Pickguards

Hi , my project is coming along the last piece i need is the pickguard

I quite like the 5 hole as used on 52 tele's , as mines finished in Butterscotch i suppose it ought be be Black , i've found a company that make excellent parts , they offer Matt Black , Gloss Black or Vintage White Pearl all 1ply

I'm not trying to make a 52 tele but i like that look so what would they have used back in the day, Matt or Gloss Black ?

The original '52 Teles had a black bakelite pickguard that was varnished - making it gloss I suppose. I have replaced the original matt finish pickguard on my Japanese '52 with the Fender '52 pickguard and can confirm this to be gloss. Both matt and gloss look good but gloss is what would have been used 'back in the day'.

FWIW, the blackguard Bajas come with a single ply glossy black pickguard, which I think is as close to "the look" as you're going to get without an actual bakelite pickguard.