Prewired Strat Pickguard
Don’t settle for some one-size-fits-all generic pickguard. Design your own with the finest-quality materials in the industry. Our Strat Prewired Pickguards are the perfect product for anyone who wants the Fralin Tone, instantly. We use the finest materials available: from CTS® Pots, USA-Made Pickguards, and CRL® Switches.
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Our Pickups, Your Personality.
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Prewired Strat Pickguard FEATURES:
At Fralin Pickups, we’re always trying to make you sound better. The Fralin Prewired Pickguard offers the best tone and highest quality available. We use our world-famous pickups with the best ingredients we can get. We hand-wire our prewired pickguard with painstaking attention to detail.
Furthermore, you can customize your pickguard exactly how you want it! With this Prewired Pickguard, you can have the famous Fralin tone and ease of mind. All you need to do is solder a few wires, screw it in, string it up, and you’re off rocking!
Features:
- The ultimate “Build Your Own” Stratocaster Pickguard
- USA-Made pickups & electronics for superior quality
- Hand-wired with USA-Made vintage cloth lead for a traditional look
- Fully customizable – from appearance to function
- Features a variety of Push-Pull mods for a personalized tone
- Hand-assembled signed and dated by our pickguard craftsman
- 10-year warranty on materials and craftsmanship
Sound & Look
Choose Your Pickguard
We use the finest quality pickguards available. These are standard USA-Made 11-hole Stratocaster pickguards. The following options are available:
We wanted to use the highest-quality, USA-Made pickguards available. We have Single Ply White (8-hole vintage style), 3-Ply White, Mint Green, Parchment, Black, White Pearloid, Parchment Pearloid, and Tortoise.
Please note: that while we try and make every effort to make sure everything matches, different manufacturers and dye lots can cause subtle differences in hue and tone.
Choose your pickups
With our pickguards, you can choose any combination of pickups you would like. Load in a calibrated set of pickups like our best-selling Vintage Hots or Blues Specials, or mix and match!
Choose your Cover Color
Customize your look further with our Strat Pickup Covers. We have Black, Mint Green, Parchment (Aged White), and White covers available.
Wiring
You can customize your wiring as well! We’ll wire your pickguard to your specifications. Most of the time, you’re going to use 250K Split Shaft Pots, as these work well with our plastic knobs. If you’re using your own metal knobs with a set-screw, choose Solid Shaft pots. Confused? Check out our in-depth article on pots and how to choose here.
Here are some popular combinations:
- Master Tone with a Blender Pot
- Neck & Middle Tone and separate Bridge Tone
- Master Tone 1 (.02 Cap) – Master Tone 2 (Magic Cap)
Addons
We have a ton of add-ons available for your pickguard. Want a baseplate installed on your bridge? How about our Volume Kit? Need new pickguard screws? Just let us know!
Knobs:
Matching Backplates:
Complete your look with a matching backplate for your Strat. We have matching backplates for all of our pickguard colors.
Installation
Check out our installation guide below to put your new pickguard in! With 20 minutes a few easy steps, you can get your pickguard in your guitar and start rocking out with some of the best sounding pickups in the world! Follow the Installation Guide below, or watch the video:
Prewired Strat Pickguard Questions And Answers:
Have a question about our Prewired Strat Pickguard? Ask it here. Your Question will be publically visible.
If you want to ask a Private Question, please contact us through our Contact Us Form.
If you have multiple questions, please call us at (804) 358-2699.
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Since there are no left handed push/pull pots.. do you guys offer any other option for a neck on mod/7-way switching? Such as a mini toggle? Thanks.
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Q Since there are no left handed push/pull pots.. do you guys offer any other option for a neck on ...... Read moreA
Hey Jeff, as it turns out, we don't have any super switch or Mini Toggle options, I apologize for the inconvenience. - Tyler
Do you offer a treble bleed circuit on pre-wired pickguards?
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Q Do you offer a treble bleed circuit on pre-wired pickguards?A
Hey Stephen, Yes - select our Volume Kit. It's a Treble Bleed Circuit.
Hi ! Do your 3-ply pickguards fit on a MIM Stratocaster (with modern 11 holes pickguard) ? Are your pots dimpled back ones ? And do you have a vintage taper (30% taper) option for the volume control ?
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Q Hi ! Do your 3-ply pickguards fit on a MIM Stratocaster (with modern 11 holes pickguard) ? Are yo...... Read moreA
Hello Christophe, our pickguards should fit a MIM 11-Hole perfectly. Our pots do have dimpled backs. Our taper is Audio Taper.
Just want a pre wired pickguard with 54 in each position, do these have the 60 cycle hum? Also what do you recommend for the pots and that set up? Really don’t want any noise, but definitely want that clarity. ?
