Hello everyone, this is my first post.
I'm based out of Montreal, Quebec.
One of my clients brought me a Gibson LG-1 with the pickguard completely off. He had left his guitar in the car under the hot sun (I told him to not do that anymore) and the pickguard lifted off.
The back of the pickguard had double sided tape on it which was very tacky. I've since cleaned all the tape and glue with naphta and put the pickguard between two pieces of mdf and clamped it flat.
The fascinating thing is that there is no lacquer under the pickguard, just bare wood. You can see it in the picture. Is this common in Gibsons of that era?
I want to glue the pickguard back on but don't want to do anything stupid. What would be the recommended technique for fastening the pickguard back on considering there is no lacquer under it? Glue? Tape? I don't want to do anything to this instrument that might hinder it's authenticity/value.
Thanks in advance.
Antoine
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If the pick guard does not have wood fiber attached, this method won't work.
People replacing a Martin pick guard finish the bare area and tape the new pick guard down. Dan Erlewine uses super glue.
I'd be inclined to use the transfer adhesive, available in sheets, right to the bare wood. This method has worked on this guitar so far (except for the hot car) and you're not changing anything. If the pick guard doesn't adhere, then you can clean the area and finish it.
But you do want to have a fitted caul above and below so you can really put the squeeze on. That guard looks like its kind of cupped so you'll need to flatten it in place.
Those thick polystyrene guards are nasty. Consider making a better one.
What Paul say. I had a 62(?) J-50 with the molded guard and the plastic adjustable tone killer (erroneously described as a bridge by some). I had the bridge replaced with a better fixed bridge. The guitar still was a little muted so I had the guard replaced with a thin, tortoise pattern celluloid guard. That made quite a difference for the better. Still a somewhat quiet guitar with a thick top and heavy braces but the sound was much better and it was louder with all the tone killing attachments replaced. As far as "authenticity," I'm not sure this guitar was one where it matters and in any event, the replacement guard looked as good or better than the original. YMMV. I sold it later but now I wish I hadn't--my first "good" guitar.
The "molded era" for the stuff mounted on Gibson flat tops was not one where many of them were worthy "vintage" candidates. A little hot rodding goes a long way on these.
I know that changing the old thick guard for a thinner one is considered by some to be a "value added" modification, just like replacing the old adjustable saddle/bridge combo is desirable. I don't know how widespread this feeling is but I've talked to several players that agree that it's a sound sink.
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