Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

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asaf-g
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:11 am

Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by asaf-g »

Hi,
Not sure if this is the right place for this question.

I want to make some cosmetic changes in my G&L Legacy HB.
Here is how my guitar looks like right now: http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/gear/ ... myi_so.jpg
Here is the result I want: http://www.rainbowguitars.com/productde ... ce=message
:P

So I'll need:
[*] A cream pickguard - Should I buy from G&L directly or there are other (better?) alternatives? What is the estimated price? And is there a real difference in sound?
[*] Black knobs - Again, should I buy originals? Thought about eBay - will Strat knobs fit?
[*] Black pickup covers - Also saw some on eBay but I'm not sure they will fit the G&L pickups, and not sure what to get for the HB.

PS - I don't live in the US but I have a trip planned in about two weeks, so I can buy some of the parts there.
I'd really appreciate any help on this.
Thanks!
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yowhatsshakin
Posts: 3340
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:00 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by yowhatsshakin »

Hi asaf-g,

Just want to give you a heads up that buying black pickup covers is sufficient for the middle and neck pup. Your dealer or the Online Store are the places to get those. But if you want the bridge pickup to look black you'll have to buy a new SD pup with black bobbins because that's a pup without a cover. As far as volume and tone control knobs are concerned, I think Fender knobs will fit fine. Just be aware of the difference between split and solid shaft. To my knowledge, the pickguard for a G&L has slightly different screw locations as Fender (and anybody who knows better, please correct me if I'm wrong), and you have hum/single switch to contend with too. So checking out Chandler (pattern #612) might be the way to go and see if your local dealer can get something done for you.

Hope this helps,

- Jos
louis cyfer
Posts: 3011
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:58 pm

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by louis cyfer »

the color of the pickguard is one of the most important part of your tone. going to cream will change the sound of your guitar. the manufacturer is also important, as the resonant frequency of the different materials and thicknesses have a huge effect as they interact with the body wood, neck and pickup cover material. for the 3 ply creme guard, you want the kevlar/boron pickup covers, for the single ply white, the carbon fiber/graphite covers work best. if you choose the metal guard, you'd want the magnesium/titanium composite pup covers. chandler tone taps the guard materials to offer proper frequency/resonant peak matching, you just want to specify the inductance of the pickguard when ordering. as jos said, you will need a new bridge pup. also, you might want to make sure that the knobs are impedance matched to the pots you are using.

btw, i love those fryette memphis amps.
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huck
Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:26 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by huck »

louis cyfer wrote:the color of the pickguard is one of the most important part of your tone. going to cream will change the sound of your guitar. the manufacturer is also important, as the resonant frequency of the different materials and thicknesses have a huge effect as they interact with the body wood, neck and pickup cover material. for the 3 ply creme guard, you want the kevlar/boron pickup covers, for the single ply white, the carbon fiber/graphite covers work best. if you choose the metal guard, you'd want the magnesium/titanium composite pup covers. chandler tone taps the guard materials to offer proper frequency/resonant peak matching, you just want to specify the inductance of the pickguard when ordering. as jos said, you will need a new bridge pup. also, you might want to make sure that the knobs are impedance matched to the pots you are using.

btw, i love those fryette memphis amps.
That is why I use gold and platinum infused PG's..man what a tone, but EXPENSIVE...
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suave eddie
Posts: 787
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:12 pm
Location: B.C.

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by suave eddie »

louis cyfer wrote:the color of the pickguard is one of the most important part of your tone. going to cream will change the sound of your guitar. the manufacturer is also important, as the resonant frequency of the different materials and thicknesses have a huge effect as they interact with the body wood, neck and pickup cover material. for the 3 ply creme guard, you want the kevlar/boron pickup covers, for the single ply white, the carbon fiber/graphite covers work best. if you choose the metal guard, you'd want the magnesium/titanium composite pup covers. chandler tone taps the guard materials to offer proper frequency/resonant peak matching, you just want to specify the inductance of the pickguard when ordering. as jos said, you will need a new bridge pup. also, you might want to make sure that the knobs are impedance matched to the pots you are using.

btw, i love those fryette memphis amps.
I hope the OP is not sarcasm impaired...............

