Before This Pickguard Reaches the Laser, There's One Check We Need to Make

Every pickguard that leaves our shop starts as a digital outline. The laser will cut exactly what that file tells it to — which means the file has to be right before we ever turn the machine on.

That is why every order goes through one check we never skip.

The check: does the outline match the real guitar?

Before cutting, we verify the template against the actual measurements of the guitar it is meant for. Not the model name on a listing — the real dimensions:

• Overall outline — length, width, and the shape of every horn and curve.
• Screw hole positions — even a millimeter off and the guard will not sit flat.
• Pickup and control routes — matched to your exact pickup layout, not a generic one.
• Neck pocket fit — the guard has to meet the neck cleanly, with no gap and no overlap.

Why "close enough" is not good enough

A pickguard that is almost right is worse than no pickguard at all. Holes that do not line up mean drilling into your guitar's finish. A route that is a little tight means forcing a pickup into place. We have seen the results of guards cut from unverified files, and we never want a customer to go through that.

How we verify it

We work from verified factory templates for common models — Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, and more. For anything unusual, we trace the original part or work from measurements you send us, then confirm the outline before cutting. If anything looks off, we stop and ask you first.

Only when the outline checks out does the material go on the laser bed.

What this means when you order

When you design a pickguard with us, you are not just picking a color or uploading art. You are getting a guard that has been measured, checked, and approved before a single cut is made — so when it arrives, it drops into place the way it should.

Ready to start? Choose your model in the configurator and we will handle the rest.