• Neck Pickup:  The authentic selection for the neck position is the Fender Custom Shop Fat '50s (Neck).  We also offer 2 alternate neck pickup selections; Fender Custom Shop Custom '69 or the Seymour Duncan SSL-1.

• Middle Pickup:  The authentic selection for the middle position is the Fender Custom Shop Custom '69.  We also offer 2 alternate middle pickup selections; Fender Custom Shop Fat '50s (Middle) or the Seymour Duncan SSL-1.  Both of these alternate middle pickup selections are Rw/Rp (Reverse Wound / Reverse Polarity) which will give you hum cancelling capabilities when the 5-way selector switch is in positions 2 and 4. The Fender Custom Shop Custom '69 is NOT available in Rw/Rp.

• Bridge Pickup:  The most authentic selection for the bridge position is the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Hand Scatter-Wound SSL-1C DG.  We also offer 4 alternate bridge pickup selections; Seymour Duncan SSL-5 (Commercial version), Seymour Duncan SSL-1, Fender Custom Shop Custom '69 or the Fender Custom Shop Fat '50s Bridge.

• Accessories Color:  We offer 5 accessory color selections of White, Parchment, Custom Aged Parchment, Aged White or Black.  Accessories consist of the pickup covers, volume and tone control knobs, selector switch tip, tremolo arm tip and the tremolo cover plate. The tremolo cover plate style you will receive depends on accessory color selection; The White and Aged White tremolo cover is a vintage 1 ply with 6 holes for the strings to pass through.  The Black and Parchment tremolo cover is a 3 ply with single rectangular slot for the strings to pass through.

  • With the CUSTOM AGED PARCHMENT Accessory Color option all of the accessories will appear brand new, exactly as they come from Fender with the exception that they will be custom aged in color tint (lightly) to appear the same as the accessories on the Fender Custom Shop NOS Gilmour Black Strat. There is no additional fee for this option.

• Accessories Style: We offer 3 styles for the appearance of the accessories in your pickguard assembly; STANDARD, GREEN LETTERING and RELIC. With the GREEN LETTERING and RELIC option we include the Vintage '62 style Green Lettered and Numbered Control Knob Sets. These knob sets are customized in our shop with the green letters and numbers. They are genuine Fender knobs that have had the original gold color in the letters and numbers removed and replaced with green.  Each of the 3 accessory styles are described in detail below.

  1. With the STANDARD Accessory Style option all of the accessories will appear brand new, exactly as they come packaged from Fender, no alterations or customizations.

  2. With the GREEN LETTERING Accessory Style option all of the accessories will appear brand new, exactly as they come from Fender along with the volume and tone knobs being customized with the green lettering and numbering. You can select White, Parchment, Custom Aged Parchment or Aged White for the Accessory Color for this option.  The GREEN LETTERING option has a $25.00 up charge.

  3. With the RELIC Accessory Style option all the accessories will appear as used or worn along with the volume and tone knobs being customized with the green lettering and numbering. You can select White, Parchment, Custom Aged Parchment or Aged White for the Accessory Color for this option. The RELIC option has a $35.00 up charge.

• Pickup Tone Controls:  With standard Strat wiring and with Gilmour's original Black Strat the bridge pickup does not have a tone control, only the middle and neck pickups have a tone control. We offer 5 pickup tone control selections to choose from to enhance your tonal shaping.

1. Standard Strat wiring: Separate tone control for the middle pickup. Separate tone control for the neck pickup. No tone control for the bridge pickup.
2. Separate tone control for the bridge pickup. Middle and neck pickups share a tone control.
3. Separate tone control for the neck pickup. Bridge and middle pickups share a tone control.
4. Separate tone control for the bridge pickup. Separate tone control for the neck pickup. No tone control for the middle pickup.
5. Separate tone control for the bridge pickup. Separate tone control for the middle pickup. No tone control for the neck pickup.

• Tone Capacitor Value Selection:  We offer 4 tone control capacitors; 0.01 uF, 0.022 uF, 0.033 uF and 0.047 uF.  Specific to the Gilmour Strat would be the 0.047 uF tone capacitor. The typical tone capacitor found in most modern Strat's is the 0.022 uF which rolls off less treble as you lower the tone control where as the 0.047 uF rolls off more treble as you lower the tone control. If you increase the value of the capacitor you effectively lower the frequency cut off point. As the tone control is lowered, the tone becomes deeper or bassier, because the cut off point has been lowered. This of course results in lower frequency signals being bled off to ground. Here is a link to a very informative video that explains How Tone Capacitors Work and is well worth watching to fully understand how tone capacitors effect your tone and to help you make an informed decision for the tone capacitor selection in your pickguard assembly.

