How to fill in ex-pickup holes

[.50 Caliber Bob]

I agree with everyone that has said either put a scratchplate on, or dummy pick ups, but having read the original message, I am thinking that dummy pickups will not be helpfull...

The message starts:

I have ripped out the "S" and "H" of my HSH ibanez - I only ever use the bridge pickup anyway

So he didn't buy the guitar with no pickups in it, he had the original pickups in their, then pulled them out, which makes me think that he wouldnt go to all that trouble, only to buy some other pick ups just to fill the holes...

I vote for the scratchplate idea...

(Though obviously having 3 pickups would be my choice, but I think the threadstarter doesnt want this option...)

[Mr Ed]

Haha god yeah, I completely missed that. :D

but if in doubt the pickguard could be fixed with something other than screws as long as its designed so you dont need to get under it regularly.  stew-mac sell pickguard adhesive sheets for acoustics but  there is no reason it couldnt be used on an electric

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Pickguards/Pickguard_adhesive.html

Good shiz. *thumbs up*

[Roobubba]

Wow!

Thank you all for the replies!

I still have the pickups I took out. They're Ibanez INF2s, so I could put those back in...

Not too keen on the scratchplate idea - purely from a cosmetic point of view, I just don't particularly like them. It's clear from everyone's comments that those two options are cosmetically the best to do. I don't think I'd like to attempt filling the holes if it's going to be visible anyway without a complete re-spray (and no guarantee that it will be completely fixed then, either!)

I very much doubt I'll be undoing this pickup-removal myself, but if for any reason I do decide to sell, I can always put them back, I suppose.

One option might be getting some scratchplate-type plastic and cutting it to just sit over the current holes (ie a rectangular bit). I can then use the pup screw-holes to fix it, and get the best of both worlds...


Thanks again for all the responses!

Oooh, just got a phone call, we have a gig tomorrow night! Might try to sort out something for that :)

Roo

[Mr Ed]

Yeah, maybe a pair of blanking plates or something to use the existing holes. I'm sure I've seen them for sale somewhere...

[Adam.M]

Just put the old ones in, but take out the magnet bars first, thus they won't increase string pull and thus wont effect sustain or tone.

[Kilby]

It would be a great excuse to install a sustainer in the guitar.

If it had been routed in a bathtub style you could have just taped the battery & electronics in place ;)