Hi all, I have been told by a 'tech' that the film must be removed as the 'glue' can attack the plastic S/P ,right/wrong?

May look a little goofy after a while. The plastic will start lifting where your hands rub the pickguard while you play.

I've had brand new pickguards in my parts box for years w/ the plastic film, and have never had a problem.

He's right. I bought a California series Telecaster on which some noob had left the plastic for over a decade. When I peeled it off, the pickguard had turned yellow and soft, and had to be replaced.

The guard is there to protect the guitar... why would you need plastic to protect the plastic?

The plastic is really only there to protect the guitar during shipping.

Not only can prolonged contact with the adhesive potentially damage the guard, but any grit or debris (even smaller than easily seen,) will be ground against the guard, like sandpaper, with no way to remove it from the surface.

Normally you can stop this by cleaning your guitar. but with the film on its there forever. I have a buddy who did this. When the plastic started lifting, and looking bad, he peeled it off, and the guard was all scratched up. And it had discoloured except where the flag emblem was, so he had a light and shade pattern that looked stupid.

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

And then you see all these Ebay ads saying ..."the protective plastic is still on the guitar..." making it sound like it's a positive thing.

And it's just the opposite really.

yup. I had a friend whose dad kept the plastic on a bunch of his old vinyl LP sleeves. Well the plastic attracted a ton of dust and dirt, I'm guessing through static charge. It didn't do his album collection any good. Whereas I inherited a nice collection of pristine albums from my dad because he had removed the film and taken care of them. Once the plastic was no longer sealed it served no purpose.

These protective films are only there to protect from possible mishap through shipping and handling, regular use needs regular cleaning instead.

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

I bought a NOS Tele Deluxe from a store in SF the guitar was three years old never sold and had all the plastic on it . When I went to pull of the plastic on the pick guard it was as if it melded and became one and for the life of me could not remove it. I took it to my friends store and he showed me a cool trick of the trade that I have already mentioned but will again if it might help someone else in the future. He took of the pick guard and squirted lighter fluid on it and rubbed it in with his finger and in a few minutes the plastic was off. Pretty cool thing to know.

many thanks to everyone, will now remove the film, regards Keith

Hi All, have just removed plastic film and guess what No discolouration No corrosion shiney and white just like it left Fender USA in *** 1993*** !!! so leave it on if you want to protect it, all the best Keith

Never understood the mentality of someone wanting to leave it on.It looks so silly.Like someone said, the pickgard is on there to protect the guitar .I dont imagine that many of these people gig with the plastic film still on.If there is any wear and tear to be done to my guitars , it should be done by me.

I Don't think the plastic has glue on it because its held in place just like Saran Plastic wrap is. Also I believe it is on there for the manufacturing process and to protect sheets. When you buy sheets its already on there. The guards are then cut, prepard and drilled. No discared material from the process gets on the finished product and is blown off the plastic. Then left on there after the guitar is finished. Thus still protecting the guard and saving cost in time to remove it.
Most plastics now days do not cause things to discolor, lighting does that.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I think its' called the Mini Pearl syndrone - note the price tag on her hat!