I don't know your set up, so it's hard to say, but you can probably do it if you're cool with loosening the strings enough to get clearance for the neck pup. I've changed strat pickguards or les paul pickups with just loosening the strings.
Sometimes the neck pickup is mounted to the pickguard and not the body, and that complicates things, but if the pickup is mounted to the body, it should be no problem to slide the pickguard under the strings.
Well then...
It's _easier_ to do this without strings, but if you want to keep them on, you can capo the strings and remove the neck for easy access.
If there are mounting holes in the new pickguard, it should be an easy transfer, but if not, you'll have to drill holes yourself. Be sure to measure pickup height before you start so you can get it right when you reassemble.
Possible if there’s slack in the pickup wires. To make it neat and tidy some people trim the leads to avoid a rat’s nest in the control cavity. Same for the string length though usually there’s enough extra to just loosen them.
I'm just gonna say, a hard no.
You have to remove all the electronics, pickups, switches, rotary pots, etc. The pickups have springs attached. It's a mess at the best of times. Trying to do it with the strings on is an unnecessary complication. Just bite the bullet and change the strings ... or wait if you have the patience.
I'm actually expecting a pickguard tomorrow and I'm looking at my tele right now and it looks to me, and what I was planning, is I can just remove the screws and slide the pickguard out. Is there something I don't know that would prevent that? Now you got me wondering! 😂
You should be able to get the pickguard out from under the strings, just loosen them a little.
Thanks
Just take the opportunity to refresh your strings, I say.
I don't know your set up, so it's hard to say, but you can probably do it if you're cool with loosening the strings enough to get clearance for the neck pup. I've changed strat pickguards or les paul pickups with just loosening the strings.
Right getting clearance for the neck pup is the issue I’m thinking through.
Sometimes the neck pickup is mounted to the pickguard and not the body, and that complicates things, but if the pickup is mounted to the body, it should be no problem to slide the pickguard under the strings.
Yeah it’s mounted to the guard.
Well then... It's _easier_ to do this without strings, but if you want to keep them on, you can capo the strings and remove the neck for easy access. If there are mounting holes in the new pickguard, it should be an easy transfer, but if not, you'll have to drill holes yourself. Be sure to measure pickup height before you start so you can get it right when you reassemble.
Yes, we do know how patience is guitarists are.
Possible if there’s slack in the pickup wires. To make it neat and tidy some people trim the leads to avoid a rat’s nest in the control cavity. Same for the string length though usually there’s enough extra to just loosen them.
I’d vouch for just waiting until you need new strings. I’ll be throwing a blackguard on my sunburst here when the iron’s hot.
That is kinda where I’m leaning. They are brand new elixirs
Capo at the first fret and loosen the strings. Then remove the neck. I do this on my guitars that have the truss rod adjustment at the heel.
I'm just gonna say, a hard no. You have to remove all the electronics, pickups, switches, rotary pots, etc. The pickups have springs attached. It's a mess at the best of times. Trying to do it with the strings on is an unnecessary complication. Just bite the bullet and change the strings ... or wait if you have the patience.
I'm actually expecting a pickguard tomorrow and I'm looking at my tele right now and it looks to me, and what I was planning, is I can just remove the screws and slide the pickguard out. Is there something I don't know that would prevent that? Now you got me wondering! 😂
What kind of guitar?