OK I am crispy new. Can anyone direct me on proper installation of the SD SSL 5. I am wondering why the cover sits on top of the wires and how that gets fastened together to the pick guard.
I am customizing my Lotus Strat copy to the David Gilmour black strat set up. Another problem I ran into was the Lotus pick guard holes are slightly too short for the SD SSL 5 cover. Should I cut it away a little, or start with a new Fender pick guard.
I really wanted to avoid removing my tone knobs and re copper shielding another pick guard.

Welcome.

I hate to say this but you are going to have problems galore with what you are planning.

In no particular order:

- The Duncan pickup will not fit in the Lotus pickup hole (as you've already found out).
- An outright Fender pickguard will not properly retrofit a Lotus pickguard and don't forget, with a Fender pickguard, the Lotus pickups will not fit in it properly where this is just the beginning of mismatched component dimensions.
- Even if you widened the Lotus pickguard pickup hole for the Duncan, the screw holes in the Lotus pickguard for raising and lowering the pickup are too close together to to accommodate the Duncan as well. In other words, the bass side has to be widened to the left and the treble side to the right, proportionately the same as what would need to be done to the pickup hole itself. Further, if this isn't done evenly, the polepieces of the Duncan will not be at optimum seating under the strings as to begin with, the polepieces of the Duncan are too wide for the Lotus bridge string spread.
- The Duncan is out of phase with the Lotus pickups and therefore, the Duncan will have to be wired backwards.

Shall I go on?

If I'm interpreting your last sentence correctly, removing the tone knobs are child's play compared to what is in store for your per any and all of the above.

As to having to shield a Fender pickguard, anything more than what one comes with OEM is a complete waste of time and money.

I'm not trying to bum you out here nor in any way, shape or form be sarcastic. I'm merely pointing out the facts.

_________________
You dig?

Well sounds as though I am going to have to go with a fender pick guard and bridge to make this work then. I am removing all the Lotus pick ups and replacing them with Fender Custom Shop Fat 50, 69, and the Duncan. The Lotus pick ups are discarded. I just wanted to do this with current pick guard.