Taking the plastic off is an integral part of the new guitar ownership ceremony.. Look at the new guitar, admire it, then lay out your basic tools for the plastic film extraction.. Go slow and peel gently.. It's like an aplle peeling - can I get it off in one piece?

A guitar with chrome plated humbuckers also gives you the additional delight of peeling off those covers too!

When you think you've finished, step back.. look closely.. did I miss anything? Do I need to take out some pickguard screws - anything trapped under there?

The hours of endless fun as you slowly unwrap the object of your desire..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I have a 2004 American Series Strat. When I took the time to measure, the knob sits about half a dime above the pickguard actually, maybe less. it sure doesn't scrape along the pickguard when it's turned. Interesting that other MIA Strats in the shop are doing this. That's not good. Scraping against the pickguard will put some resistance against you turning the knob.

Oh well, maybe we're splitting hairs here. If the resistance isn't too great and the knobs aren't actually scraping up the pickguard than I suppose everything's OK.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

As fast as possible. I had bought a guitar from someone that never played it and they had it on for 4 years and it was becoming one with the pickguard and I could not get it off for nothing. I took it to my friend who showed be a cool trick of the trade as he squirted lighter fluid on and rubbed it in and in a few minutes it was off.

I've had mine for 2 weeks and only took the plastic off a few seconds ago. It's true - it does feel like the last step in taking possession of it.

It was on the floor in its case while I was working on it with Cream (Wheels of Ice) playing in the background. I had to smile while I was kneeling (and peeling) and hearing "I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees".

I bought a Custom Shop '56 NOS Strat that had been sitting in an enclosed display case at Guitar Center for 5 years. The plastic film was still on the pick guard and it was a nightmare to remove because of all the glue residue. It took plenty of Goo Gone and Q Tips to get the crud off.

It was probably a combination of Arizona's dry desert air and the enclosed display case that made the film so difficult to peel off but I don't ever want to go through that again.

So there is one instance of glue residue from the film being left on too long. It's not "BS" and it can happen. Why take the chance?

John

Kept it on until the 30 day return/refund grace period expired. Then off it went. Good idea to keep it on until you're certain you'll be keeping it.

Funny enough, I got my MIM Strat about 3-4 months ago, took the film off right away (felt like a rite of passage,LOL), and a couple of days ago and today as well I found myself still picking at a leftover shreds of film stuck underneath a screw!

Take it off as soon as you can. I bought a new strat that sat in the store for about 2 years with the stickers and plastic covering on. When I got it home I removed it immediately and there is a definite fade that occured except where the stickers were at. So my pickguard has two areas that are less faded than the rest of the pickguard. Does it matter... no, unless you mind that sort of thing. But why leave it on?

leaving the plastic on the pickguard, reminds me of plastic covers on a sofa. very repressive

I've just got my new strat so yes it's still on.
Do you have to remove the knobs to take the folie off?

No. I just pulled the plastic off and what little was left under the knobs I easily grabbed with tweezers.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

Sorry, no way I'm going to do that. I like my knobs just as they are

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

Thks metropolis74

Nothing screams noobie than plastic and manufacturers stickers on the pickguard. The longer you leave it on the harder it will be to physically remove it. It's going to curl up eventually anyway. None of my guitars came with it on it anyway. I guess the dealer removed it before I got it. I don't buy new guitars from big chain stores. I'd rather get the service and setup from Mom & Pop stores.

TAKE IT BACK!!!! Seriously, that's for the customer to do, not the store. I would be kinda leery buying a guitar from someone who did that. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I would be real suspicious that guitar is not as new as the salesman claims. I would not buy a supposedly new guitar without it.