Regluing pickguard over lacquer finish

[Gordon Rush]

I'm working on a 1964 Gibson acoustic guitar (I think it's a B-25) that was stored in a barn for many years. What is the right glue to use to reattach the pickguard? Acetone melts the finish immediately.

[Jim Bancroft]

3M adhesive sheets, avilable from Stew Mac. Item #4597.

Jim

[Gordon Rush]

That looks like the right way to go. I have some 3M Super 77 spray adhesive on hand. Can you comment on how well this adhesive would work?

[Jim Bancroft]

Have no idea, but good luck.

Jim

[Bob Webster]

I wouldn't do the 3M spray adhesive. The solvents of the adhesive will interact with the finish and make future repair a real mess. I heartily second Jim's suggestion. I have a 20 yo steel string with a pick guard put on with the adhesive sheet method and it's still on there tight as it went on with no lifting whatsoever. Best way to go.

Bob

[Gordon Rush]

Thank you. I will use the adhesive sheets.

[FRANK]

aliphatic resin you can find it at your local hardware store called tight bond do not glue to lacquer remove the lacquer glue to the wood

[Russell Vance]

Don't, under any circumstances, use Titebond to put a pickguard on.

Bob Webster is on the money - Use the 3M adhesive sheets - they are reversible and a guard put on with these sheets can be removed with the use of a hairdryer to warm the guard in place and gently peel it of. Do not use a heat gun!. Rusty.

[Gordon Rush]

Thanks guys. This was the kind of discussion I was interested in. I had considered the idea of removing the lacquer and gluing like a Martin pickguard since Frank Ford documents this process so well, but removing the lacquer seems a bit too destructive.

I have ordered the sheets from Stew Mac.

[Jim Bancroft]

When it comes to instrument repairs, you want to keep things as original as possible, yet achieve a solid repair.
Removing the finish, to attach the guard, would be a lot of work and actually destructive to the value of the instrument.

For reattaching pickguards, the 3M sheets work best for most pickguards. Those that have bare wood under, need to be sealed before attaching the guard, I normally seal with lacquer or shellac.

On some partially loose guards that are not shrinking or curling, I have worked some hot hide glue into the loose areas and clamp with an inner and outer caul, and that also works fine, as the guard normally ends up with fine wood fibers attached to it that the glue will adhere to.

Jim

[Gordon Rush]

The pickguard had had completely fallen off when the guitar came to me. The lacquer underneath is intact, and there's no evidence of glue residue on the pickguard. I don't know how it was originally attached.

The 3M sheets have been ordered. Is clamping necessary with this adhesive? I have prepared cauls for the clamping, but I'm not sure if they will be needed now.

[Jim Bancroft]

With the 3M sheets, you just make sure alignment is perfect, and press in place.

Before removing the backing, I place guard where I want it, then use one piece of tape, as a hinge, to keep it in that same spot. I then remove the backing and press in place.

Was the original pickguard attached with screws?
Or, maybe contact cement, or something similar? If it didn't have screws, it had to have had some kind of adhesive.

[danove]

I think this shape of body is beautiful without a pickguard.
So if your B-25 will not bee too brutally played, a golpeador
might be the right thing. Cut sheet to fit. Self addesive.
So transparent, they are hard to detect.