Pickguard mod

Hi guys,

I'd like to enlarge the pickup hole in a standard Tele pickguard to take a P-90. Are there any techniques or tools I should use to ensure I get a good clean cut?

A sharp couping saw, cut the hole slightly too small then use a file to get it to size and smooth.

A sharp couping saw, cut the hole slightly too small then use a file to get it to size and smooth.

I've done this using your technique many times, and it works most of the time. It is slow going, and labor intensive. But it works, and it's pretty safe.

I no longer do it that way, I made templates out of MDF, and cut directly to size with a router and template bit. Test your template on some scrap (thin wood, an old pickguard, some junk you have had in the garage forever...) until you are confident. Then do your pickguard. Clean, fast, accurate. Much easier with a bit of practice, and superior results.

Patience, sharp tools and straight lines. Everything they say works. Just dont make the same common mistake as myself, Dont forget to mask off or protect/cover the rest of the pickgaurd so you dont put a big nasty gouge in it and have to start over. work from the backside of the piece, if it does get a little marked up it doesnt matter as much, its hidden.
Good luck.

Thanks a lot for the pointers.

I don't have any routing equipment (or a proper workshop for that matter!) Rich, so I guess I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way -- with patience and elbow grease -- and hope for the best.

Thanks a lot for the pointers.

I don't have any routing equipment (or a proper workshop for that matter!) Rich, so I guess I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way -- with patience and elbow grease -- and hope for the best.

I understand. Another useful technique is to drag a utility knife or a paring knife perpendicular to the cut line, and shave the material away. It usually goes faster than a file, and gives a nice, clean line. Just be careful not to slip and cut yourself. Don't ask me how I know...:oops: :roll:

Hey not to mess with your fun but you could probably pick up a pick guard already set up to fit a P90 for a little scratch at WD or Allparts or another parts dealer. Just my 2 cents.

Hey not to mess with your fun but you could probably pick up a pick guard already set up to fit a P90 for a little scratch at WD or Allparts or another parts dealer. Just my 2 cents.

I've seen a couple of P-90 Tele guards around, but not in the material I want -- single-ply matte black. I've seen white, and three-ply shiny black, but that's not the look I'm going for.

Another idea would be to get a pickguard already cut for a P-90 and spray it in Krylon Fusion flat black. That might be more work than cutting your own though. And added cost of course.

I sprayed my thinline guard with the Fusion and it's an amazing product to work with. You can recoat in 30 seconds!!

http://http://store.guitarfetish.com/p90sotenepic.html (http://store.guitarfetish.com/p90sotenepic.html)