I have been producing my unique pickguards since 2005, after searching in vain for a Quilted Maple pickguard for my own Strat. Having had a long association with playing guitar, and building several guitars back in the ’60s for our band, it was a no-brainer that I’d just make me a pickguard….
After many fails and subsequent trials, I came up with an all-timber product that incorporated multiple layers of veneer, and topped with decorative Maple… totally stable in all weather, and guaranteed against splitting
Hope you enjoy visiting – Regards – Peter….
Gilroy Guitars’ pickguards utilise a 5-ply construction, providing both durability and dimensional stability, preventing warping or splitting that can occur with single-ply wood guards. Each piece is precisely cut to Fender specifications ensuring a perfect drop-in fit for Stratocaster and Telecaster models from 1959 onwards. The mounting holes are pre-drilled with exacting precision and the beveled edges are hand-finished to match the original Fender contours.
What sets our pickguards apart is not just their stunning aesthetics but also their acoustic properties. The maple ‘top’ adds a subtle warmth to the guitar’s tone while maintaining excellent pick attack, clarity and sustain. Unlike plastic guards that can dampen resonance, our full wood pickguards actually contribute to the instrument’s natural voice, becoming an integral part of its tonal character rather than just a protective component.
The 5 layer veneer build means it’s not just pretty, but tough too – no warping like you might get with cheaper single-ply wood guards. it’s cut exactly to Fender specs so it’ll drop right into any Tele or Strat from ’59 on up. All the mounting holes are drilled spot-on and the edges are perfectly beveled to match Fender’s original style. The edges of our current production are finished in satin black.
But… here’s the really cool part – our pickguards don’t just look killer, they actually makes your guitar sound better. The real maple ‘top’ adds this sweet warmth to the tone while keeping all that crisp pick attack you want. unlike those plastic guards that can deaden your sound. These wooden beauties actually vibe with your guitar’s natural voice, making it part of the instrument’s soul instead of just a pretty face.
Our Pre-2017 pickguard production have three coats of conductive shielding/EMF paint to reduce noise, shielding against 60 cycle hum etc. Recent production have a FULL Aluminum rear shield, cut in-house from 0.1mm sheet, and adhered to the rear prior to shipping. So either way, you’re fully shielded…..
After completion, each pickguard is then given an individual SKU – so THE PICKGUARD THAT YOU PURCHASE IS THE ONE THAT YOU GET!
A ‘one and only’ pickguard, unique to you and your guitar.
Each Gilroy Guitars pickguard is fully guaranteed against production faults by a full replacement policy for 12 months, not including general wear and tear.
Have a question? Please use our Contact Us page