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Q Just want a pre wired pickguard with 54 in each position, do these have the 60 cycle hum? Also wh...... Read moreA
Hey Daenen,
Yes, our Real 54's are single-coil pickups, so they pick up 60-cycle hum. If I were you, I'd check out our SSS Split Blade Prewired Pickguard, and select the Vintage Output pickups.
Hi, I would like to buy a pre-wired Blues Special pickguard. My Strat has a Humbucker at the bridge position...HSS-Shawbucker. I would like to switch to a single coil at the bridge for a traditional look. Would this be a problem if I ordered a pre-wired SSS. Would the guitar have to be modified? BTW, I love my Blues Specials on my Telecaster!! George Boyle (734) 716-4169
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Q Hi, I would like to buy a pre-wired Blues Special pickguard. My Strat has a Humbucker at the brid...... Read moreA
If you are able to fit a humbucker in the Bridge, you'll have no issues fitting a SSS pickguard!
Can you do a single p90 prewired Strat pickguard?
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Q Can you do a single p90 prewired Strat pickguard?A
Hey Wade, as it turns out, we cannot - we're set up for the models we're set up for and at this time, we're too busy to take in custom work. We're sorry for the inconvenience.
Can you do a loaded pickguard with two humbuckers.
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Q Can you do a loaded pickguard with two humbuckers.A
Hey Joe, we can. This would be considered custom work at the moment, and you'd have to send us the pickguard of your choice along with a detailed letter explaining how you'd like it wired up.
Hi, I am considering purchasing a Left Handed pre-wired pickguard as there seems to be a lot of improvements included, eg. the metal shielding & the opportunity to change the function of the tone pots to become Master Tone & Blend pots (I've never fully understood the standard Strat set-up after playing Tele's & LP's). I'd like to have the baseplate on the Blues Special bridge p/u as it will enhance the sound. My question is: would I ...
Read more
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Q Hi, I am considering purchasing a Left Handed pre-wired pickguard as there seems to be a lot of i...... Read moreA
Hey Rod, I would account for at least +3/4" (~19mm) of space from the top of the instrument to the bottom of the cavity to accomodate for the pickup, baseplate, and leads. Our Single-ply White pickguard is 8 holes.
AHey Rod, I would account for at least +3/4" (~19mm) of space from the top of the instrument to the bottom of the cavity to accommodate for the pickup, baseplate, and leads. Our Single-ply White pickguard is 8 holes.
Is the middle pickup automatically wound reverse polarity in order to make positions 2 & 4 hum cancelling or do I need to specify this? Thank you
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Q Is the middle pickup automatically wound reverse polarity in order to make positions 2 & 4 hu...... Read moreA
Hey Randall, our middle pickups are always RW / RP unless specifically asked for.
Can you wire a pickguard supplied by the customer?
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Q Can you wire a pickguard supplied by the customer?A
Hey Charles, we do not really like to perform these types of transactions. Instead, order any 3-ply pickguard (no upcharge) and simply transfer everything over when you get the pickguard.
The truss rod on my stratocaster has heal access. The existing pickguard allows for this without removal. Can I send you my existing pickguard to load? If so what is the process and where do I send it. Thank you!
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Q The truss rod on my stratocaster has heal access. The existing pickguard allows for this without ...... Read moreA
Hey Randall, yes, we can accomodate this request. To do this, order a pickguard at full price (don't select any of the pearloid pickguards, as there's an upcharge). Use the "order notes" field on the checkout screen to let us know you'll be sending in your pickguard to load.
Does the pre-loaded Stratocaster pickguard come with the 5 way selector switch installed? Volume and tone knobs are “add ons”? Do you recommend the bridge base plate for the blues specials set? Thanks John
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Q Does the pre-loaded Stratocaster pickguard come with the 5 way selector switch installed? Volume ...... Read moreA
Hey John, Yes, the selector switch and the standard pots are all included in the price. The only add ons are changing the standard pots to Push-Pull pots, or, adding additional functionality to the pot like our Volume Kit, for example.
Good morning. I have a Squire Affinity Stratocaster that for all intents and purposes is a nice guitar…except for the thin sound it produces. I would like to install a pre wired pick guard with Steel Pole 42’s in all positions. Will your product install directly into the Squire? Thanks for your time and consideration.
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Q Good morning. I have a Squire Affinity Stratocaster that for all intents and purposes is a nice g...... Read moreA
Hey Geoff, yes - make sure you count the pickguard mounting holes and note that the holes might not match up 100%, leaving you to drill some pilot holes. That said, everything else should fit nicely!
Would it be possible to get an 8-hole prewired pickguard?
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Q Would it be possible to get an 8-hole prewired pickguard?A
Hey Kyle, yes - Single Ply White and Single Ply Black are both 8-Hole Pickguards.
