the protective plastic from your pickguard?

My last guitar had it buried in the p/up cavaties, and it was a real PITA to pick it out. Just got a new strat can I just yank it off? Or is it buried under the screws and pups?

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2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD

The protective plastic cover is definitely a pain to remove. I don't have a secret method other than to take your time. Its easier to remove if you pull it off in large pieces rather than tear it to small bits. You can pry off the volume and tone knobs using a pair of spoons. The spoons will keep the pickguard from being damaged. The plastic will probably be under the screws to. You can loosen them if needed. Thats all I can suggest. Maybe someone else has a better method.

Post some pics of your guitar when you get it done.

Russ

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'08 Amer. Dlx. Strat, '98 Amer. Std. Strat, '10 Squire CV Tele Custom, '96 Seagull S+6 Cedar
Deluxe Reverb RI, Tweed Blues Jr., Champion 110, Champion 600, Mustang I, Line 6 Vetta

when i bought mine at the guitar shop the took it off for me so if you bought it at a real deal store make them take it off for you..

Protective plastic hard to remove? I've never had an issue with that. Maybe if it sits on there a real long time it might be.

mag sometimes the plastic is pinched under the pickguard screws. That might be what they mean. All you need to do is loosen em up a turn or two.

I remember my Strat having that issue on 2 or 3 screws. You could always soak your guitar in lighter fluid, and ignite it. That plastic will be gone liketty split.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hello Twelvebar,

So that's what Hendrix was up to.

Cheers.

What I do is remove all the screws, knobs, and switches. Take the unloaded pick guard off and take the protective cover off in one big piece. Then put all the parts back on. No little plastic bits anywhere. Plus it gives me a reason to look under the hood.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I think Pete Towsend had a similar aggressive removal process!

_________________
2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD

I used a Dunlop nylon pick.........hey, I had one handy!

I thought I WAS reading a double as someone posted the same question and I just answered it. Twelvebar I know you were joking but you are dead on except the lighting part. That is an old tech trick of the trade that was showed to me by my friend that owns Maggio Music in Bklyn. I am not going into the whole story again as it is on the other post but if you have an ax that has had the plastic on a few years and cannot get it off, take off the pick guard and rub lighter fluid into it and presto it comes right off.

"Carefully, slowly, patiently" has always worked, without taking the whole loaded guard off. Yes loosen screws. Knobs, be careful.

'Once heard the process described as undressing and putting the jammies on, of a sleeping baby you did not want to wake up.

I have always left mine on.....in fact 2 of the 3 Strats I own still has it on (1 since 2004) the one that doesnt have it on was because it started peeling so bad it looked like crap.



Jimmie

I just like taking stuff apart. I like to see just how well it's put together. Good thing I am not a surgeon .

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Ok I did it. Slow and careful is the way to go.

I found a small piece that had lifted on the edge. Carefully lifted and started to peel it back. You do have to loosen the screws holding the pick guard. Backed the screw out about 5 or 6 turns and pulled it out. Comes out real easy.

BTW I started on the side of the guard without the knobs. Just kept rolling it back. Pulled away slowly from the base of the neck. It all comes out cleanly if your pull toward the bridge. Kept loosening and peeling.

When I got to the knobs I removed them with a spoon as suggested. The plastic was under the nuts that hold the pots in place. Used a socket to loosen the nut slightly, half-inch I believe. Sliced the plastic and pulled on the non-sliced side and it slid out nicely.

Buttoned it all down and she's ready to rock. Patience is a virtue for this process.

_________________
2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD