Green strat pickguards

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:52 am

Got a question for the Fender experts. Anyone know when the green pickguard run officially (or unofficially) ended?

I've seen 63s with them, and without them. So I'm curious.

rick_ovic · Post by **rick_ovic** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:11 pm

Glenn, The green nitrate pickguards were replaced with plastic pickguards in early 1965 as far as I know. I once owned a near mint Dec'64 transition logo L series Strat, which still had the green guard. Selling it was one of my life's dumbest decisions!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:24 pm

The nitrate guards were originally white, or strictly speaking, eggshell--just a bit off pure-white in color. In the day they looked normal.

The green came from a reaction between the white nitrate with the black middle layer when the guards degassed over many years.

Now they're making replacements in green, but they look phony, like they should be glow-in-the-dark or something...

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:28 pm

I sold my '64 too, about ten years ago. Thought I made out all right. Coulda made out a whole lot better a few years later. But I've never been able to see into the future. So, I used to have a '64 strat. That's all.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:44 pm

Thanks. I see a lot of 'all original" early 60s strats that don't have green guards or pickup covers like my 63 does.

I bought a phony green guard for an '88 fiesta red 62 reissue and it looked better than what came with the guitar. And well, since some of the fiestas look like they're dayglow anyway...

That is a great guitar, by the way. Sold it to my brother.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:54 pm

I've got a mint green guard on my '62 Tele RI, sunburst. IMO it looks much better than the stock bright white one did. Gives the guitar a generally "warmer" look.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:41 pm

Check these out:

http://geocities.com/tall_arms/fatboy/strat.htm

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:36 am

Fantastic. Thanks for the tip. This stuff looky good.