FAQ's

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm (UK time)

No – we are a mail-order only business. However, if you need a guitar setup we can recommend local luthiers in your area – just contact us.

Yes, we ship internationally. Delivery costs and times vary by location, and options are shown at checkout but also can be seen in the next question below.

Our shipping rates depend on your region and the service you select. Please see the the details - shipping rate table

Everything ships directly from our UK warehouse. We personally see and inspect every part before it leaves, and we ship the same day for orders placed before 2.30pm (excluding made-to-order items such as pickguards or handmade pickups).

Royal Mail First Class usually arrives next working day, while Tracked 24 and courier options are also available. Orders placed before 2.30pm are dispatched the same day.

Royal Mail First Class Delivery is not a fully trackable service. Tracking information only becomes available once a delivery attempt has been made, at which point Royal Mail will usually provide GPS coordinates and often a photo as proof of delivery.

If you check your tracking and see the message “An update will only be provided when we attempt to deliver your item,” this means your order is still in Royal Mail’s system and on its way to you, but the local postman has not yet attempted delivery.

Please note, this only applies to Royal Mail First Class. If you select Tracked 24, Special Delivery, or APC at checkout, these are fully trackable services.

Custom orders are made to your specification and are non-returnable unless faulty. Standard, non-custom items can be returned within 30 days.

Yes - we can make custom pickguards in-house. If your model isn’t listed, we can work from a PDF template or a tracing of your original guard. More details about this can be seen on our blog post -Crafting The Perfect Pickguard.

Yes – any pickguard you see on our site can be made left-handed at no extra charge. Just place your order as normal and then email us at sales@armstrongmusic.co.uk to let us know you need it left-handed.

Yes – for pickguards that hold controls (volume/tone pots or a switch), we shield the back using copper screening foil around the control area. This helps reduce unwanted hum and interference.

Examples:

• Replacement pickguards for Fender Strat or Precision Bass usually have shielding.
• Tele and Jazz Bass replacement pickguards typically do not, since they don’t carry controls on the guard.

We sell copper shielding foil with self-adhesive backing if you want to add or improve shielding yourself:
Copper Shielding Foil with Self-Adhesive Backing

CTS 550k pots are selected to guarantee they meet or exceed 500k within tolerance. This ensures consistent tone and brightness compared to standard 500k pots. The same applies to the CTS 275k pots - they ensure that they meet or exceed the expected tolerance where so many 250k or 500k rated pots typically test under these stated values (20% tolerance).

Pots (potentiometers) control volume or tone in your guitar, and the taper determines how the resistance changes as you turn the knob:

• Audio taper (log) pots – the resistance changes logarithmically, which means your ear perceives a smooth, natural increase in volume or tone as you turn the knob. Most guitarists prefer audio taper pots for both volume and tone controls because they feel more responsive and musical.
• Linear pots – the resistance changes evenly across the rotation. Some players prefer linear pots for tone controls when they want a steady, predictable change, but they are less common for volume knobs because the perceived change can feel abrupt.

In short – audio taper is generally best for both volume and tone, but linear can be useful on tone if you prefer a precise, even adjustment.

Short answer - yes, shielding can help. If you use single-coil pickups or you’re hearing buzzing/whine from radios, lights, or pedals, adding copper shielding foil around the electronics reduces that unwanted noise and makes your guitar quieter.

Why it works - simple:

• Shielding creates a metal “box” (a Faraday cage) around the pickup wiring and pots.
• That metal box intercepts radio-frequency (RF) interference and mains hum, then diverts it to ground so it doesn’t get into your signal.
• The result is less background noise and a cleaner tone.

Quick how-to (basic, non-technical steps)

1. Clean the cavity so the foil will stick.
2. Lay the copper shielding foil with overlaps on seams - make sure pieces overlap so there are no gaps.
3. Ensure electrical continuity - all the foil should be touching so it forms one continuous metal surface.
4. Solder a short wire from the foil to a ground point (for example the back of a volume pot or the bridge ground). That gives the foil a path to drain noise to earth.
5. Optionally, line the underside of the pickguard as well for extra protection.
   If you’re not confident with soldering, ask a local tech or luthier to fit it for you.

We sell copper shielding foil with self-adhesive backing - it’s an easy product to use for this purpose:
Copper Shielding Foil with Self-Adhesive Backing

Alnico and Ceramic refer to the type of magnet used in a pickup, and they directly affect tone and output.

• Alnico (Aluminium, Nickel, Cobalt) magnets are often preferred for a warm, smooth, and vintage-style tone. Variations like Alnico II, III, and V change the strength and character:
• Alnico II – softer, vintage warmth, lower output
• Alnico III – very soft, sweeter tone, low output
• Alnico V – stronger, brighter, higher output
• Ceramic magnets are harder and typically give a hotter, brighter sound with more punch, often used in modern rock or metal pickups.

Choice depends on your style, guitar, and desired tone – we can advise if you’re unsure which will suit your instrument.