I rest my pinky on the pickguard next to the pickups when picking for stability, and I can clearly hear the fingertip rubbing on the pickguard through the amp (so, through the pickups). Is it normal with âvintageyâ pickups? It does not happen on the Fender Custom shop strat that I have, but it happens on another strat I own.
What are you hearing? Some description of the sound is needed to help you out.
I have one pickguard that I hear static discharges when I move my fingers on the pickguard. Sounds like a vinyl record.
I think that this is probably due to static. If it annoys you can can completely get rid of it by shielding the underneath of the pickguard.
If the pickguard is a standard fender Strat pickguard you can buy a pre shaped adhesive film of aluminium to stick on the underside of the pickguard. But this is only really necessary if it annoys you a lot, or is very loud or persistent
However this happened on my Squier tele but then just went away and I think it was just static.
If itâs from more interference then shielding would be a good idea but I think you should be able to reduce the static. Apparently there are anti static fluids you can rub in the pickguard and I believe there are also anti static tissues that you can buy to out in a clothes drier that should work as well if you use them to rub the pickguard.
In your case itâs unlikely to be interference from other sources if itâs only when you touch the pickguard.
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Thanks for the reply! I noticed that if my nail rubs against the pickguard, I can hear it like the pickups registering it, like a microphone! I tried rubbing only the skin, not the nail, and I donât hear anything.
This.
When I bought my G&L Tele, I had a similar intermittent âcracklingâ. I thought I might have bought a problem, so brought it to a luthier who confirmed simple static build up.
It was completely sorted by buying a sheet of adhesive copper and sticking it to the underside of the pickguard at my next string change 
I would be surprised if the pickups are that sensitive and that itâs microphonic and they are picking up the noise from vibrations from your fingernails scratching the surface of the pickguard - but you never know!!!
Pretty sure Iâve read that pickups can go microphonic. Why that happens, I donât know.
I had a similar problem as you. I could hear my nail contacting the pick guard when Iâd play, just like you. I thought my pickups may have this microphonic issue. But I think if thatâs the case, if you talk into your pickups, that would be heard via the amp. My pickups didnât do that as I did try to talk into my pickups. No sound through my amp.
In the end. I cured my issue by removing my pick guard. Iâm guessing you canât do that with a solid body guitar. Mine is a electric hollow body so I could do that and was my answer.
Sorry I got no insight as to what to do for your issue.
Maybe you really do have microphonic pickups? Thatâd be my best âguessâ. Perhaps do some research on microphonic pickups, see if thereâs some answer there?
Hope you find a satisfactory repair for your woes.