Nashville Tele replacement pickguard

Jazzman105 · 2017-05-05T22:46:16+00:00

I have a tortoise shell pickguard on my Nashville tele (3 pups) and am looking to swap it out for a white pearloid pickguard. I can't seem to find one locall...

Nashville Tele replacement pickguard

Jazzman105

studmissile wrote: I get mine pro and perfectly cut in Benoni by Pete Buckle.

In Cape Town try. http://www.fosterguitarworks.com/contact.html.

If he doesn't have pearloid sheets you can get cheaper Tele pick guards at terryds, and get that additionally cut. http://www.terryd.co.za/gptspgds.html

Thank you Studmissile! I'll speak to Foster first then

Jazzman105

I had a chat with Foster and he has a Jap Tele pickguard (standard, two pickup guard) and he is prepared to cut the extra pup-hole. It has nine screw-holes instead of the (standard?) eight. Which means he'll have to drill an extra hole - which is not ideal, but I guess I can live with that. I was looking for white or white pearloid and this one is white, naturally faded to cream.

We put the guard in place over the original and I Photoshopped the middle pickup in... to have a visual idea of what the result will look like. Any thoughts and comments will be appreciated!

Jazzman105

The bottom pick is what it currently looks like with the original tortoise shell pickguard

V8

It's a traditional look with the white, will look a lot like a classic vibe or Tele standard? It just looks a bit odd with the black pickup covers (especially the middle one).

On this, I prefer the tortiseshell one - which usually isn't my taste. But it could just be the pickup covers.

Jazzman105

Meron Rigas wrote: It's a traditional look with the white, will look a lot like a classic vibe or Tele standard? It just looks a bit odd with the black pickup covers (especially the middle one).

On this, I prefer the tortiseshell one - which usually isn't my taste. But it could just be the pickup covers.

I hear you Meron. The cream definitely gives it a classic look, but I'm 50/50 on this decision. Hence putting it out for comment. One thing is certain, I don't like the tortoise shell.

V8

Jazzman105 wrote:
Meron Rigas wrote: It's a traditional look with the white, will look a lot like a classic vibe or Tele standard? It just looks a bit odd with the black pickup covers (especially the middle one).

On this, I prefer the tortiseshell one - which usually isn't my taste. But it could just be the pickup covers.
I hear you Meron. The cream definitely gives it a classic look, but I'm 50/50 on this decision. Hence putting it out for comment. One thing is certain, I don't like the tortoise shell.

One thing I did try a while ago (with mixed success) was vinyl wrap pickguards. A lot of a fiddle to get it looking goo - but cheap, easy to undo & no need to try and find & fettle a new pickguard. I did a Pbass pickguard that came out real nice (nobody noticed it was a wrap), but the chrome one wasn't nearly as good.

One thing I learnt was use automotive wrap - it stretches a bit better with heat and is a bit harder wearing than the craft/diy stuff. Maizey's in Paarden Eiland have a decent range.

Jazzman105

Sjoe Meron. You're full of ideas. ? I'll look into Maizey's. It is perhaps a good trial-option. Thanks!

studmissile

Sorry not a big fan of the pure white or the extra 2 holes?Did you try for a pearloid pickguard from terryd?

Jazzman105

studmissile wrote: Sorry not a big fan of the pure white or the extra 2 holes?Did you try for a pearloid pickguard from terryd?

They have none, but expect new stock by end-May. I'm toying with ideas in the meanwhile... Before committing to a colour and a course of action. I don't want to do this twice.

PS: Since you don't like the pure white... will pearloid be significantly different in your opinion?

peterleroux

Tortoise shell is a traditional 'hotrod' colour for a tricked-out Nashville tele-not really my taste. The other colours that look good to me on a sunburst are black or maybe parchment.

studmissile

Jazzman105 wrote:
studmissile wrote: Sorry not a big fan of the pure white or the extra 2 holes?Did you try for a pearloid pickguard from terryd?
They have none, but expect new stock by end-May. I'm toying with ideas in the meanwhile... Before committing to a colour and a course of action. I don't want to do this twice.

PS: Since you don't like the pure white... will pearloid be significantly different in your opinion?

Maybe its just the extra two holes that look like a jerry job? I'm also not a big fan of tortoise pick guard, except of course on a nashville ?.

In my opinion these are your two best options.

Jazzman105

Maybe its just the extra two holes that look like a jerry job? I'm also not a big fan of tortoise pick guard, except of course on a nashville ?.
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Heheheheee

The top one is stunning (white pickup cover noted). I think I'll wait and see what Terryd gets and take it from there. Their prices are in the region of R150 for plain and R520 for pearloid pickguards at the moment

studmissile

Alternatively raru.co.za
https://raru.co.za/imports/us/search?search=telecaster%20pickguard

Jazzman105

studmissile wrote: Alternatively raru.co.za
https://raru.co.za/imports/us/search?search=telecaster%20pickguard

Thanks Studmissile. They are fairly close to where I stay, so I will try to pop around tomorrow. I see they have some Nashville Tele pickguards. So hopefully no need to cut or drill anything.

Jazzman105

RARU is an exclusively online store, so I couldn't go there :-[

I ordered this baby from them, and it will only arrive in the first week of June ☹. I think it will strike a nice balance between vintage and stage personality. I think the pure white pearloid will be too bling. I will make a decision on the pickup cover when the time comes. (I'd like to see the pickguard in position before making that call.)

Sounds like a plan?

peterleroux

That white pearloid looks cool!

Jazzman105

I received a nice surprise on Wednesday morning when the pickguard arrived weeks early. (Now that's something you never hear!).
To top it all, it was a genuine Fender pickguard... I expected a generic replacement. Apparently they were lucky enough to find one locally. My excitement was short-lived when I realised that the middle pup did not line up with the hole provided. Back to the drawing board. To say that I felt despondent is an understatement.

I was determined not to cut or drill anything, and at that point it seemed inevitable. This morning I decided to remove the pickguard to see what's under the hood. A pleasant surprise! The pickup cavity is one single hole for both pups. see below pic for reference

I could then simply slot it all in place and install the new pickguard. The only difference being that the space between neck and middle pickup was now slightly wider (middle-pickup approximately 4mm closer to the bridge pickup) - with little to no effect on tone. I cannibalised a white pickup cover from a cheap strat copy I have lying around to give Meron's suggestion a try...

Jazzman105

And here is the result:

Your comments will be appreciated.

V8

Liking it!, is it a optical illusion? I don't notice the black bridge and white middle pup covers - the white one blends into the pearloid - I had to remember that the was a difference and then I saw it.

Good call on Raru - when terryd is out of stock it usually takes a bit longer than they claim to land a shipment and get it through customs.

And nicely found by Stud - I should have thought of Raru, our band's drummer & guitarist work there :-[

studmissile

Perfect!