How long will my Pickguard take?
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Q How long will my Pickguard take?A It depends on the capacity of the shop at the time of ordering. Most Pickguards take approximately 2-3 weeks on average.
Can you wire it up without the Pickguard?
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Q Can you wire it up without the Pickguard?A As it turns out, No. You can transfer all the wiring once you receive it. It’s time-consuming and unsafe to ship it without a pickguard.
Can I return my Pickguard?
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Q Can I return my Pickguard?A No. Since these are custom and made to order, all pickguard sales are final. Returns and exchanges are not available.
What if I don’t see exactly what I want?
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Q What if I don’t see exactly what I want?A Use the “Notes” field on the checkout screen to type in any special requests – we’ll try our best to accommodate you. Not all custom wiring options are possible.
Why don’t I see Ground Jumper wires between all my parts?
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Q Why don’t I see Ground Jumper wires between all my parts?A Our pickguards have metal shielding that connects the metal parts together – we don’t need to use jumper wires.
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Hey! Did you already ask a question on our Contact Us Form? Don't ask it again here. Please be patient while we get back to you.
FEATURED REVIEWS
Reviews we worked hard for, and are proud of.
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"Great pickups, better customer service! These pickups sound absolutely amazing. The pickguard was wired better than I could have asked, but let’s face it, we know that already. I had a minor issue with the pickguard, they quickly replaced it for me and were incredibly easy to deal with. Unrelated, their T-shirt’s are incredibly comfortable!"
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"Just dropped a pre-wired into my old Strat Plus, which never really sounded the way I wanted with the the Lace Sensors. I knew as soon I opened the box that this was the real deal - the craftsmanship is obvious and everything just feels well constructed. I've never soldered before in my life, but watched the instructional video a few (dozen) times and got to work. I went with Vintage Hots in the neck and bridge and a Real '54 in the middle. It's brilliant. Every position is unique, useable and singular -- the guitar feels more versatile, more responsive, more playable. Could not be happier."
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"Great tone and simple plug and play Even though I could do all of the soldering and assembly myself, I am very happy to pay someone else to do it for me. My time is precious and it saved me a bunch. The quality of the work was fantastic. Also introduced me to a blend pot on a strat which I never would've thought to do myself. By the way, the steel pole 42 in the bridge is a revelation of awesomeness. Bravo!"
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"Easiest Upgrade ever! This is my 3rd purchase of Fralin Pickups. Tele/ Blues Specials...Epi 339/ Pure PAFs and now your Prewired Strat Pickguard with Vintage Hots and Blender Pot. The whole operation took less than a 1/2 hour and took my MIM Strat to another level.Clean Bell-like tones with plenty of articulation at every setting. And with the Blender Pot the Tone Settings are infinite. I've been spoiled....but I'm loving every minute of it."
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"I have several boutique Strats and Strat-style guitars, most of them with rail/hum-cancelling pickups that I've used for years. I've loved them and the tone, but needed something different. I've read about Fralin's for years and thought I'd give them a try. I ordered the pre-wired pickguard with the Vintage Hot in the neck, Real '54 in the middle, and Blues Special in the bridge. Also, the Volume Kit and the Magic cap for the bridge position. I was surprised when I got a call from Tyler asking questions to make sure he wired it just the way I wanted it and offering suggestions...nice! When I got this everything was wired beautifully. 30 minutes to get it in. Another 10 to set it up and get the height just right and...my LORD! The TONE!!! My guitar came alive! Nuances and richness I hadn't heard in years. And...no spike...chime, but not harsh. Surprisingly, for single coils, they are pretty quiet, as well...I won't say there isn't some hum...but nothing like other single coils I've played in the past. These pickups are amazing. PERIOD. I'm configuring the layout for my next set for another one of my guitars as I write this."
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
186 Genuine Reviews for Prewired Strat Pickguard
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NOTES ON COLOR:
- Please note that while we strive to provide the most accurate color representation possible, different computer monitors, manufacturer dye lots, and other circumstances may prevent the color from matching perfectly.
- Since we cannot guarantee color matching, we cannot provide a return to you if you are unhappy with the color matching of our Prewired Strat Pickguard.
HARNESSES:
- Our parts and wire lengths are designed to work seamlessly with our Prewired Strat Pickguard. Due to various guitar and instrument designs, we cannot guarantee that our parts will fit properly, and due to this, we do not offer Wiring Harnesses.
