think black pickups with the tortoise shell pickguard and a red boody would look pretty cool. Does he have a black pickguard for sale? I think a black pickguard with black pickups on a red body would look better, personally. FWIW.

EDIT: for $10 plus $2+ shipping, it is a great deal. I'd buy it if it were me.

tung

Someone on the Floyd Rose forum posted a link to this evilBay auction selling tortoise shell pickguards designed for my Floyd DST-3. What do you think about the red look with black pickups and a tortoise pickguard? Heck, for the price I might as well just buy one and be done with it.

I found this guitar online with a similar setup except my pups are black and there's a Floyd.

 

[marnold]

I think black pickups with the tortoise shell pickguard and a red boody would look pretty cool. Does he have a black pickguard for sale? I think a black pickguard with black pickups on a red body would look better, personally.

I am 100% in agreement with you on that one, Tung. Unfortunately he has no other HSS ones. I've never been the hugest fan of the white pearloid one that I've got now, although I think it looks tons better with black pickups. It would cost me a small fortune to get a black one made custom. If that seller would ever come up with some black ones I could get it and still wouldn't be out but a fraction of what a custom-made one would cost.

I've often toyed with the idea of getting a tort one on my blonde '51 but never pulled the trigger.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

LOL! Before I clicked on your thread, the answer for advice in my head was "Buy a tortoise shell one." I like it!

 

[marnold]

LOL! Before I clicked on your thread, the answer for advice in my head was "Buy a tortoise shell one." I like it!

Any chance you've got some thoughts on the lottery numbers?

 

[marnold]

I contacted the seller and it sounds like he's got some none-more-black ones. Insert evil grin here.

 

[bigoldron]

Rev. Rawk, what do you think we're going to say? Of course we think you should get it! It'll look way good! I'd like to have one for my latest Yamaha project, but it's hard (excuse me, darn near impossible) to find pickguards for it.

Go for it Rev!

 

[TS808]

I saw Doyle Bramhall II playing a red strat one time with a tortoise pickguard. I thought it looked great, and decided at that point that if I ever got a red strat, it was getting a tortoise pickguard.

I never got that red strat, so go for it!! :AOK:

 

[markb]

My favourite Fender colour scheme of all time was a translucent red over ash with black guard and hardware and maple board. I almost bought a '79 strat just because it was that finish. The fact it weighed about 12lbs and had all the tone of a housebrick made me see sense in the end I think that was when I started guitar shopping with my hands and ears rather than my eyes.

 

[marnold]

As I mentioned, he does have some black ones so once he posts an auction, I'm getting one. Heck, I might as well get one of each so I can swap as the spirit so moves me. A black one would definitely give it a more aggressive, metal look, which is right up my alley.

I agree with you, Mark, about the looks vs. tone debate. With the pickup swap I took care of the tone part. Now it's just some eye candy. Just over $10 for a pickguard is a bargain compared to the > $200 I have in pickups in it.

 

[tunghaichuan]

Cool. :AOK: Your Floyd guitar will look excellent with a black pickguard. Of course we will expect to see pictures.

tung

As I mentioned, he does have some black ones so once he posts an auction, I'm getting one. Heck, I might as well get one of each so I can swap as the spirit so moves me. A black one would definitely give it a more aggressive, metal look, which is right up my alley.

I agree with you, Mark, about the looks vs. tone debate. With the pickup swap I took care of the tone part. Now it's just some eye candy. Just over $10 for a pickguard is a bargain compared to the > $200 I have in pickups in it.

 

[kiteman]

That guitar is gorgeous so I'd say go for it. I got my custom made HSH PG from Terrapin Guitars. They also have the option of different switch and knobs configs. Mine is mint green but you really can't see it.

 

[oldguy]

That's a good looking guitar, kite. Is that a 5-way switch with a single volume and tone control setup? The board looks like ebony.

 

[kiteman]

That's a good looking guitar, kite. Is that a 5-way switch with a single volume and tone control setup? The board looks like ebony.

Right on all counts.

Luv this guitar. :dude:

 

[marnold]

I like the control location better on your pickguard than the standard Strat. I find the volume hugging the bridge pickup to be highly annoying.

 

[kiteman]

I like the control location better on your pickguard than the standard Strat. I find the volume hugging the bridge pickup to be highly annoying.

That's how I had it set up. It's perfect for me. Terrapin Guitars has lots of configs to choose.

