Took off my pickguard

[TaylorMate]

Yesterday, May 14th, I decided to take off the pickguard from my 812 (spruce top). I play solely fingerstyle so I don't need it at all. I wanted my small body guitar as natural as possible. After some reading on the internet I dared to do it. Particularly because my 812 is less than one year old, so I expected the remaining pickguard spot to be only reasonably lighter than the rest of the guitar top (with my older guitars I wouldn't do it).

To begin with, taking the pick guard off was done in probably less than five minutes. With my nail under the top end I could already lift quite a bit. I did not want to harm my pickguard in case I would like to put it back, so I used dental floss and some gentle (!!) traction to pull off the rest. If any force is needed, you definitely have to warm it up first. The procedure did not only take less than no time, also the pick guard came off in perfect condition. Didn't need to use any heat or hair drier!

I could peal off the scarcely remaining glue on the top almost completely by rubbing with some pressure but softly with my fingers. To clean the last tiny bit I used a wad of cotton wool with a whiff of benzine (± naphtha). The guitar top came out in absolutely spotless condition.

Out of a piece of white cardboard (50 X 70 cm), which I bought at the office stationer's for € 1,25, I cut the shape of the pickguard. With the cardboard draped over it I will expose my guitar in the weeks to come to the day/sunlight. See what it will do.

I will keep you informed of the process and the result by posting some pics in a few weeks time. It's of course pure imagination, but the first impression was that my 812 sounds even fuller...

[TaylorGirl]

Good job TM. I think the GC body style looks a lot better w/o the pickguard....after all, many of us who buy that size are fingerstyle players who don't need the PG. I ordered my 512ce directly from Taylor, so told them NO PG! I hope your tanning shadow lightens up over time. Keep us posted.

[Earl]

I cut the shape of the pickguard. With the cardboard draped over it I will expose my guitar in the weeks to come to the day/sunlight. See what it will do.

Please let us know how this works out over time.  i suspect it will be successful.  I want to remove a pickguard from my koa topped GA to let all that beautiful wood show through, but since it now several years old I expect a distinct tan line, even on a darker top.  I might get a static cling temporary pickguard for occasional strumming purposes.

[Tarekith]

I took my pickguard off my 814ce within a week or two of getting it, and it was only a couple months past it's build date.  I still had a very slight bright spot under neath, though just having it out in the studio every day seems to have blended it completely in just a few months.

[TaylorMate]

Just to show you what it is like after about a month...

[TaylorGirl]

Wow....it has really improved.

[stepchildusmc]

nice. there's an article in the new wood & steel about that. Bob says that in a year, the lighter wood will catch up anyway.

[TaylorMate]

there's an article in the new wood & steel about that. Bob says that in a year, the lighter wood will catch up anyway.

Interesting! We always receive W&S much much later here in the Netherlands. Will have to be patient.

[Earl]

You can also get W&S at the Taylor web site as a (farily large) PDF if you get impatient waiting for the paper copy.
http://www.taylorguitars.com/wood-and-steel
Although going there just now to find this link to paste, the latest issue on line is the winter "40th year" issue, not the new spring issue.  Hmmmmm

[TaylorMate]

Thanks, Earl. Yeah I went into that cul-de-sac before... As you expressed yourself so poignantly: Hmmmmmmmm

[Edward]

Wow Karel,

That's a dramatic improvement in just one month ...I'm impressed.  Good job thinking that all out.  So does it look as good live as it does in the pic? (which is quite good, IMHO ...another month and perfect?  )

Edward

[TaylorMate]

Nothing photoshopped, Edward . I tried to take the picture with more or less the same morning light. That is difficult though. The colouring result is so far very(!) satisfying. I'm curious myself how perfect it will get.

[TaylorMate]

Here the progress after two months of patience, precision and some benevolent weather...

Still a hazy shade of what it was when I took the PG off.

[Earl]

I would have to say that the answer is "yes" - your pickguard shaped mask and some sunlight exposure worked in just a couple of months.  Thanks for keeping us in the loop.  Now where is my dental floss and hair dryer.........