Excellent Pickups
I put these in a 1990 MIJ ST54 just great sounding pickups, the guitar came to life, they have the classic strat sound, no brittle sound, just the right amount of bite, and smoothness, they overdrive heavenly, I love these pickups !! Great customer service, and communication, if anyone reads this and their thinking about a new set of pickups, I promise you this is the place, I’m so glad I made this purchase
Good, but would do things differently next time
Overall, I like the tone of the pickups at full volume. They came nicely packages and within a reasonable time considering COVID. They have nice vintage tone, somewhat similar to the Fat50 Custom shop pickups, albeit with a different midrange. I was a bit disappointed that the guard did not come cut for the truss rod adjustment of the Elite Strat. At this point, adjustment wheels are quite common. When I emailed asking the best way to cut out the space, I received a disappointing, “I don’t know” as reply. If I order again, I would NOT get the treble bleed option. The tone [at lower volumes] is overly bright. It acts much like my Deluxe Reverb in that at lower volumes, the treble boost causes the amp to be too bright. Not until you get to 5-7 does the real range of the amp come through. Same for Fralin’s treble bleed. The guitar takes on a completely different tone as the volume is turned up. The best treble bleed I’ve played was with GregKoch’s signature Fishman pickups. The circuit there is very balanced. The guitar tone is the same regardless of the volume position. Unfortunately, it’s simply not the case here. The loaded pickguard option is a nice one. Overall, I would buy another but omit the treble bleed. Advice to the fine folks at Fralin – add an option for truss rod adjustment wheel cutouts.
Loaded Pickguard with Real ‘54’s
As you could imagine these came and sounded just as incredible as one would hope… even better actually. I had to call the store and thank them and then immediately order another. Couldn’t be happier!!! Incredible quality and worth every penny
Mmmmhmm. I bought a set of Vintage Hots for my best Strat, I and love them. There is an online video of Lindy playing Vintage Hots, and he is playing the part of “Third Stone from the Sun” –that is exactly the sound I wanted when I bought these pickups, and it is the sound I got. Totally satisfied.
Vintage hot pickups are just what I was looking for!
These pickups have made my Strat (50th Anniversary Am Dlx) finally sound like a Strat! The SCN originals that came in the guitar were sterile as hell. The pre-wired guard is shielded very well. Barely any hum whatsoever. Very impressed. The ‘bell-like tone’ I get through my DRRI is sublime, and the ‘quack’ on positions 2 and 4 is perfect. Love these pickups and they’ve made me start playing again after several years of barely picking up the guitar.
Mmmmhmm.
I bought a set of Vintage Hots for my best Strat, I and love them. There is an online video of Lindy playing Vintage Hots, and he is playing part of “Third Stone from the Sun” –that is exactly the sound I wanted when I bought these pickups, and it is the sound I got. Totally satisfied.
Swamp ash body, chunky one-piece maple neck, Fralins vintage hot, or 54’s….hard to beat that… Thanks a lot.
Great product
I’ve purchased two of these. One with Real 54s in the neck and middle with a Vintage Hot in the bridge and another with Blues Specials in all three positions. I also added the steel baseplate in both bridge pickups along with volume kits and push pulls for the master tone and blender pots. Both sets sound fantastic and different enough in character to easily justify buying both. With proper shielding, they have very little hum but provide incredible single-coil tones. Customer service was great too, Lindey himself called me in reference to both orders to make sure they had it the way I wanted. First-rate service and the best tones available! Will definitely buy pickups from them again.
I recently built a hardtail Strat and purchased my first Fralin Prewired Pickguard, with Vintage Hots in the neck and middle and a Blues Special in the bridge, along with a Blender Pot option. My entire experience from using the website to configure the pickguard with options to the delivery was top notch. The pickups sound truly incredible. Glassy, articulate, punchy, clarity … are words that come to mind. I was going after a build of Nile Rodgers “Hitmaker” and would like to say it’s right there. And how have I lived without a Blender Pot? The option to add in or take away the neck and bridge pups on demand makes my new build completely versatile. Thank you Lindy and team for a great experience and such a high quality product.
Fralin Pickups — so good…
This is the third loaded pickguard I’ve purchased from Fralin in the past five months. I have the Real 54s, Blues Specials, and now the Vintage Hots — making three pretty good guitars great. And now it’s hard to decide which to play. Wanting something a little more straightforward, I actually replaced the multi-dimensional S1 switching on an American Deluxe with the pure Fralin goodness of the Blues Specials. But the MIM Pearl Seafoam with the Real 54s quickly became my favorite guitar. And now I’m torn — because the Torino Red American Standard with the Vintage Hots and the mint pickguard is in a class all its own. I am no luthier and was a little reluctant to do the work myself (really just soldering — though I copper shielded the Torino) but after calling Fralin about the extra tone caps I received I really came away knowing this was going to be straight forward, fun, and rewarding. Looking forward to actually doing the wiring myself next time. Thank you Mr. Fralin!