I just purchased a Blacktop Strat, Candy Apply Red, maple neck/fretboard, from Musicians Friend online, and when I received it, it had a mint colored pickguard on it.

Is this the correct pickguard color for this model? Every picture I've seen online would indicate that it should be a white pickguard.

Overall it is a beautiful guitar, but I don't like the mint pickguard. Just wondering if this is the correct color pickguard, or if it somehow has the wrong color.

It could very well be correct. I don't know about that particular colour but my Squier 60's strat is candy apple red with a mint pickguard. However all photos of it online make the pickguard look white.

It seems that the mint colour is difficult to highlight on a photo.

I'm sure someone on here will have owned one or seen one for real themselves and can give you a definite answer!

The photos on the Fender product page show a mint pickguard.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Thanks for the replies.

I now believe it's supposed to mint colored. I went to Ebay and looked at pickguards for sale and the light colored pickguards that were labeled as "Blacktop" were all described as mint in color (not to be confused with mint condition...).

I'm on the fence on whether I like this mint color or not. Initially I had in mind that it was going to be white, but maybe the mint will grow on me. I think a black pickguard against the red strat body might look nice too.

It seems to me like the red on this Blacktop is slightly darker than some of the other red strat style guitars I've seen, and I like this Blacktop red.

Aside from looks, this Blacktop has a nice humbucker tone. Not quite Les Paul, but nicer than my MIM HSS. I guess it all depends on the tone you're looking for... I love the 22 frets on the Blacktop too, at a MIM price.

Black pickguard on a red body looks great. Kind of a Gibson SG vibe but I personally prefer black to white and mint as well. Other options are tortoise shell or pearl pickguards as well.

Did you see the Guitar Builder link on the Fender site? You can actually play around with body colors, pickguard colors, accessories and all kinds of stuff. It's super cool and would be a great way to picture what you want.

http://www.fender.com/community/guitarbuilder/

I say stick with the mint for a while. My personal tastes aside (mint is my absolute FAVORITE color on a pickgaurd, its so unique no matter what color it contrasts with), its never a good idea to write something off immediately. You may find that it does grow on you, and it may not. Its not like there is a rule that says, "after owning an instrument for two weeks, you MAY NOT change the pickgaurd" . Give it a bit and see how you feel in a few weeks. If you still dont like then go for white or black or red or purple or brown, hell its your guitar.

P.S., I'm really curious to see how that looks, so PICS PLEASE!!!

P.S.S, this is YOUR guitar, so take our advice into account but remember, we make suggestions and YOU make decisions.

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I have a 2005 American Series Strat with a mint pickguardon a candy apple red body. Has a nice vintage look to it.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III