Pickup Pole-Piece & String Alignment Issue = New Pickguard Ordered-Up:

[Inspector #20]

Just noticed that my string mis-alignment on YelloStrat is due to the way the pickups are mounted in the pickguard. This was a pickguard pulled from my scrap box with no known history. Yesterday, I was able to find a company that not only offered replacement pickguards made to order, but actually builds them from Fender templates, including MIJ, MIK, USA and MIM models. You may not think there is a difference in these models, but there are some slight variations.

I have used www.pickguardplanet.com in nearby Chino, California, for a number of builds for other people and were very pleased with their products. They made the pickguards for my Von Herndon Double-Neck and they also made my custom HSS Jackson pickguard in black/red/black 3-ply .090" thick material. I was surprised to see they had a very obscure pickguard material on hand.

'Color #58' is a .090" thick, 3-ply material, in black/yellow/black. 'PG3124' is the 'MIJ 11-Hole' configuration, made from the Fender templates. Total cost with shipping was $52.90.

Production time is about 2 weeks, so it's likely to arrive around the time the new neck does...

Current pickguard shown below:

 

[Clockworkmike]

I know that was the issue EVH had on his Frankenstein: the Gibson PAF not aligning right with the original Fender bridge. He decided to slant the humbucker to make the poles match the strings

 

[Inspector #20]

I know that was the issue EVH had on his Frankenstein: the Gibson PAF not aligning right with the original Fender bridge. He decided to slant the humbucker to make the poles match the strings

Good point. According to historians who have examined 'Franky,' EVH used a 50mm Gibson spaced PAF.

I ordered a custom pickguard - made from a 1984 Fender MIJ pattern - and had my new DiMarzio pickup made with 53mm 'F' spacing.

Before:

Unbranded pickguard with 50mm Artec Classic Standard Humbucker:



After:
PickguardPlanet.com 1984 MIJ Stratocaster Pattern with 'F' spaced (53mm) DiMarzio Neanderthal Humbucker.



Perfect alignment!!!!