More PG Hater Fun

[jedzep]

While I've had those nasty Gibson 'batwing' guards shrink, pull and crack tops, I've never seen one pull a top upward, but this one, off my F30, finally began to reveal it's evil purpose in life. Guess it's understandable, after all, I'm also 70 and shrinking too.

I noticed a lip, or hump, around the treble edge of my sound hole, and a ripple in the guard, so whipped out the naptha and dental floss and began 'sawing'. It came up easily, with no damage to the raw spruce it was glued onto back in '63. Another dumb idea, but given the top and back cosmetics (some moron named Andy even scratched his name into it) on this stellar playing 000, I'm leaning toward stripping/refinishing B&S in Mohawk flat lacquer, buffed out. It'll be gorgeous, sound great, and finally be naked, as that ugly piece of plastic will get stuck in my massive Webster's dictionary, where all my others are stored.

 

[secndshft]

That’s my kind of guitar.

 

[chazmo]

Your soundboard is actually in really good shape and doesn't actually need a refin, jedzep. Yeah, you've now got the suntan from the guard (which came off beautifully, by the way), but I'd leave it be, Andy and all, or just replace the guard. The finish looks fine to me. Yeah, the back needs a refin.

Having said all that, good luck with whatever you choose to do! Keep us posted.

 

[jedzep]

Thanks, brother. I know the top is sound and I'm in touch with that point of view, too. I'm told by a serious luthier that I should use wood glue to re-attach to bare wood, but I guess I could lacquer the guard space and proceed with a 3M double side tape. My first concern was keeping the hump from progressing. On the other hand, I've had good results enhancing tone by taking a little mass off tops. I usually remove tan lines from PG with UV exposure, but the color this finish developed would make it impossible. Nevertheless, I have big love for naked guitar tops, and whenever the opportunity or option presents itself I jump in. You can see I'm deranged.

 

[chazmo]

Very cool, man . Keep us posted on the Guild (especially). Are you re-topping that Martin, or building another guitar?

 

[walrus]

Cool! I like it with no pickguard!

walrus

 

[davismanLV]

My preference is always no pickguard. The only ones that have PG's are my two Guilds. The other's have nothing.

 

[Nuuska]

. . . as that ugly piece of plastic will get stuck in my massive Webster's dictionary, where all my others are stored.

Is there a picture of said dictionary ? Are the pg:s put into random places or into carefully thought sites w hidden implications?

. . . just wondering . . .

 

[jedzep]

Hah! The Martin pickguards are labeled in the dictionary, but the others are recognizable if anyone wonders where they go after I go. The Guild was the least affected by removal for unknown reasons with no shrivel or gnarling. It would lay right back down if re-installed. Not as cheezy a piece as the Martins are.

I have a beautiful Greven, meant for my '36 Gibson L00, a guitar that was sent with little play wear by the original owner to a fledgling luthier program in an upstate NY ag & tech college. Still haven't the courage to attach it, but here's a pic of the dry fit. Sadly, the teacher gave his class sanders, and let 'em rip, removing the classic Gibson 30's burst. I intercepted the guitar when the owner's nephew was shopping a burst refinish, but was told it would be too pricey. I stole it for 800 bucks. With some judicious sanding and 5 coats of Mohawk flat lacquer it now shines in tone like no other guitar I've ever owned. This is what makes me consider the same fate for the Guild. We'll see when the hump recedes, perhaps with humidification.

All that cardboard is for tanning. Two things I would never attempt...building a guitar and writing a song. Here's a photo of a '66 Martin 00018 that came with a nasty double guard. It took a while, but I got the top back to clear. Never should have sold it, like several others.

 

[chazmo]

Oh, I get it!!!! Cool.

 

[Guildedagain]

Pickguards, a classic love/hate scenario.

This is a Guild 12 string pickguard that spontaneously combusted - with a little help - on a really hot summer day while undergoing surgery.

I had wisely traced it, and cut a new one from a piece Hans sent me.

Turned out fabulous.

 

[jedzep]

That's nice work. When the color base matches the tones in the bridge, fretboard and peghead it all comes together.

I couldn't access the images for unknown reasons.

 

[Elderguilder]

Is there a picture of said dictionary ? ....

. . . just wondering . . .

This is probably the dictionary referenced. This one was my grandfather's. It took me a while to locate its hiding place.

 

[GAD]

I think we have the same dictionary!




My parents had it for as long as I can remember so it wouldn’t surprise me if they bought it in 1969.

Weird that they’re both second edition yet are 24 years apart.

Edit I see now they have different titles. Still big.

 

[Elderguilder]

I think we have the same dictionary!




My parents had it for as long as I can remember so it wouldn’t surprise me if they bought it in 1969.

Weird that they’re both second edition yet are 24 years apart.

Edit I see now they have different titles. Still big.

Still Second Printing, but different print dates. Mine was printed in 1955 and yours printed in 1969, but still second edition.

 

[jedzep]

Mine's from the in-laws. I seem to have passed my gramp's on to family, but this one still holds the guards and vintage head stock stencils nice and flat.

Love the language 'tree' page.

 

[wileypickett]

What about the function of the pickguard; to protect the top? Do you somehow never touch the top of your guitars while you play, as classical guitarists are taught?

I play fingerstyle and never use a pick, so I'm less likely to cause damage to the top than heavy strummers are prone to do.

However, I do rest my pinkie on the soundboard. For that reason I keep my pinkie fingernail cut short. But even being careful, I have, over the years, slightly worn away or darkened the top wood where my finger rests on a couple of my no-pickguard guitars.

Functionality aside, I too like the "no pickguard" look. A few of my guitars came without them, or came with a clear pickguard, and those I've mostly left alone.

But pickguards do add something to the character of a guitar IMO. Every maker has their characteristic pickguard shape, one that says "Guild," or "Martin," or Gibson," or "Taylor," or whatever. For that reason whenever I've had to remove a shrinking or damaged pickguard, I more often than not have replaced it with one that matches the orginal footprint.

Still, I can't help but admire the obsessiveness of your approach!

 

[jedzep]

No heavy strumming, Wiley. Alternate flat picking style. I've never seen a good flat picker touch the top with a pick, only hacky Pete Townsend wannabe's. My anchor point for the side of my hand, when not open strumming, is the bridge, more or less. Like you, my hand at the pinky is often using the top for a resting point also.

I don't mind a guitar that has honest play wear, and if I ever make a wear spot that bothers me, it would be the perfect time to slap a guard on to cover the blemish, but I love the clean unencumbered top continuity.

I just ordered a special Martin 0018 from the Custom Shop. The only things 'custom' about it are no installed guard, rosewood f'board and bridge instead of standard ebony, and, most importantly, a deeper 4 1/4" body. It's more than I can afford, but I treated myself to a 70th birthday gift. The backlog is something like 8 mos. By the time I get I may forget I had ordered it.

I appreciate the compliment.

 

[JohnW63]

What you have there is the Kid from Pixar's Toy Story guitar. He put his name on another special toy as I recall.

 

[jedzep]

Post script...I did end up stripping the heavy layers of beautifully ambered lacquer, then sanding down to 5000 grit, before layering on Mohawk flat lacquer. This definitely lightened the top weight and freed up what I considered a slightly muted tone. Very balanced and a little louder with Kurt Mangan 80/20 mediums, tuned down a step D-D. The original issue, a warp/lift in the top at the edge of the guard at the sound hole, has corrected to nearly flat again, so I'll leave off the guard.

Though it doesn't look half bad with the guard back on.