I saw this in the original post
A cream pickguard - Should I buy from G&L directly or there are other (better?) alternatives? What is the estimated price? And is there a real difference in sound?
and had to restrain myself.
asaf-g
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:11 am

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by asaf-g »

louis cyfer wrote:the color of the pickguard is one of the most important part of your tone. going to cream will change the sound of your guitar. the manufacturer is also important, as the resonant frequency of the different materials and thicknesses have a huge effect as they interact with the body wood, neck and pickup cover material. for the 3 ply creme guard, you want the kevlar/boron pickup covers, for the single ply white, the carbon fiber/graphite covers work best. if you choose the metal guard, you'd want the magnesium/titanium composite pup covers. chandler tone taps the guard materials to offer proper frequency/resonant peak matching, you just want to specify the inductance of the pickguard when ordering. as jos said, you will need a new bridge pup. also, you might want to make sure that the knobs are impedance matched to the pots you are using.

btw, i love those fryette memphis amps.
I guess you're joking about the color would effect the sound, in my question I was referring to the manufacturer / materials used.
About the HB bridge pickup, what's a bridge pop?

Thanks!
Boogie Bill
Posts: 793
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:16 pm
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by Boogie Bill »

Pup is a common shortening of the word pickup.

I really like the tobacco sunburst Legacy HB, that's really sweet. However, you realize that your guitar is three-color sunburst, not the TSB. You won't have the same look; I think the cream looks better with the browner tones of the TSB than it does with the 3CSB.

Good luck! Let us know how it comes out.

Bill
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huck
Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:26 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by huck »

suave eddie wrote:
louis cyfer wrote:the color of the pickguard is one of the most important part of your tone. going to cream will change the sound of your guitar. the manufacturer is also important, as the resonant frequency of the different materials and thicknesses have a huge effect as they interact with the body wood, neck and pickup cover material. for the 3 ply creme guard, you want the kevlar/boron pickup covers, for the single ply white, the carbon fiber/graphite covers work best. if you choose the metal guard, you'd want the magnesium/titanium composite pup covers. chandler tone taps the guard materials to offer proper frequency/resonant peak matching, you just want to specify the inductance of the pickguard when ordering. as jos said, you will need a new bridge pup. also, you might want to make sure that the knobs are impedance matched to the pots you are using.

btw, i love those fryette memphis amps.
I hope the OP is not sarcasm impaired...............
Yea'' I agree!! it's not very nice when someone comes to the forum looking for info and get's ?? well, you know! !
I saw this in the original post
A cream pickguard - Should I buy from G&L directly or there are other (better?) alternatives? What is the estimated price? And is there a real difference in sound?
and had to restrain myself.
asaf-g
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:11 am

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by asaf-g »

Boogie Bill wrote:Pup is a common shortening of the word pickup.

I really like the tobacco sunburst Legacy HB, that's really sweet. However, you realize that your guitar is three-color sunburst, not the TSB. You won't have the same look; I think the cream looks better with the browner tones of the TSB than it does with the 3CSB.

Good luck! Let us know how it comes out.

Bill
Well actually I used the wrong photo, I have the tobacco sunburst with a pearl pick guard.
I think that I will drop the idea to change to pickup colors because I don't want to get a new HB just for the color.

Another idea I had was to remove the pickguard altogether but I'm not sure it is possible

Thanks.
Boogie Bill
Posts: 793
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:16 pm
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by Boogie Bill »

I'd love to see a picture of your guitar.

You can't go without a guard on these, because of the swimming pool route for the pickups. There's a big pit in the body under that guard.

If you really don't like the look of it, you can always give yourself permission to order a new guitar, done exactly in the color you want. Lots of options with G&L to build the guitar of your dreams.

Otherwise, you just need to re-bond with your guitar. Give it a good cleaning, and take some time to really look at the wood. I'm always very aware of how fortunate I am to have nice guitars, that I somehow was blessed with the talent to sing and play. And realizing what a wonderous thing it is that these pieces of wood and plastic and steel became a guitar. A lot of folks put a lot of themselves in that instrument: drivers, loggers, craftsmen and more.

Enjoy it. Love it. Play it. Make some music, and believe in the magic. It's not the guitar, it's in you.

Bill
asaf-g
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:11 am

Re: Changing pickguard, knobs and pickup covers

Post by asaf-g »

Boogie Bill wrote:I'd love to see a picture of your guitar.

You can't go without a guard on these, because of the swimming pool route for the pickups. There's a big pit in the body under that guard.

If you really don't like the look of it, you can always give yourself permission to order a new guitar, done exactly in the color you want. Lots of options with G&L to build the guitar of your dreams.

Otherwise, you just need to re-bond with your guitar. Give it a good cleaning, and take some time to really look at the wood. I'm always very aware of how fortunate I am to have nice guitars, that I somehow was blessed with the talent to sing and play. And realizing what a wonderous thing it is that these pieces of wood and plastic and steel became a guitar. A lot of folks put a lot of themselves in that instrument: drivers, loggers, craftsmen and more.

Enjoy it. Love it. Play it. Make some music, and believe in the magic. It's not the guitar, it's in you.

Bill
Yup you're right man. I'll maybe change the pickguard, but that's it... It's nice the way it is.
Thanks!