Neck pickup rings, yay or nay?

[Zesty feline]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.. rough concept..

(image removed)

 

[brookdalebill]

Absolutely!

 

[TigerG]

My favorite Tele neck pickup ring is the regular ol' Tele pickguard.
Anything else just looks weird to my brain.

 

[Randypttt]

Nice, zesty. Simple but elegant

 

[Radspin]

Yes. I can't stand the "unfinished" look of pickups mounted into holes where you can see the exposed wires.

 

[Formerblonde]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.. rough concept..

(image removed)

If we're just talking about plain ole coloured surfaces them I'm 50/50 on this one. If you were thinking of a tweed covering [or leather, or carved, or...] then I think a mounting ring is in order.

 

[horseman308]

I tend to fall in the camp where any Fender style guitar looks weird without a pickguard, but that looks less weird than most.

 

[Mike Simpson]

I really dislike Tele neck pickup rings. Put a pickguard on it, if you want something other than the standard guard try one like Merle's Tuff Dog shape.

 

[trev333]

Pickguards do serve a purpose....

this happened on it's first outing after finishing.... I had to totally refinish the top. what a PIA...

. I made a clear PG for it afterwards... much more practical...

if you want one.. PM me.....

 

[MM73]

Not a fan of the pickup ring on a Tele.

Just my opinion. To me, the Tele is the blue collar worker of the guitar world...roll up the sleeves and get to work. Trying to dress it up any more than it is just doesn't work for me. ...kinda like putting a bow tie on my Dad. Kinda awkward.

Try tightly wrapping the wires in black tape, smooth out the pickup route and paint it black (or a cool contrasting color to peak out from the edges).

Again, just my opinion, everyone has different tastes.

 

[Troubadour]

Totally Yay!

I have it on mine, it's gorgeous

 

[etype]

For me, the problem I cannot get past is that they are too wide relative to the bridge. Just makes it look off balance to me. I even designed alternatives that had a different shape to try to narrow it down. Yes, that was going to mean getting a fabricator with a water jet to cut it out of aluminum or stainless and then polish it.

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But I ended up going naked!

 

[Chicago Matt]

I like the naked one! ^^^^^^. That's a CLEAN MACHINE. Only problem I can think of is that I'd wear out that finish real quick with no pickguard. Is it a hard poly finish?

 

[Peregrino69]

Yes, definitely. Repeating what was alrdy said - simple but elegant

 

[jvin248]

.

Looks good with the ring. Or without.

One guitar I took a scrap of black leather and cut it larger OD than the pocket and slightly smaller than the chrome cover. Inside fits kind of like a leather turtleneck. Then I tuck the outer part inside the pocket to clean up the screws and protect the wires. To adjust I just lift the edge then tuck it back.

.

 

[etype]

I like the naked one! ^^^^^^. That's a CLEAN MACHINE. Only problem I can think of is that I'd wear out that finish real quick with no pickguard. Is it a hard poly finish?

Yep, Warmoth with their poly finish. The body is chambered light swamp ash, so the complete guitar weighs in at 6.6 lbs. I don't play in such a way that I really need a pickguard, but if I end up damaging the finish, I can always add one of these (also my design).

 

[Flakey]

Pickup rings; depends on the wood. Painted alder body slap a guard on it but I think its just insane to drop big money on a quilt or flame maple top only to cover half of it up with a piece of plastic and that goes for clear guards because you still have 5 to 7 screws that detract from the wood that you spent extra money on.

 

[Chicago Matt]

Yep, Warmoth with their poly finish. The body is chambered light swamp ash, so the complete guitar weighs in at 6.6 lbs. I don't play in such a way that I really need a pickguard, but if I end up damaging the finish, I can always add one of these (also my design).

Very, very nice!