Pickguards

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Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster plastic parts are what we will focus on in this brief summary.  We Again we will be glad to answer any questions on Fenders other models  just drop us an e mail.

 

The original Fender plastic was actually bakelite. It was a brittle material and do to many customer complaints by 1957  Fender had changed to normal plastic which was more durable. Today the bakelite parts are very valuable because most were cracked and broken so a complete set of clean bakelite is rare to find.

The Fender Broadcaster, Fender Nocaster , Fender Telecaster and Fender Esquires has black bakelite pickuguards. Some has round rings on the back from a coffee can also some did not . Most had a thin coat of lacquer sprayed on the guards but we have seen one owner mint examples that did not but most did!! By 1954 the pickguards changed to white bakelite and by late 1956 they were normal white plastic the original guards had 5 screw holes.  This info also applies for the Fender Esquire pickguards.

In late 1959 fender introduced a green  nitrocellulose  pickuguard. It is important to note that many 1959-1962 telecaster have white  pickguards. The telecaster customs and Esquire customs usually had the green  nitrocellulose s. But in this era can see both examples on any model. In late 1959 the pickguards also featured 8 screw holes now and would so throughout the 1960’s.  In 1968 briefly in the back of the  pickguards had a pearloid back and by mid 1969 they were back to the normal back.

The Fender Stratocaster  plastic was actually bakelite. It was a brittle material and do to many customer complaints by 1957  Fender had changed to normal plastic which was more durable.  The early 1954 Bakelite pickups covers  had an opaque color to it by 1955 The bakelite was bright white until 1957.

 The original bakelite 1954 pickguard is a bit thicker than a 1955-1957 . The back of the pickguards are shinny. the very first batch of bakelite 1954 Fender Stratocaster  pickguards had mat finish backs . Also the original knobs on an early 1954 Fender Stratocatser has shorter skirts on them but by the end of 1954 they were normal as you are accustomed to today.

In Late 1959 Fender introduced a green  nitrocellulose  pickguard . Both guards are found on 1959 Fender Stratocasters.  This would remain the same until 1965. In mid 1962 the second screw hole was moved closer to the pickup and this is a  important note when buying a stratocaster.

 By 1965 Fender had replaced the nitrocellulose Pickguards with a 3 ply white plastic guard. This would remain for throughout the 1960’s . briefly in 1968 the back of the Stratocaster pickguards had a pearloid back and by mid 1969 they were back to the normal back.