fender stratocaster scratchplate buying guide

If you're replacing a worn or cracked fender stratocaster scratchplate, or changing the look or pickup layout, the right part depends on three things: whether it fits your pickups and control cavity, which material and thickness you want, and whether you need a ready-to-ship part or a made-to-order one. This guide helps you sort those out before you buy.

Short answer

For most players with a standard Strat layout, a Fender-branded replacement from Amazon is the simplest route. The Fender Vintage-Style Pickguard suits owners who want a familiar, factory-style part. If you own a '62-style Strat and want a metal pickguard, the Fender Aluminum Pickguard Shield for '62 Stratocaster is the alternative. If your layout is unusual, such as HSH humbuckers, stock parts may not fit, so look at custom makers instead.

How we researched

We reviewed the top ten Google results for this query, which included a Fender page, custom pickguard makers and marketplace listings. We read the maker pages for fit notes, materials and production details, and we checked two current Amazon listings for star ratings, review counts and price tiers. This guide compares products using manufacturer specifications, current Amazon listings and owner reviews; we did not test them hands-on.

Buying criteria and how we chose

We weighted the criteria in this order:

1. Fit: pickup configuration, mounting holes and control cavity. A scratchplate that does not match your pickups is useless, whatever it looks like.
2. Material and layers: solid colour, 3-ply, pearloid, aluminum or acrylic, plus thickness where the maker lists it.
3. Turnaround: off-the-shelf versus made to order.
4. Amazon rating and price tier, as listed.

The evidence we used is the maker and Fender pages in the search results and the two Amazon listings. We did not claim any hands-on use. We will update this guide when products or prices change.

At-a-glance comparison

Fender Vintage-Style Pickguard

This fits owners of standard Strat-layout guitars who want a brand-matched replacement. The Fender Vintage-Style Pickguard is listed on Amazon at 4.3 stars from 62 ratings, in the under $100 tier. The site may earn a commission on purchases made through our links, and the price does not change for you.

On fit, the listing gives you a familiar layout, but the sample is small at 62 ratings, so treat the rating as a modest signal. Our sources do not list its layers, thickness or mounting holes. Before buying, compare the holes with your existing pickguard and your pickup and control arrangement. If you want pre-wired options from Fender itself, Fender's pre-wired pickguards collection lists them, though we did not find specifications for them in the excerpt we reviewed.

Drawback: you cannot confirm material or layer count from the listing alone.

Fender Aluminum Pickguard Shield for '62 Stratocaster

This suits owners of a '62-style Strat who want a metal pickguard. The Fender Aluminum Pickguard Shield for '62 Stratocaster is listed at 4.4 stars from 61 ratings on Amazon, in the under $100 tier.

The title ties it to a specific model year layout, which makes fit the first check. If your guitar is not a '62-style layout, the listing name suggests it may not line up, so measure the mounting holes before you order. The title says 'shield', but we did not find details on what shielding it provides, so do not assume more than the listing states.

Drawback: the rating sample is small, and the material and thickness are not listed in our sources.

Custom and specialty scratchplates

Custom makers cover the layouts that stock parts miss. Greasy Groove's HSH pages cover humbuckers with covers or open coils and 2- or 3-hole mounts, and the site points to a 'Will it fit' PDF to match your humbucker. Guitarfetish lists many single-coil, humbucker and HSS or SSS variants labeled as fitting Strat guitars, in many colours.

Terrapin Guitars makes its pickguards to order. Its page lists thickness options of 1.5mm, 2.3mm and 3.2mm, plus 3-ply, 4-ply and acrylic finishes. It asks you to print the template at 100% scale and check the inch or centimetre marker before ordering. It also states that it does not guarantee template accuracy, since model changes and production years can affect fit. Production typically takes 2-3 weeks.

Drawback: you wait longer, and the fit check falls on you.

How to choose

• If your guitar has a standard Strat layout and you want a brand-matched part, choose the Fender Vintage-Style Pickguard.
• If you own a '62-style Strat and want a metal part, choose the Fender Aluminum Pickguard Shield, after checking the holes against your guitar.
• If you run HSH humbuckers or need unusual layers, go custom, plan for the 2-3 week wait, and print the template first.
• If you are shopping for a bass rather than a Strat, see our Best Beginner Electric Bass Guitar: Picks by Budget guide.

Skip the stock options if your pickups are not a standard Strat setup. Buying a part without measuring is the most common way to end up with a scratchplate that does not sit right.

FAQ

Do I need to measure before I order?

Yes. Terrapin Guitars asks buyers to print its template at 100% scale and check the marker, and it notes that model changes and production years can affect fit. Measure your existing scratchplate and pickups even when a listing says it fits.

Is a custom scratchplate worth it?

Only if a stock part cannot match your pickup layout or finish. Custom parts take longer, typically 2-3 weeks at Terrapin Guitars.

Can I tell the material from the title alone?

Not reliably. Custom makers list materials such as solid colour, 3-ply, pearloid and acrylic. The Amazon listings we checked do not give layer or thickness details, so confirm those with the seller before buying.

Conclusion

Start with fit, then material, then turnaround. For a standard Strat, a Fender-branded part from Amazon is the easiest buy, and for a '62-style guitar the aluminum shield is the other option. For unusual pickup layouts, a custom maker is the safer route, as long as you check the template and allow time for production.

Sources

• Pre-Wired Pickguards from Fender
• Fender Strat Style Pickguard from Terrapin Guitars
• Strat HSH Custom Pickguards from Greasy Groove
• Pickguards from Guitarfetish