Covered humbucker won't fit in Warmoth pickguard

BABMusic

BABMusic

Active member
So yesterday, was super excited about installing a vintage Fernandes humbucker with a black cover into my project Stratocaster. Sadly though, it's just a little too tight to fit. I don't own a routing machine and was wondering if there's some easier way to make the pickguard a little wider. Any suggestions?

I could take off the cover and then it will fit, but then it won't match the single coils. I have black covers on the single coils that look like EMG pickups because the Fender noiseless pickups do not come in black (stupid Fender). Regular black Fender covers will not fit the noiseless pickups.
 
BABMusic said:
So yesterday, was super excited about installing a vintage Fernandes humbucker with a black cover into my project Stratocaster. Sadly though, it's just a little too tight to fit. I don't own a routing machine and was wondering if there's some easier way to make the pickguard a little wider. Any suggestions?

I could take off the cover and then it will fit, but then it won't match the single coils. I have black covers on the single coils that look like EMG pickups because the Fender noiseless pickups do not come in black (stupid Fender). Regular black Fender covers will not fit the noiseless pickups.
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Patience and a flat file?
 
BABMusic said:
I thought maybe fine sand paper might work, but didn't seem to help yesterday. I will see if I can find a file that is gentle. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Patience I the key there, you can always do more, you can't put it back. You finish it off with sandpaper.
 
BABMusic said:
I didn't measure, but to give you an idea, my Ibanez IBZ humbucker with a cover will fit snuggly into it. The Fernandes humbucker is maybe 1/64 of an inch too wide.
Click to expand...
Is it just on the long sides of the pickup or is it tight top and bottom as well?

If it were me, I'd get a flat file and some sand paper and go after it. Make sure you use a guide line in marker or painters tape to keep it straight and not go too far. The corners are probably slightly round so sand paper around something close in radius will work.
And if you mess up, you can always use a pickup ring to hide it. Not ideal, but it's an idea.
 
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