Couple of Options...

1) Buy the Custom Gilmour Style Black Strat Complete Pickguard from http://stratcat.biz/4035.shtml for $365

2) Buy all the parts individually and make in myself for about $325

3) Have the guitar tech at my local shop get the parts and put it all together for.... still waiting on a quote...

Any thoughts?

Option #3 will surely cost you the most and the quality of the work MAY be sub-par. Further, who knows how long it will take for the tech to accumulate all the parts and then gets around to doing it? And don't forget that the guitar will ultimately be out of your possession for who knows how long as well? Frankly, I'd rule this option is out.

You are now left with a +/- difference of $40. So, this leaves one compound question:
Is it worth the extra $40 both time and expertise wise for the $40 expense of Option #1 or can you do it quickly and efficiently per Option #2 where the extra $40 spent would clearly be a waste?

_________________
You dig?

I guess you haven´t thought of this yet:

Chris Klein S-8 Stratocaster Pickup Set: The Tone of this stratocaster pickup set is modeled after the Fender Black Stratocaster, the one we have here at the shop.



We began this set by reverse engineering another Trio of pickups. We use this set in our Black Strat. The neck is wound with 42ga Heavy Formvar magnet wire, vintage staggered Alnico 5 magnets, and scatter wound. Middle is a special over wound late 60's pickup, Alnico 5 staggered & the more expensive 42ga Plain Enamel magnet wire. The bridge is an Alnico 2 staggered, poly over wound pickup and it is powerful. Wax potted to avoid unwanted microphonics.
Output: Neck 5.55k, Middle, 6.15k, Bridge 12.05k.

All Pickups Hand Scatter wound for the best tonal response!

http://www.kleinpickups.com/p-105-s-8-stratocaster-set.aspx

Thanks y'all