I have a "SQ54259 fender japan" quitar. It has seen better days and one of the pickups was broken, so I decided to fix it up.

The problem is, the pickguard screwholes are all countersunk, so the fender brand pups and switch I bought don't come with the right hardware. Even worse, the fender brand pots I bought don't fit in the holes where the old pots fit.

Where do I find the right hardware for my guitar?

Should I just buy a new pickguard?

Thanks!

If I am not mistaken the SQ guitars are the 70's style guitars with the three bolt neck and the big headstock? If so, I also believe that the pickguards on those are different and only unique to that particular stratocaster. Like the screw holes from an American (or any other standard 11 hole stratocaster) will not line up with the screw holes on the body.

I'm not sure if this is "big" headstock or not, but it his has a 3-bolt neck. So you're sayin' I might have even more trouble finding the right parts?

Here's the current plan, then: I'll bring my pickguard in to the shop and see if they have any with screwholes that line up and bigger potentiometer holes. I'll then put together the new hardware on the new pickguard (if I find one), then take my time and restore the old hardware on the old pickguard.

Thanks for your help!

Well...

Only one screw hole doesn't line up with the newer pickguards, so I just bought one and I can leave the screw out but still play while I fix up my old hardware. With everything mounted to the new pickguard, I checked the fit which was ok. Then, before I began soldering, I broke out the trusty old multimeter to measure whatever I could.

One of the three pickups that came in my Fender pickup kit has no continuity. This project is beginning to get obnoxiously difficult!

I've left a message with the retailer...