removing pickguard

[johnr]

I put this post on another guitar forum but since I just received my custom built Larrivee OO with cutaway,Ill  ask here. I asked for no pickguard on this guitar but ;I got one . no big deal,I can live with it, but IF I want to remove it; is it a big deal.PS this is a Sunburst finish ;satin.thanks .How do I remove it? I probably won't attempt it ;if it's too hard to do.

[unclrob]

Get a hair dryer on med,pick a corner and slowley start pulling up as you get more underneith the guard aim for the underside,like I said go slow.Once the guard has been removed use naptha to remove any glue that may be left.AGAIN GO F******G SLOW.

[jpmist]

Get a hair dryer on med,pick a corner and slowley start pulling up as you get more underneith the guard aim for the underside,like I said go slow.Once the guard has been removed use naptha to remove any glue that may be left.AGAIN GO F******G SLOW.

Good advice on the naptha to remove residual sticky stuff, but just to add to apply that naptha with a microfiber or soft 100% cotton cloth. I made the horrible mistake of using a hard plastic scrub pad and marred my finish. <sigh>

Removing the pickguard seems scary, but the finish on the top is really hard as nails. The sticky stuff will start softening long before you'd get to the point of harming the finish. Start heating the pointy part of the pickguard and once you get that point raised simple patience and continued heat will work in your favor to remove the rest of the guard.

Best of luck with it and I agree sometimes an OO will look better without one. One other note is you really might see a lighter shadow where the pickguard once was. It's a pretty simple procedure to fix that by cutting out a cardboard mask and keeping the guitar in sunlight until the paleness corrects.