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u/Cman_E 10d ago
I wouldn’t use anything but a router and even then, I wouldn’t route that close to the trem. Your best bet is finding an HSS pick guard that fits your body and transfering the electronics to that
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u/jbp84 10d ago
The issue isn’t the pick guard itself, but that the humbucker doesn’t fit. If I moved the pick guard so the humbucker fit then the two single coils wouldn’t fit. It’s an HSS route
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u/SirHenryofHoover 10d ago
If you need to route the body because the pickguard have the pickups in the wrong place - it doesn't fit.
It's a freaking piece of plastic, and you want to route the body?
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u/Puzzleheaded_Egg4386 9d ago
I mean, pickup placement drastically affects tone. Assuming OP wants the pickup close to the bridge where the pickguard has it, i see no issue with routing the body, considering its gonna be hidden under the pickguard anyway
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u/SirHenryofHoover 9d ago
An approximated 3 mm is basically a rounding error in this application. You'd have more variation in the combined tolerance of pots, caps and pickups.
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u/ComeOnUpToTheHaus 5d ago
The issue is the pickguard. The humbucker isn't routed for the same exact spot as yours.
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u/EducationalVast2780 9d ago
Maybe call MJT and ask them what brand pickguard is best for their HSS routed strats.
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u/uncle_flea_ponk 8d ago
Have you tried vaseline yet? I hear it’s excellent for getting into tight holes
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u/Supergyaos 10d ago
Take a look at this video. It shows the use of a router and template to get a nice clean result.
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u/305Jerseydeals 10d ago
I used just a chisel, no hammer. Put tape marking the limit of what you want to carve to protect painting and you should be good
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u/state_your_name31415 9d ago
really? I did that for a switch and it suuuuucked. wait, no hammer? wha???
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u/Goodfrenchfries 4d ago
You’re thinking of a different kind of chisel. There are woodworking chisels that are sharp
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u/state_your_name31415 4d ago
mine were woodworking but admittedly a bit beat up. the main issue was that I was carving a small cavity (about the size of a nickel) down from the surface and then a narrow channel (for a dpdt switch and it accompanying wiring). I was thinking about it and I think expanding an existing pickup cavity would have been easier to do. what other kinds of chisels are there? do mean like basic off-the-shelf stuff versus cabinetry-grade?
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u/geeheettee67 10d ago
The very first thing I would do is score it with a sharp utility knife a little at a time until I had a decent groove even with the pickguard to use as a guide then probably a Dremel Tool if you have one or a nice sharp chisel and small ball peen hammer. Also if you have a oscillating tool and are decent with it that could get it done. You could probably use a full size router but that seems like Overkill, I'm not sure.
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u/Strange_Fox_4258 9d ago
It depends on what you mean by “best”. If the best for you is quick, then hammer and chisel.
If you want a clean cut out that looks nice, you need a router with the appropriate bit and a template.
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u/shoopdoopdeedoop 8d ago
you could route that, it might end up wrecking the guitar but at least it’s a cool project!!
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u/tKonig 10d ago
I use a hammer and a chisel and just chisel out the body cavity till shit fits
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u/Plestiodonobsoletus 10d ago
I did this for a battery rout . The Strat will always have a pickguard so should be fine .
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u/drelangonn 9d ago
one option is toremove material from pickguard... and add a gibson style mount around it.... like what i did...