• Body Ground Connection:  Most of the relatively newer American Strat bodies (not vintage re-issue versions) have a ground wire connection inside the conductive paint shielded control cavity that is fastened down with a small wood screw.  Most Mexican Strat bodies we have encountered do not have this body ground connection.  Unless your bodies control cavity is shielded and you plan on connecting a ground wire from the electronics to the shielded control cavity then select "No" for this option. If you select YES for the "Body Ground" option and do not have the solder lug (ring eyelet) and mounting screw  to attach this wire to your body, then you can add it to your order here.

• Pickguard:  For the authentic Gilmour style Black Strat pickguard we have the all Black Acrylic 1 Ply 0.120" Rounded and Polished Edge Pickguard in both the Standard 11 Hole and the Vintage 8 Hole mounting styles.  All current production Standard 11 Hole Acrylic pickguards are fully aluminum foil shielded. The Vintage 8 Hole Black Acrylic 1 Ply 0.120" Rounded and Polished Edge Pickguards are copper foil shielded only in the control region which is the same as Gilmour's original and Fender's Custom Shop Gilmour Black Strat. The rounded and polished pickguard edge is only available with the Black Acrylic 1 Ply 0.120" pickguards.

  Illustrated to the left is a photograph of Fender's Custom Shop Gilmour NOS Black Strat, this is how the copper foil shielding will be applied to our Vintage 8 Hole Black Acrylic 1 Ply 0.120" Rounded and Polished Edge Pickguards. 

  Currently all of our 11 hole Acrylic pickguards will have full coverage aluminum foil shielding. However, eventually we will be transitioning all of our Acrylic pickguards to have the authentic copper foil shielding in the control region only, same as Gilmour's, same as Fender's Custom Shop...

  Click here for a larger view of the control region only copper foil shielding.

   

  Pickguard Alternate Choices: We also offer 13 alternate genuine Fender pickguards to choose from for those that do not want the typical "Black Strat" black and white appearance of their pickguard assembly, but want all of the great tone of the Gilmour Strat electronics along with the unique pickup selection switch concept behind this pickguard assembly. The following pickguard options will have the standard 45° beveled edge with the exception of the white 1 ply white '57 vintage 8 hole pickguard, its edge is not beveled. The 13 optional pickguards are as follows:

1. White 3 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
2. Black 3 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
3. Mint Green 3 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
4. Parchment 3 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
5. White 3 Ply, '62 Vintage 11 Hole  (No shielding, add shielding with "Add On" option #4 below)
6. Black 3 Ply, '62 Vintage 11 Hole  (No shielding, add shielding with "Add On" option #4 below)
7. White 1 Ply, '57 Vintage 8 Hole  (No shielding, add shielding with "Add On" option #4 below)
8. Black 3 Ply, '57 Vintage 8 Hole  (No shielding, add shielding with "Add On" option #4 below)
9. Tortoise Shell 4 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
10. White Pearl 4 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
11. Black Pearl 4 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
12. Aged Glass 4 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)
13. Black Glass 4 Ply, 11 Hole Standard  (Fully shielded)

IMPORTANT PICKGUARD SELECTION NOTE: If you are planning on using a 22 fret neck with your Black Strat project keep in mind that some body and neck combinations may experience clearance issues with the 22'nd fret overhang coming in contact with the surface of the thicker Black 1 Ply  0.120" Acrylic Pickguard. An alternate "Special Situation" pickguard we offer is the Black 1 Ply 0.090" Vinyl Pickguard which will clear the 22'nd fret overhang without issues. We offer this standard thickness (0.090") pickguard in both the standard 11 hole and the vintage 8 hole versions which are shielded in the control area only. To determine if you will need this alternate pickguard, measure the clearance between the under side of the 22'nd fret overhang and the top of your original 0.090" thick pickguard, and if you can measure at least 0.035" then the 0.120" Acrylic pickguard will work fine. Typical automotive feeler gauges will help you determine this clearance, or you could even a guitar string such as a 0.038" "A" string, simply slide it underneath the 22'nd fret overhang in-between the pickguard, and if it slides in-between, then there is enough clearance to use our Black 1 Ply 0.120" Acrylic pickguard.  Both of the Special Situation pickguards (11 hole and 8 hole) have a 45 degree beveled edge (they are not rounded and polished).  Also, since both of the Special Situation pickguards are only shielded in the control region you may consider adding the full coverage '62 aluminum pickguard shield, "Add On" option #4 found below the main pickguard selection options below.

• Tremolo Arm:  With each pickguard assembly we include one of our custom manufactured 4-1/4" stainless steel tremolo arms. We offer our tremolo arms in 3 different attachment threading types; UNF 10-32, Metric 5mm (M5 x .8) and Metric 6mm (M6 x 1.0). The American Strat  uses the UNF 10-32, the Mexican, Japanese and some Squier Strat's use the 5mm and some Squier Strat's use the 6mm.  If you select the Squier 6mm tremolo arm it will not have a plastic tip on the end, instead it will be manufactured like the American Deluxe Strat tremolo arm where the tip end of the arm will be rounded and polished. We also offer the push-in type tremolo arm that is used in the American Deluxe Strat. Below is a breakdown of the threading types or attachment type found on the various tremolo arms.

