Tele neck pup in pickguard (former HB rout)

Hey, troops...

I have a really nice partscaster with a body that belonged to Kenny Blue Ray at one point. It has a HB rout in the neck pup location. Restoration to standard Tele pup complement included GVCG Lollars, but instead of building up the rout, builder suspended the neck pump from the pickguard, requiring two screws for mounting a la Strat.

Ever done this?

It worked out great. Nice tone. I've always wanted the pickup to be "coupled" to the body, but I've been pleasantly surprised with this setup.

Current MIM standards do the same

My 2004 Am Se tele is routed for HB in the neck also, and the neck pup could easily be slanted or swapped out for a strat pup with a lil mod on a pickguard blank, esquired or left suspended on the pickguard just like it left the factory.

Bubbanov

I went with the PG mount in my search for stratish sound out of the neck pup position. Had to change the pup too....mind you.
But IMHO I could hear a difference (less big E string muddiness) with the PG mount. Kind of a pain to get it (wires) tucked in there and mount the PG.
My Warmoth necks with the fretboard extension that overlays the PG edge and requires (if you don't mod the PG) neck removal before you can do PG removal is a PAIN too!!