hello folks

I bought an old guitar that the owner left the plastic on the guard since it was new 10 years ago. I though I'd remove it but soon found out it was not going to come off. I made a mess trying to get it off. I managed to remove an area about 4" x 5" after much work. I could get it all off in about three days of slow removal. Got to a better way without trashing the guard.


Any ideas out there on what might make that plastic let go??? Come on you brains. Lets hear it. Thank you.

Thomas

I got a strat recently and the trem cover had the plastic on. When it came off it left quite a bit of residue on the cover. I used a little windex and dunlop 65 guitar polish and it cleaned up pretty well. If that doesn't work, I'm pretty sure goo-gone is a good choice. You might want to remove the pickguard before giving it the goo-gone treatment.

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I tried lighter fluid, a plastic scrapper, hot water and just picking it off little by little.

The lesson is don't leave the plastic on for years if you want the pick guard to be safe.

Any more ideas welcome.

Goo be gone will melt it if it gets the chance. Been there and done that a while back.

Thank you again;

Thomas

Use a hairdryer to loosen the hardened plastic cover. Peel slowly when heated. Then use a small amount of "Goo-Be-Gone" to remove residual gum. Test a small area of the pickguard with the Goo Be Gone to check for any discoloration.

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An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

I am using a hot hair dryer combined with a plastic paint stripping tool that will work after about 3 hours of scrapping.

I need to be very careful not to overheat the pick guard as well. Slow, very slow work but it does work.

Thank you again;

Thomas

TFi2397856

If the plastic has been on that long, I'd buy a new pickgard to replace the old one. I wouldn't mess around risking messing something else up trying to remove something that does not want to come off.

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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

On a new guitar, I remove all the hardware and peel the plastic film off within the first week. Of course you have to feel comfortable removing all the parts in my method. otherwise, just remove the knobs and do the best you can.

Film that has been on for a while is a bugger to remove, like I said above...replace the pickguard.

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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

The pick guard is clear of plastic now after much work with a plastic paint scrapper. No damage to the guard. What a job. Ten years stuck to the guard combines the two into one more or less not to mention the white oval where I removed the inspected by sticker.

All stickers and plastic coating should be removed right off when you buy it. If left too long it distracts from the value of the guitar.

Oh well I got it done with no harm other than a little white oval. I may try to stain that with coffee to match the rest of the guard.

Thanks to all comment and ideas. You folks have been A#1.

Thomas