Pickguard Removal

[Hinto]

Hi, I got my hands on a nice used Larrivee L-03R.  The only problem is that the pickguard is quite warped/lifted.  I've already ordered a replacement from the Larrivee store.  Just wondering what the best method is of removing the old one without damaging the guitar.  Also wondering how to best remove any adhesive residue there might be left behind.

Thanks!

[AZLiberty]

Hair dryer.  Go slow and pull.

Naphtha (lighter fluid) will clean the residue and not harm anything.

Unless you are a heavy pick user, I'd leave the pickguard off.  The "pick-guard-tan" will fade in time.

[saintandsinnerguy]

hmmmmmm, what would make a pick guard warp and lift?  Sounds like that guitar got really hot......maybe in a car on a summer's day?  I've never heard of a pick guard warping.

Maybe have a good luthier check it out soon, to make sure no seams have been damaged due to heat.

Don't want to worry you......but that pickguard would give me pause.

[wswl]

I also want to learn more about pickguard removal~

[dee-ten]

I also want to learn more about pickguard removal~

There are several excellent threads on the topic. Here are a couple:

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=14987.0

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=18934.0

I removed the clear pickguard on my OM without too much trouble. It looked like a disaster at first, with all the gooey residue that stayed behind, but after repeatedly wiping it with Goo-Gone it cleaned up perfectly.

[wswl]

There are several excellent threads on the topic. Here are a couple:

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=14987.0

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=18934.0

I removed the clear pickguard on my OM without too much trouble. It looked like a disaster at first, with all the gooey residue that stayed behind, but after repeatedly wiping it with Goo-Gone it cleaned up perfectly.

Thanks for your information!  I did it successfully on my new D-03RE by following the above suggestion!

Yesterday night I asked myself if I dare to remove the pickguard by myself.  I got no answer and went to sleep.  But this morning, I took a hair drier and started working on it without a second thought!

First, I put several stacks of papers around the pickguard to avoid heating the wood directly.  Then, I heated the pickguard carefully, a small area by a small area.  Since I heated it slowly, and had my breakfast after peeling off the first half, it took me about one and a half hour to remove the whole pickguard.

What I worry most is the problem of pickguard tan.  As I know my D-03RE was born last year, I guess it shouldn't have a serious tan, that's why I got the courage to remove the pickguard!  Also, after peeling off the first half, I saw no tan on it, and that's why I got the mood to have my breakfast! 

Then, I had to deal with those adhesive residue.  I wrote down the name "Naphtha" and asked the grocery store.  The staff said this was a foreign product (I am from Hong Kong) and they did not have it for sale.  But they introduced me another bottle of transparent luquid (can't translate the name) and said it can remove adhesive residue.  The staff even applied it to a piece of wood and said it wouldn't harm the appearance.  I was afraid of using it since I didn't know if it would harm the satin finish.  Yet, I still tried it on a tiny area, and it did remove the residue without changing the finish.  After wiping for about half an hour, the residue was all gone.  As the smell of that luquid left on the top, I wet a cloth with a very small amount of water and gently wiped that area for a few times.  Finally, a beautiful and smooth plain top appears! 

Although there seems nothing changes on the finish, I still worry if that transparent luquid would cause some "inner" damage...

Anyway, that's my experience.

[Danny]

  The UV polyester that Larrivee uses is tough stuff. In fact it is extremely hard to remove it or refinish a small area.  So the cleaner you used was probably fine.

[AZLiberty]

  I wrote down the name "Naphtha" and asked the grocery store. 

Naphtha is "lighter fluid".   Specifically the type you would use to refill a Zippo or Ronson.

Glad it worked out.  I much prefer the aesthetic of a Larrivee with either no pick-guard or a clear one to the Martin copy they have been using for the past few years.

[Pickering_Picker]

This thread got me curious as to what a Larrivee would look like without a pickguard. Quick bit of Photoshopping in case anyone else is interested:



(Even threw in a Martin black pickguard for no extra charge.)

[pigtown]

Naphtha is "lighter fluid".  specifically the type you would use to refill a Zippo or Ronson.

Glad it worked out.  I much prefer the aesthetic of a Larrivee with either no pick-guard or a clear one to the Martin copy they have been using for the past few years.

."Ronsonol Lighter Fuel," what my little bottle says.  Used it on Gibson, Guild, Larrivee.  Does not affect the finish.  Via email by one of the manufacturers, paint thinner would also be fairly benign.  My experience was to load up a Q tip, with the guitar held vertically, and let the solvent work its way down, peeling accordingly

[alvinlam]

I use lighter fluid together with Goo Gone to remove pick guard And as the advice goes - be patient. When you feel that it is coming off, pull/lift a little - if sense resistance, use more goo gone or lighter fluid.  I did not use dryer (i hate the sound of it).  Since OP said the current one is lifted; then it should require lesser time.  Patience is the key and lots of fluid -- wipe immediately if it flows out elsewhere.  All the best.

After awhile, I decided to put pickguard back 'cos I didn't like the tanned lines and didn't think I want to wait that long for the lines to be gone.  :-)  Hope the best. Show us a pic when it's all done!

[Mr_LV19E]

paint thinner would also be fairly benign. 

Just to note, paint thinner of the mineral spirit variety would probably not harm the surface but there are many types of paint thinners. Don't try lacquer thinner, especially on nitro finish.
Naphtha is available at most hardware stores.

[larsonjeffp]

So I've had my P-05 for almost right at 2 years, pretty much sits out on a rack all day, but not in an overly bright room. How much of tan lines do you guys think it would have in that amount of time if I took the pick gaurd off?

[BenF]

So I've had my P-05 for almost right at 2 years, pretty much sits out on a rack all day, but not in an overly bright room. How much of tan lines do you guys think it would have in that amount of time if I took the pick gaurd off?

There is genuinely only one way to find out    Possibly quite a lot.

[dgrose]

So I've had my P-05 for almost right at 2 years, pretty much sits out on a rack all day, but not in an overly bright room. How much of tan lines do you guys think it would have in that amount of time if I took the pick gaurd off?

I waited a year and a half...
I shouldn't have.
I now have a very visible pale pick guard silhouette where there is no pick guard. I expect that it will disappear and blend in some time over the next 5 to 10 years. 

dg

[BenF]

If you do it and it looks terrible, it isn't a huge expense to put a new one on.

[Danny]

  You can also place it by a window that gets a little light for a few hours every day. Keep an eye on it and the lighter place should darken and begin to be less visible.

[BenF]

 You can also place it by a window that gets a little light for a few hours every day. Keep an eye on it and the lighter place should darken and begin to be less visible.

I'm sure there is a thread on here somewhere about a forum member who taped off the rest of the top and used uv lights to quickly tan the area under the pickguard. Seem to recall it being quite successful. Can't find it though.