Ever seen Pickguard warp like this?

Reverend Bow

Reverend Bow

Member
Here is a new one on me...

My Jake E Lee inspired build:
Swamp Ash Hard tail body
2022 CV70s IL neck
WD Music Jake E Lee 3-ply pickguard
GM Pickups
IMG_20250715_215421411~2.jpg


I play it fairly often, it usually is on a wall hanger or in the stand...

Saturday night I grabbed it, tune it up and was about ready to unleash the greatest examples of riffage known to modern mankind, as I started a ripping run from the low E up to about a C on the High E, my string had that fretting out buzz...

WTF? I figured I had a fret jump out of the slot, but it was only on the High E, and started at the 3rd fret G all the way up... 🤔

Quick neck check, using the string as a straight edge let me know the neck relief was good...

🤔 🤔

So I started a formal investigation...

It seems the middle pickup either raised itself on the treble side...
IMG_20250715_214500565~2.jpg

Or with a push down of the pickguard, everything was cool
IMG_20250715_214535914~2.jpg


I have never had a pickguard warp on me (and I usually buy the Chinese ones), and this happened within a week.

Needless to say, even though I bought is 3 years ago this month, I emailed WD Music to see if they had any suggestions to flatten it out, or see if we could work something...

Hopefully they will help me out, or maybe exchange it with a 3 ply black/white/black one, which it only $30. This was a $60 pickguard and the body was virgin when I assembled the project, so I drilled the screw holes to match the pickguard.

Anyone had this happen? I don't gig out, the guitar never leaves the house, and doesn't sit in the sun...
 
I've seen pickguards move like that. It's usually been from the body wood expanding/contracting due to shifts in humidity or temperature.
 
MadAsAHatter said:
I've seen pickguards move like that. It's usually been from the body wood expanding/contracting due to shifts in humidity or temperature.
Click to expand...
Hmmm...

any good way to lay it back down (besides running a screw into the high spot down to the body)?
 
mikey said:
I had one warp, only time I've had that happen. It was tortoise as well. 🤔
Click to expand...
🤔

Well, that is interesting...

Ironically, I have used several Chinese pickguards on builds, stored in the same place as this one, and they have never warped... Hell of a lot cheaper too... But they never have them with the JEL slanted pickup slots
 
Pulled all the screws out tonight and it didn't relax on its own, and when pushed flat, or warped, the screw holes still line up... 🤔

I took tension off the strings and looked under the hood, all the wires are I the center channel.

So, since WD hasn't responded to my email yet I figured I have nothing to lose, left all the screws out and used a chunk of padded 1x2 wood under the strings, applying pressure to hold it flat.

Probably a long shot, but I'll leave it there to think about what it did and see if it wants to get back in my good graces....
IMG_20250716_214923523~2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Geo
Ironically, I was poking around Reverb last night to see if anyone else made a JEL pickguard... nope.

but I looked at a black WD JEL guard on a sellers post $40 + shipping, then moved on...
This morning, that seller offered my the Guard for $20.50, and free shipping...

Ordered!

But I still am curious about this one, I will probably oversize the screw holes, as will as clearance the neck area on it...

But the Black one will be closer to the JEL model, I originally got the Tortoise one for a different look....
 
shar-vell Dan said:
Almost if not every Fender style pickguard ive had over the years was warped in some way.
Click to expand...
Interesting... I have several Strats, including the '93 American Standard I bout new... this is the first one I have had warp.

now, I have picked up project guitars out of pawn shops with warped guards, but Lord knows what those guitars went though before I got them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top