RBpicker
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
- Messages
- 109
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- 185
I have always been disappointed with most stock pickguards that are installed by manufacturers (Martin standard series and above being an exception). Most are just die cut, square edged, and stuck on the guitar and that’s it.
Provided that you like the color and pattern, you can vastly improve on the look of the stock pickguard with just a little elbow grease. The picture shows my Guild D40 Traditional after I modified it.
I removed it using naphtha and cleaned all the goopy glue from the back, and the off the guitar, again using naphtha. I used a blade from a utility knife and scraped a consistent bevel on the edge, followed by carefully sanding the bevel with very fine emery paper. Then I wet sanded the entire pickguard with 5000 grit sanding pad. This rounds off the bevel slightly. I then polished the surface with Maguires machine glaze. I used a 3M spray adhesive on the back and reinstalled it, aligning with the tan line.
I’ve done a number of these and always appreciate the improved look. You all may be familiar with all of this, so disregard if so, but I thought I’d just throw this out there.
Provided that you like the color and pattern, you can vastly improve on the look of the stock pickguard with just a little elbow grease. The picture shows my Guild D40 Traditional after I modified it.
I removed it using naphtha and cleaned all the goopy glue from the back, and the off the guitar, again using naphtha. I used a blade from a utility knife and scraped a consistent bevel on the edge, followed by carefully sanding the bevel with very fine emery paper. Then I wet sanded the entire pickguard with 5000 grit sanding pad. This rounds off the bevel slightly. I then polished the surface with Maguires machine glaze. I used a 3M spray adhesive on the back and reinstalled it, aligning with the tan line.
I’ve done a number of these and always appreciate the improved look. You all may be familiar with all of this, so disregard if so, but I thought I’d just throw this out there.
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