Tragic pickguard removal on L05

[Ponte]

Having had my L05 for a number of years, I decided to  give her a new look and have the pickguard removed.

I read a few threads about the subject , grabbed a hairdryer, lifted up slightly the upper corner of the  pickguard..........all was going well.......and suddenly, CRACK!!!!  
I partially lacerated the wood next to the abalone in the rosette , and splitted and damaged the poly finish extending towards an  uncovered area of the guitar top.  




So  in one second I wrecked my twice GOTM L05.  I couldn't believe it. I felt like a murder holding a knife next to the victim in the crime scene.  

Went to see a local Luthier  http://www.gorkaurra.com/. He had to sand the guitar top, fill the ulcerated chipped area around the rosette and refinish the top.  





Although he suggested a Nitrocelulose finish,  I finally decided on Polyuretethane.

Here´s the end result. Although you can see a tanline where the pickguard was, the guitar looks very nice. Hopeully the tanline will fade with time







So, I suggest if you are thinking about removing your pickguard, my advice is Don´t do it. Take it to your local Luthier and let the professional deal with it.

[jrporter]

I've done it successfully a number of times and would add that if you opt to do a pickguard-otomy yourself, take your time and resist the temptation to yank it off once you soften the glue. I also like to use dental floss as I'm gently pulling it up...

[Strings4Him]

Ponte I am glad it was restored.  Looks great now!!

[Walkerman]

Unfortunately, there is a "ghost" pickguard there, as the top didn't age beneath it.

[rockstar_not]

Is it possible to order a Larry sans any pickguard?  Mine has the translucent rectangular deal that they used back in the lat 90's early 2000's.  It's always seemed a bit strange to see the rectangle, but I am too nervous to take it off for fear of doing this type of damage.  It seems to be tanning fine through the guard.

[brandon]

You can order larrivees without a pickguard I believe. I wonder if that tab line will ever age to the same color as the rest of the guitar or if it will always be a lighter shade?

[Ponte]

Unfortunately, there is a "ghost" pickguard there, as the top didn't age beneath it.

You can order larrivees without a pickguard I believe. I wonder if that tab line will ever age to the same color as the rest of the guitar or if it will always be a lighter shade?

Hi Walkerman and Brandon.  
I hope the tanline darkens with time and light exposure. I´ve been told it will eventually happen.
Has anybody got any experience on this?

Thanks for your comments jrporter and brandon

[Queequeg]

Yes, the tan line fades in time. I've done it.
Not overnight. But in time. Its own sweet time.

[Mr_LV19E]

The tan line should disappear eventually, mine did.
It originally looked like this and below it I found a picture taken about a year later. Its been over 5 years now and there is no sign of a line. I know I'm probably in the minority having kept the same guitar for so long.    I just can't seem to justify getting rid of these Larrivee guitars that sound so magnificent.






BTW  the luthier did a nice job refinishing the top.

[Ponte]

Yes, the tan line fades in time. I've done it.
Not overnight. But in time. Its own sweet time.

Thats encouraging, Queepeg

Are those photos before and after? and whta is the timespan Mr LV?

[bobw]

Is it possible to order a Larry sans any pickguard?  Mine has the translucent rectangular deal that they used back in the lat 90's early 2000's.  It's always seemed a bit strange to see the rectangle, but I am too nervous to take it off for fear of doing this type of damage.  It seems to be tanning fine through the guard.

Yes... I ordered my OO-03 w/o a pickguard.... 

[Mr_LV19E]

Are those photos before and after? and whta is the timespan Mr LV?

The first picture was a few days after I took it off, the second picture was about a year later.

[steve1]

I had a similar incident recently whilst attempting a pickguard removal, as soon as I noticed it though I just stuck the pickguard back down which put the sliver of wood back in place. Can't see it under the pickguard so it's no big deal.

[jeremy3220]

I've done it successfully a number of times and would add that if you opt to do a pickguard-otomy yourself, take your time and resist the temptation to yank it off once you soften the glue. I also like to use dental floss as I'm gently pulling it up...

I would add, probably help to not pull with the grain and to soak that dental floss with naptha.

Also, if you bought the guitar used be aware that the guard or adhesive may not be what the factory used. They could have used something dumb like superglue.

[hatofthecat]

Also, if you bought the guitar used be aware that the guard or adhesive may not be what the factory used. They could have used something dumb like superglue.

That's one reason I've never tried taking the after market one off on my 20+ year old L-09..... and would the tan line ever actually catch up after I don't know how many years ??  ...yup, too scared to risk it    ...trouble is I'm stuck indoors all morning waiting for the water company engineer to come fix my meter... and.... idle hands.... 

Pete

[hadden]

Me I just would have put nail polish on the bare spots or left it and called it a day. Looks like a nice refinish.

[hatofthecat]

 

Water guy came early.... and those idle hands got put to work.  Top corner of the pickguard was slightly unstuck and picking at it with my thumb nail seeing no tan line turned to a hair dryer and thin blade scraper and the awful thing came off working "slow & easy" as people have said.  Took far longer to clean off the glue gunk left behind.   

Absolutely zero tan line !!!    I'm guessing the top had matured with a clear guard on and the after market tortoise one was put on later.  Guitar looks great 

Who would have thought a thread with such a scary start would finally decide me to take the plunge ?!?   

Pete

 

[ducktrapper]

I've had similar adventures with pickguard removal in fact my results were much worse. Fortunately, after a visit to Oxnard, my 1975 L is as good as or better than new. I prefer the looks of a Larrivee with the clear pg or entirely without one but this looks like a good argument for leaving well enough alone. 

[Ponte]

I've had similar adventures with pickguard removal in fact my results were much worse. Fortunately, after a visit to Oxnard, my 1975 L is as good as or better than new. I prefer the looks of a Larrivee with the clear pg or entirely without one but this looks like a good argument for leaving well enough alone. 

I had a similar incident recently whilst attempting a pickguard removal, as soon as I noticed it though I just stuck the pickguard back down which put the sliver of wood back in place. Can't see it under the pickguard so it's no big deal.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that fiddles and makes mistakes with my Larri.

Water guy came early.... and those idle hands got put to work.  Top corner of the pickguard was slightly unstuck and picking at it with my thumb nail seeing no tan line turned to a hair dryer and thin blade scraper and the awful thing came off working "slow & easy" as people have said.  Took far longer to clean off the glue gunk left behind.   

Absolutely zero tan line !!!    I'm guessing the top had matured with a clear guard on and the after market tortoise one was put on later.  Guitar looks great 

Who would have thought a thread with such a scary start would finally decide me to take the plunge ?!?   

Pete

 

Im glad it all went well Pete. Send us a photo

[hatofthecat]

Ponte - Before and after shots, can't seem to get a decent colour match as I think the before one was under fluorescent lights in the store (bit of a clue in the reflection...).

Up very close at just the right angle I can see a very slight 'dink' outline in the finish of upper edge the original clear pickguard but that's it.  I have now also been able to justify to my girlfriend why a man with so little hair need's to own a hair dryer  

Pete