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Yet another "help me choose a pickguard color" thread

Discussion in 'Stratocaster Discussion Forum' started by systolsys, Jan 14, 2021.

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  1. systolsys

    systolsys Strat-O-Master

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    Yeah... I know... but I think this one may attract some strong opinions... so flame suit is on and I'm prepped.

    The strat is an Aged Copper Roadhouse body, 2005 American Standard pickups with the Delta-Tone no load pot, Parchment guard, and maple neck from a Lone Star.

    I love the aged copper finish, but I find this combo a bit... shall we say.. boring. The original blackguard doesn't work for me either... I respect the history of the Robbie Robertson "Last Waltz" strat but it's not my thing.

    So a month or so ago, after a few whiskies, I ended up on ebay buying up bits that looked interesting. Some stuff is fender. Some stuff is Chinese knockoff. Part of the influence was just "aged"... as the fresh guard against the dark copper I think felt out of place. Another part was Knopfler's famous Dream Machine Schecter... which this clearly isn't.

    Anyway... here's my collection of parts (original 3-ply blackguard not shown, but exists as an option). How would you put it together? Or perhaps something else?

    2.jpg 3.jpg 3a.jpg 4.jpg 5.jpg 6.jpg 7.jpg 1.jpg
     
    systolsys, Jan 14, 2021
    #1
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  2. Handsome McClane

    Handsome McClane Strat-O-Master Silver Member

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    White guard with white knobs looks a million times better IMO.
     
    Handsome McClane, Jan 14, 2021
    #2
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  3. Nadnitram

    Nadnitram Most Honored Senior Member

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    Definitely not black knobs with non-black p'up covers. From what I see here, I'd probably go with the 6th picture: I'm assuming it's the parchment cover with cream p'up covers and copper knobs.
     
    Nadnitram, Jan 14, 2021
    #3
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  4. Stratafied

    Stratafied Most Honored Senior Member

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    #8 ... buy a mile !
     
    Stratafied, Jan 14, 2021
    #4
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  5. J4ME5

    J4ME5 Strat-Talker

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    Parchment all round for me – the finish is SWEET, and I think the parchment allows the finish to best shine through :) !
     
    J4ME5, Jan 14, 2021
    #5
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  6. circles

    circles Resident Pinball Enthusiast

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    Number 6... number 6... number 6....
     
    circles, Jan 14, 2021
    #6
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  7. Antstrat

    Antstrat Most Honored Senior Member

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    yup.
     
    Antstrat, Jan 14, 2021
    #7
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  8. Jesse414

    Jesse414 Senior Stratmaster

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    in case we become best friends and you leave it to me in your will I would like the bottom pic best. :)
     
    Jesse414, Jan 14, 2021
    #8
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  9. Felixq78

    Felixq78 Strat-Talk Member

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    Another Sydney Strat owner like me. I'd go with white pickguard, white knobs, I think that's the last one. I've got a Candy Apple Red Strat and would like a pearloid pick-guard but once I hit the web confusion reigned there are just too many choices of colours.
     
    Felixq78, Jan 14, 2021
    #9
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  10. StratoMutt

    StratoMutt Senior Stratmaster

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    This:

    upload_2021-1-14_22-23-7.png
     
    StratoMutt, Jan 14, 2021
    #10
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  11. systolsys

    systolsys Strat-O-Master

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    I've never been a massive fan of black plastics... even with a black pickguard. There's something 80s hair metal about it and not in a good way. The only reason I even put it up as an option is that Knopfler has black pickup covers on his Dream Machine strat.

    It's not parchment but mint green.. but it's subtle mint green. I'n not a mint-green person either... I pulled the original guard off my Lone Star and replaced it with Tort... but in this like it because it tones down the contrast between the white and the copper, and both are "aged" colours... and of course when copper alloys oxidize, you get that turquoise verdigris highlights. The covers are aged white.. which is one step back from cream, but at this point it's all pretty close.
     
    systolsys, Jan 14, 2021
    #11
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  12. brians

    brians Senior Stratmaster

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    Yep, too many whiskeys and even cow crap colours start to look good.

    No. 8 , by a very wide margin laddie !
     
    brians, Jan 15, 2021
    #12
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  13. Bob Spumoni

    Bob Spumoni Strat-O-Master

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    I'm getting sensory overload looking at all those pics. Reminds me of Warhol's repetition-with-incremental-variation stuff, like the Marilyn Monroe series.

    Anyway, my dazzled eyes, craving rest, tell me white-on-white-with-white.

    Does all that copper help with yr arthritiis?
     
    Bob Spumoni, Jan 15, 2021
    #13
  14. Riderock

    Riderock Strat-Talk Member

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    I would go with a Fender parchment guard. The one on my CS 66 is still very white , but not as glossy . I think it goes great with an aged finish.
     
    Riderock, Jan 15, 2021
    #14
  15. Rufustelestrat

    Rufustelestrat Senior Stratmaster

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    Black
     
    Rufustelestrat, Jan 15, 2021
    #15
  16. eclecticsynergy

    eclecticsynergy Senior Stratmaster

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    Yep, I vote #8 too. Of the options shown, white with white.

    One combo not shown would be white guard with black covers & knobs. A 70s style look to go with the large headstock. Seems good when I visualize it but without actually seeing it I'm not 100% sure.
     
    eclecticsynergy, Jan 15, 2021
    #16
  17. HazyPurple

    HazyPurple Strat-O-Master Silver Member

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    Is there a white scratch plate, aged covers, knobs and selector tip option?
     
    HazyPurple, Jan 15, 2021
    #17
  18. Rudedawg

    Rudedawg Senior Stratmaster

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    coin toss heads #6 or tails #8 ...:thumb:
     
    Rudedawg, Jan 15, 2021
    #18
  19. chas3rd

    chas3rd Strat-Talk Member Gold Supporting Member

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    I honestly can’t tell while it’s laying in that pink case.
     
    chas3rd, Jan 15, 2021
    #19
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  20. Michael919

    Michael919 Most Honored Senior Member

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    Are 7 and 8 the same PG? 7 looks parchment and 8 looks white. I'd go with parchment PG and parchment covers and knobs.
     
    Michael919, Jan 15, 2021
    #20
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