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The first strat pickguards had 8 holes and were 1 ply, right? Well, they starting making 3-ply, which is stronger and some might say better looking, but what was the point in adding another 3 holes? 8 holes will hold just fine. 11 holes gets a little annoying, and it shows more screw heads on the guitar. 8 hole is less of a pain taking off, and looks better.

I'm stumped. Why the hell did that add 3 more screws?

Another ?. Are all the screw holes in the same spot. Meaning can I put an 8 hole pickguard on an american strat body with 11 holes, and just forget about the other 3? Or will the holes be off.


Originally Posted by Cory_DylanThe first strat pickguards had 8 holes and were 1 ply, right? Well, they starting making 3-ply, which is stronger and some might say better looking, but what was the point in adding another 3 holes? 8 holes will hold just fine. 11 holes gets a little annoying, and it shows more screw heads on the guitar. 8 hole is less of a pain taking off, and looks better.

I'm stumped. Why the hell did that add 3 more screws?

Another ?. Are all the screw holes in the same spot. Meaning can I put an 8 hole pickguard on an american strat body with 11 holes, and just forget about the other 3? Or will the holes be off.most of the holes are in the same place, I wonder the same thing...I prefer the 8 hole ands like you I think it looks better...I think it's to keep it from lumping up in places...

i think it was back in the day when they used phenolic plastic for the plates - the stuff warped, cracked and had a nasty tendancy to catch fire when under extreme heat n friction (cutting and polishing)..

the extra screws were added on to hold the plastic down... i think really early fenders had 8 philips screws, then went 11-hole just as production kicked off

When going from 11 holes to 8, the hole nearest the pickup selector is off (I think). I'm pretty sure Warmoth makes an 8 hole conversion pickguard.

Aaron