 

[sumitomo]

Kiteman I remember when you first built that fine axe,and now you still go on how fine she is,tells me to look closer.Can you give the neck specs (nut width,12th fret width neck thickness at the nut and 12th and also back contour.)I'd like to check into them now that I know what my fret hand likes.Thanks Sumi

 

[kiteman]

Kiteman I remember when you first built that fine axe,and now you still go on how fine she is,tells me to look closer.Can you give the neck specs (nut width,12th fret width neck thickness at the nut and 12th and also back contour.)I'd like to check into them now that I know what my fret hand likes.Thanks Sumi

This is from Carvin:

neck width 1.69" wide @ nut, 2.22" wide @ 22nd fret

I think the profile is C shaped, fairly thin. It's a profile I haven't felt on other guitars that I've played.

If you're thinking about the Bolt you won't be dissappointed. The price is right and made in USA whether it's a kit or a completed guitar. Mine was $600 for a kit with these upgrades, walnut body, stainless steel frets, 10" radius, Graphtech saddles and HSS pearloid pickguard. I later put on a custom made HSH pickguard with a super switch and different knob config. The pups are all Carvin. Total cost $700.

Itll be kinda hard to find a $700 guitar to match this one.

 

[sumitomo]

Thanks Kiteman.Sumi

 

[marnold]

WRT my original post, I sent a message to the merchant about getting an auction up for the black ones. He said that he was pretty busy but he'd try to get it up there. We'll see. I'd really prefer a black one but I'd hate it miss out on the tort ones while waiting for the others to be posted. Of course, if he really doesn't want my money . . .

 

[kiteman]

I just noticed something on that pickguard that OP posted. One knob and a switch.

Is that what he want?

 

[marnold]

I just noticed something on that pickguard that OP posted. One knob and a switch.

Is that what he want?

Yep. That's what my guitar came with. There are times when I'd like a tone control, but not enough for me to justify adding one. I can tweak the tone enough by twiddling with pickup choices and the volume control itself to keep me happy. The pickguards he's selling were specifically designed to be replacements for the Floyd Rose Discovery guitars with the non-star pickguards. No idea where he got them from.

 

[markb]

You can buy blank sheets of pickguard material from WD or Stewmac. If you have the tools and the skills you can make anything you want. I think Terrapin guitars have already been mentioned. There's also www.pickguardian.com if you want something one-off.

 

[marnold]

You can buy blank sheets of pickguard material from WD or Stewmac. If you have the tools and the skills you can make anything you want. I think Terrapin guitars have already been mentioned. There's also www.pickguardian.com if you want something one-off.

Well, since I have neither the tools nor the skills . . .

I looked into getting one custom-made but it wasn't worth the cost IMO. The ones this guy is selling are made specifically for these guitars and costs $10 plus shipping.

 

[Bobbo]

Not bad

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I still think you should get a tort PG for that red guitar. :beer: Have a happy Friday!

 

[marnold]

OK. I've been emailing the guy via the eBay messaging dealy. He said he doesn't have time to dig get pictures taken of the black ones and get it posted. He did say that if I used the existing auction and specify the color, he'll send me the right one. To be fair, the auction does mention other colors available. Here's the question: do I trust him? His eBay rating seems good and I know that someone else on the Floyd forums got some from him, so they do exist. To his credit, he's been quick to respond to my messages. Thoughts?

 

[bigoldron]

OK. I've been emailing the guy via the eBay messaging dealy. He said he doesn't have time to dig get pictures taken of the black ones and get it posted. He did say that if I used the existing auction and specify the color, he'll send me the right one. To be fair, the auction does mention other colors available. Here's the question: do I trust him? His eBay rating seems good and I know that someone else on the Floyd forums got some from him, so they do exist. To his credit, he's been quick to respond to my messages. Thoughts?

Go for it. You're out what, 10 bucks plus shipping? If his rating's good, then why not? Be sure to post some pics of the red tort!

 

[marnold]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the black one. Details to follow.

 

[marnold]

Well, Paypal finally sent my payment yesterday. I don't know why it took until the 30th when it cleared my bank on the 25th. Anyway, the pickguards were shipped out this morning so it will take as long as it takes the USPS to get something from NJ to WI. I say "pickguards" because I also got a black HH one that I might use for some future nefarious purpose (Note that my guitar has an HSH route.)