• American Vintage, American Vintage Reissue and American Standard Strat's (UNF 10-32).
• American Deluxe Strat (Push-In)
• Mexican Strat 5mm (M5 x .8)
• Japanese Strat 5mm (M5 x .8)
• Squier 5mm (M5 x .8).  Squier calls this their "Smaller Thread"
• Squier 6mm (M6 x 1.0).  Squier calls this their "Large Thread"

• Volume and Tone Control Potentiometers:  We offer 3 different types of potentiometers to choose from; Low Rotational Torque, Standard Rotational Torque and "No-Load". Rotational torque refers to how much friction you feel when you are rotating the volume and tone knobs. The low rotational torque potentiometers rotate very smoothly with very little resistance and are manufactured by Bourns. The standard rotational torque and "No-Load" controls rotate with some friction which is designed to help retain the setting from accidentally being changed by a bump or nudge. Standard torque and "No-Load" potentiometers are manufactured by CTS. Some players enjoy being able to use their little finger to wrap around the volume knob and adjust the volume setting quickly and easily, and the Low Rotational Torque potentiometers offered by Bourns are often selected for this playing style. With the "No-Load" potentiometers the full clockwise setting of 10 takes the potentiometer out of the circuit entirely, this eliminates the path to ground that exists with standard potentiometers in the full setting. The result is increased power and brightness at the "Full On" setting. These CTS "No-Load" potentiometers do not click in at the full clockwise setting of 10 as Fender's "No-Load" potentiometers do, they have a smooth transition from 10 on down to 1. With the "No-Load" potentiometer assembly option both of the tone potentiometers will be "No-Load" potentiometers and the volume will be a Standard Rotational Torque (CTS) potentiometer as you can't install a "No-Load" potentiometer in a volume control position.

• Treble By-Pass Filter:  This small circuit bridged across the two terminals on the volume potentiometer helps to retain the high frequencies (or treble) in your tone when you turn down the volume on your guitar. It does not effect the tone of the guitar when the volume is in the 10 position.

• Seymour Duncan Pickup Covers:  You can have the official "Seymour Duncan" logo'ed pickup covers in White or custom Aged White installed on any Seymour Duncan pickup you select for your assembly as long as you are selecting White or Aged White as your Accessory Color.

• Custom Stainless Steel Recessed Mini-Toggle Switch Mounting Bracket:  For mounting the neck pickup selection modification mini-toggle switch. We serial number each pickguard assembly and the serial number is stamped on this component.

• Mini-Toggle Switch Recessed In Pickguard:  This is what could be considered "The Gilmour Mod". It activates the neck pickup and is intended to be used when the 5-way switch is in positions 1 or 2.  This expands the standard 5 pickup selections to 7.

• Mounting Screws:  We include enough screws for an entire Strat to mount the pickguard, output jack plate and tremolo cover plate. 19 screws if you order an 11 hole pickguard or 16 screws if you order an 8 hole pickguard.

• Tremolo Cover Plate:  The style included with your particular pickguard assembly will depend on your Accessories Color selection. White and Aged white will be 1 ply with six individual holes for the strings to pass through, where the Parchment and Black will be 3 ply and have the single rectangular slot for the strings to pass through.

• Switchcraft USA ¼" Mono Output Jack.
  

• Set of GHS Boomers David Gilmour Signature Series Strings (Blue set for Strat).

NOTE: A characteristic we sometimes find in Acrylic pickguards are very small imperfections in the surface, typically they are very small and round in appearance and average in size like this dot in the quotes -->  " . ".  This characteristic is not something we can consider as defective and will not accept a pickguard in return for refund or exchange since we can't send them back to the manufacturer, they tell us it is normal characteristic of the casting or extrusion process. We won't hand select a pickguard to determine if it does or does not have this characteristic, that would require removing the surface protective film from each pickguard. So with that being said, we wanted to make sure you were aware of such possibilities if you find one of these in your particular pickguard.

Typical turn-around time from order placement to shipment is 3-7 business days.  Holiday work-loads sometimes may increase turn-around time, but keep in mind, we don't waste any time in getting these built, packed and shipped on their way to you.

Some import Strat's or "Look-Alike" Strat bodies may not be 100% compatible with the pickguard perimeter mounting holes and some adjustment may be needed on your body.

This pickguard assembly is not endorsed by David Gilmour or Fender.  It is offered here as a high quality replica of the original based on our detailed research.

All names used in this webpage are trademarked by their respective owners which are in no way associated or affiliated with OverDrive Custom Guitar Works. These trademarks of other manufacturers or individuals are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers or individuals whose tones, sounds and visual similarities were studied during research, design and product development.