If you're looking to change the look associated with your guitar, changing your telecaster deluxe pickguard is probably the fastest method to do this without spending a lot of money. It's among those mods that feels relatively small on paper, yet once you see the finished result leaning against your amp, it's like you've got a brand-new instrument.
The Telecaster Deluxe is a bit of an animal compared to its thinner, twangier brothers and sisters. With those large Wide Range humbuckers and the oversized headstock, it has a presence that demands attention. But let's be honest—sometimes the particular stock pickguard contained in the factory just doesn't do the particular wood grain or even the paint work justice. Whether yours is scratched up from years of large picking or you're just tired of the standard three-ply black, a new guard may be the easiest method to inject a few personality into the rig.
Why the particular Shape Matters So Much
Here is usually the thing about the Telecaster Deluxe: you can't just go out and buy any Tele guard and expect it to work. I've noticed people try to force a standard "Butterscotch Blonde" style guard onto a Deluxe, and it's a disaster. The telecaster deluxe pickguard is a substantial part of plastic. It covers a huge portion of the body, wrapping around the two humbuckers and housing the four control knobs and the toggle switch.
Because it holds so much from the electronics, the suit has to end up being spot on. When the cutouts for the humbuckers are even a millimeter away, you're going to end up being fighting by it regarding hours. These protection is specifically designed with regard to those Wide selection Humbuckers, which are bigger than your standard Gibson-style humbuckers. If you're buying a substitute, you really have to double-check that it's designed for the "Deluxe" and not the "Custom" or "Thinline, " because whilst they look similar from a distance, the screw designs and pickup tracks are totally different.
Picking the particular Right Color and Material
This is actually the fun part, but also where people obtain stuck for several weeks. Picking a color for your telecaster deluxe pickguard will be basically the test of your personal aesthetic.
When you have a classic Olympic White or Mocha finish, you nearly can't go wrong with a 4-ply tortoiseshell. It gives the guitar that refined, vintage 70s feel which makes it look such as it's been seated in a smoke-filled studio for forty years. On the particular other hand, if you would like something that screams "rock and roll, " a solid black 3-ply guard on a black body (the "tuxedo" look) is tough to beat. It's sleek, it's aggressive, also it hides pick scratches surprisingly nicely in case you get the matte finish.
Then you have the wilder options. I've seen some incredible pearloid guards that will catch the stage lights in a way that's almost distracting. If you're playing within a music group where you're the particular frontman, maybe that's exactly what you want. There's furthermore the option of anodized lightweight aluminum. It's pricey, but it adds a certain "heft" to the look and may even help a little bit with protecting against unwanted sound, though that's generally more of the side benefit than a reason to buy it.
The Struggle with Screw Hole Position
I'll be the first in order to tell you that will no two electric guitars are exactly the same. Fender offers produced the Telecaster Deluxe within a lot of different production facilities over the years—Mexico, Japan, the US ALL, and Indonesia (under the Squier brand).
Whenever you order a brand new telecaster deluxe pickguard , there is the very real possibility that one or even two of all those fourteen screw openings won't line up perfectly. It's bad, I know. You obtain the guard, you're excited to put it on, after which you realize the particular hole near the input jack will be off by fifty percent a diameter.
Don't panic and don't consider to force the screw in at an angle. That's how you strip the wooden and end up with a screw that never rests flush. If the particular alignment is way off, you might have to fill the old gap using a toothpick and some wood glue, let it dried out, and drill a tiny new pilot opening. It sounds scary if you've in no way done it, but it's a regular move in the world of guitar modding. Most "drop-in" replacements are pretty close, although just keep a screwdriver and the little patience handy.
How to Do the Exchange Without Losing The mind
Changing a telecaster deluxe pickguard is the bit more involved than changing one on a standard Tele because all your electronics are installed directly to the plastic. You're not just unscrewing the plate; you're shifting the entire anxious system of the electric guitar.
First, get the strings away from. I know several people attempt to perform this by just loosening them plus taping them in order to the neck, but honestly, it's the pain. Just start with a fresh set of strings. Once the old guard is unscrewed, you'll have to switch it over cautiously. You'll see a web of wires connecting the cooking pots and the pick-ups.
A person don't usually have to desolder anything in case you're just replacing the plastic. You just need to unscrew the nuts keeping the volume and tone knobs, as well as the screws holding the pickups in location. Pro tip: keep a little bowl or a magnetic tray nearby for anyone small screws. Nothing ruins a Saturday mid-day like losing the mounting spring inside a high-pile carpet.
Making Sure Every thing Stays Quiet
When you have the particular guitar cracked open up to install your telecaster deluxe pickguard , it's a great time to evaluate the shielding. A lot of cheaper guards don't arrive with aluminum or even copper shielding on the back. If yours is bare plastic, you might discover more "buzz" whenever you're playing near fluorescent lights or even your computer monitor.
You can purchase adhesive water piping tape for a few bucks. Slapping some on the back of the pickguard in which the containers and switches sit can make the noticeable difference within how quiet the particular guitar is whenever you aren't playing. It's one of those "while I'm in here" tasks that pays off within the long run.
Where to locate the Good Replacement
You've got a couple of levels of high quality to select from. You can go with established Fender parts, that are usually the safest bet for fitment on Fender-branded electric guitars. They feel significant and the beveling on the edges is usually usually clean.
However, if you're looking for a specific color that will Fender doesn't offer—like mint green or even an aged parchment—you'll have to look at aftermarket makers. There are plenty associated with reputable shops on the internet that focus on pickguards. Some may even allow you send within a tracing of your original guard to ensure the particular screw holes are usually 100% accurate. This costs a little bit more, but it saves the "toothpick and glue" trouble I mentioned previously.
Is It Worth the Effort?
At the finish of the day time, the telecaster deluxe pickguard will be the face associated with your guitar. It's what people observe if they look with you on stage, and more importantly, it's what you discover every time you pick the instrument up to practice.
If you're currently looking from a guitar that will feels a little bit "blah, " don't go out and sell it for some sort of loss. Spend thirty bucks and an hour of your energy on a new guard. It's an enjoyable project that teaches you a bit about how your acoustic guitar works under the hood, and this gives you a sense of ownership over your own gear. Plus, there's nothing quite such as the sensation of peeling that protective plastic material film off a brand-new pickguard intended for the first time. It's easily the most satisfying component of being a guitar player.