Pick Guards

[Hooligan]

I hate'm...........lets get that out of the way. They are UGLY and they retard the vibtrations of the guitar top. I know they protect the intgrity of the guitar top but they look just awful.

How difficult is it to remove these beastly things?

[Tech Player]

They are easy to remove with a hair dryer, lemon oil and Goo Gone from an acoustic? Except fluids could pour inside the box, and a thin top might stress or crack.

Then you use all your technically-skilled blessings w/caution, and your wood knowledge or cleaning & refinishing talents to conceal and blend the spot with the soundboard.

I have buffed, cleaned and polished these types of situations - removing pickguards or stickers, making spot spray repairs etc, but personally, most guards don't bother me, only the ones on Les Pauls.:yikes:

Which guitar do you want to take the pickguard from?:dunno:

[Wally]

In another thread you talked about how you liked to "strum aggressively" - better leave the pickguard where it's at :).

[Kitty]

If I don't guard my picks, they grow legs and walk away. :D

(ok, that was irrelevant) :wasntme:

[mattd]

I'm not a fan of them either, I'm gonna take it off one of these days. I'd rather have the Willie Nelson look than the pick guard.

[rev411]

I have a Takemine that came without a pickgaurd. I have had it for about 4 years. Most of the time I play without picks. Look at this thread, scroll down to the acoustic and you'll see what will happen. Not pretty.

http://gpawf4christ.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4087

Its up you.

Myke

[stephen]

Taylor has a clear pickguard. You cant tell its there unless you get up close to the guitar.

[Hooligan]

Yeah, the clear pick guard I can live with.

[Tech Player]

Yeah, the clear pick guard I can live with.

Good, then if you can get the old guard off, and hopefully it comes clean without patch ups or even a slight re-stain & polish (you'd have to clean with rubbing alcohol), you could use Taylor's clear guard (he must be a smart guy, eh?) or buy clear material to cut your own size and shape - makes you the smart guy!rofl

[Brian]

I hate'm...........lets get that out of the way. They are UGLY and they retard the vibtrations of the guitar top. I know they protect the intgrity of the guitar top but they look just awful. How difficult is it to remove these beastly things?Didn't think Breedlove AC25s had a pickguard. You mean the 'Paul? Beastly... that's nothin'. How 'bout one of these? (http://www.jhalemusic.com/hofnerProduct/Jazzica_NA_FrontFull.jpg) Or are you talking an acoustic? Aint this (http://www.pinrepair.com/vgi/gibson/63_everly_1.jpg) beee-ooo-t-full?

[Hooligan]

Didn't think Breedlove AC25s had a pickguard. You mean the 'Paul? Beastly... that's nothin'. How 'bout one of these? (http://www.jhalemusic.com/hofnerProduct/Jazzica_NA_FrontFull.jpg) Or are you talking an acoustic? Aint this (http://www.pinrepair.com/vgi/gibson/63_everly_1.jpg) beee-ooo-t-full?


Actually neither of mine have a pick guard.


http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/9-26-2008009.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/DSCF0272.jpg

I have my eye on a few prospects for future aquisitions. Rather than pass over a guitar that I like the sound but hate the looks of due to aa pick guard, it's nice to know they can be removed.

[tholmes]

I hate'm...........lets get that out of the way. They are UGLY and they retard the vibtrations of the guitar top. I know they protect the intgrity of the guitar top but they look just awful.

How difficult is it to remove these beastly things?

Removing a PG isn't difficult at all IF you're careful.

The method that I use is to use a hair dryer (on the lowest setting) to warm up a corner of the guard until I can lift it slightly. Then I use naphtha (Ronsonol lighter fluid) on a Q-tip to soften the adhesive. Work slowly, starting at the loose corner, and continue to GENTLY lift the guard away from the top of the guitar as you loosen more adhesive. It takes a little time, but you'll get there. Once the pickguard is completely off, use a small amount of naphtha on a clean cotton rag to clean off adhesive that's still on the guitar top.

Note: naphtha will NOT damage nitrocellulose lacquer or any of the more modern polyurethane or polyester finishes. And, it dries completely without leaving a residue.

A word of caution: This is best done on a new guitar. Removing a pickguard from a guitar that's got a few years on it may leave a "tan line" as the spruce in the top and / or the finish may have darkened over time.

Tom