Strat pickguard 8 hole/11 hole options, need help.

[Texas07R8]

Hey guys, I'm a Gibson guy. I sold my only Strat some time ago to get a Goldtop.

Anyway, my grandson who is 11 YO has a Squier Strat, a cheapie.. He saw his cousins Strat which is Daphne Blue with a brown tortoise pickguard and he's GASing for one.

I talked to his dad, my son and we decided to take his black Squier Strat and repaint it light blue and change the white pickguard for a brown tortoise shell type. I'm going to do the refinish here at my shop.

I know that Squier Strats have an 8 hole pickguard and most American and Mexican Strats have an 11 hole version. I also know there are some vintage American Strats with an 8 hole guard.

My question is, can I drop an 11 hole pickguard from an American or Mexican Strat over a Squier Strat that has 8 holes? I don't mind drilling 3 additional holes.

I just want to know before ordering one of the 11 hole versions off ebay for $18 shipped if it will fit.

So has anyone out there added an 11 hole pickguard to an 8 hole Squier body? I just want to make sure it will fit, I don't care if I have to drill 3 new holes or even plug a few and redrill slightly but I don't want to order the 11 hole and find out the hard way it won't fit.

Thanks guys!

Also, anyone have a source for Fender Stratocaster decals? I'm thinking while I've got her torn down I could remove the Squier decal and replace with a Fender water slide.

 

[diceman]

I hope so - that is my plan. I have an 8 hold - and ordered an 11 hole red tort for it.

 

[kspeed]

Everything will line up but you'll have to drill a bit (even if you weren't refinishing it the stock holes would be hidden under the guard). You'll probably have to sand the guard around the neck pocket but otherwise should be fine.

Squier with a stock pickguard:

Same guitar with a MIA pickguard:

 

[Texas07R8]

sweet, thanks! I figured it was pretty close and it's no biggie drilling a few holes in that Squier, in fact it will be my PLEASURE...

actually, the two photos you posted both are 11 hole.

 

[kspeed]

Ah crap. I've done several of these and just grabbed the only before/after photos I had ready.

Still, the factory holes will be covered and drilling will be required. In fact, that's a 1992 Squier and, despite having 11 holes, I still had to drill several (I don't recall where, exactly) since only a few lined up with the MIA guard.

 

[overdriver]

sweet, thanks! I figured it was pretty close and it's no biggie drilling a few holes in that Squier, in fact it will be my PLEASURE...

actually, the two photos you posted both are 11 hole.

You could send the org. guard to member TWANG he does that type of work. And uses nice tort. . He made me a guard for my Esquire and is was less money than most ready made deals.

 

[overdriver]

Or these my fit better than a MIA guard Untitled Page made for ASIA guitars.