Pickguard Retoration

[Robert Filippi]

Pretty sure I won't have any problem scraping this potato chip off the top without losing any pieces,
(see photo) but the hope is to reinforce the pickguard so that it can return to its rightful place back on the Yamaha FG 300 it came from. Any suggestions?

[FRANK]

POP IT WITH A WARM KNIFE MAKE CLAMP AND CAULS RE GLUE WITH ALIPHATIC RESIN

[Robert Filippi]

Paul,
Thank you for your speedy response. I think my previous photo did not have a high enough resolution to illustrate my problem, namely that the pickguard has several cracks and is disintegrating somewhat. I was thinking of bonding something to it (e.g. catalytic resin, heavy foil & polyurethane), before regluing it to the top. Check out this close-up photo and give me your thoughts?

[FRANK]

HOW ABOUT A REPLACEMENT?NEW PICK GUARD

[Robert Filippi]

Can't do that. This guitar belongs to a well-known 82 year old bluesman (no, not BB). Unless I could make one the same shape, engraved the same way, and then "relic-ed" to match the patina and mojo of the FG300, I'm going to have to figure a way to restore the one I have.

Maybe someone out there has a FG300 with a pickguard to part out?

I've seen scorpions embedded in acrylic; is there such a thing as acrylic decoupage?

[Tom Krebs]

Will acetone melt the pieces together? Maybe join the old pieces together and then add a new thin under layer sheet that serves as new base. Cut off the excess material and re-install?

[Robert Filippi]

Yeah, this more in line with what I think I need to do. Let's face it, the chance of locating the part is soo
slim. I'm thinking : 1. cover with sign makers transfer tape to hold it all together before 1.-- removing the guard flipping it over and scraping off old glue. 3. (the tough part) coating the back with some sort of fiberglass or acrylic resin while flattening between two pieces of waxed MDF? or reinforcing with a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and polyurethane glue? or help me here?

[FRANK]

I THINK PARTING ONE OUT IS THE BEST BET

[Tom Krebs]

Ya, that would be the clean way out. It's a nice old guitar.

[Ned Knepp]

I don't know if your pick guard is celluloid or another plastic. If it's not celluloid, this might not work but Ive used some very thin sheet celluloid to replace the older thin pickguards found on some instruments. This material might work for a backing for the original guard and acetone would weld them together. It's very thin stuff and probably wouldn't be noticed too much when the pick guard was replaced.

One thing that concerned me in the second picture you posted. The edges of the crack looks like it has discolored quit a bit like the old celluloid on instruments that are left closed up in their case too much. Personally I haven't tried acetone on this dried up material because I'm afraid that the acetone will eat it up. If it were me doing this, I'd make sure that I get a good rubbing on the pattern and outline of the pick guard before I did much of anything to it. At least you will have something to use for pattern if things don't go well.

Ned

[Bob Gaddis]

I had one in my shop last year. The pickguard is thick celluloid and it will probably crumble if you attempt to remove it. I could not find an original replacement nor an aftermarket one of the same shape. I looked for weeks. I just replaced it with a regular acetate pickguard. If you want to restore it, I'd suggest taking a high-resolution picture to scale and hand-engraving a new one if you can find suitable material. I don't think it's worth the trouble. If you can salvage all the pieces, which is unlikely, I don't know of a way to put them back together. The stuff just breaks down and disintegrates. Scott Zimmerman may have a source in Japan for the blank material in the correct thickness and close tot he correct color.