Yep, I'm not thinking there is too many collectors out there that want to "customize" their pre-CBS strat with a $5000 pickguard.....or happen to own a $35000 Strat that is randomly "missing" it's pickguard.
Either way....once an original component is off the guitar and missing, it's no longer "original" in my eyes. Even if you replace it with period-perfect parts, there is more to a $35000 guitar than the sum of it's expensive parts......you're ideally buying a piece of the instrument's "history."
Hard to trust dealers, honestly.....a true "closet classic" is obvious when they show up....some old lady pulls an untouched tele out from under her son's old bedroom etc....THAT's when you know it's never been messed with.
Dealers are saavy to the fraud out there too. The more expensive the guitar the more insane they get about the details. Seriously.....Les Paul geeks are the ultimate example. Some of the world's top experts can tell you the difference on a wood screw's lip bevel, on a '59 Les Paul compared to a modern replacement etc.....I'm not even kidding.
I guess if I was protecting a quarter million dollar investment, I'd want that kind of eye checking it out too-------but that's just insane, right? !!
