My Single Ply Pickguard is Bunching Up!

e-merlin · May 7th, 2008, 10:59 PM

Well, I've had my MIM Esquire almost a year. I've been expecting this since every other guitar I've ever had with a single ply pickguard has done it, but it took a while. The pickguard is apparently stretching and is forming a bubble in the middle. On other guitars in the past, I have just put on a multi-layer pickguard, but I'm hoping to salvage this one to keep the vintage look. What are you guys doing about this?

CDKopf · May 7th, 2008, 11:53 PM

Man you must play pretty good for the PG to get hot enough to bubble up!
I have a matte finish 5 hole single ply and for about 2 years now and Ive had no issues with it. I do like how the matte finish starts to get shiny in the "worn" spots. Got a little "relic" action. But no bubbles or warps.
were the holes prefectly lined up when you installed it? Sounds like it may be under some stresses that it finally gave in to. Maybe take it off, cover with a towel, WARM iron till toasty then put it flat between a couple books for a while. At least till cool. then make sure the holes are all good - redrill if necessary & try again. Just some brainstorming ideas that sound like they may work...good luck

Tdot · May 8th, 2008, 12:05 AM

My white 1-ply's warp too

50's Strat
50's Esquire
Baja

I haven't notice anyone complain about black 1-ply, is white softer plastic? It doesn't bug me on the Tele's, but the pups are attached to the pg on the Strat and it changes the height/angle.

Why hasn't somebody made a 3-ply white/white/white? Does the glue make them stiffer?

crawdad · May 8th, 2008, 12:55 AM

The one thing I like about the black bakelite guard is that it won't do that.

stxrus · May 8th, 2008, 03:58 AM

all of my single ply guards warped do i eplaced them with 3x ply and life is good

steve

voided3 · May 8th, 2008, 05:04 AM

I've heard backing off the screws and putting some double sided tape under the guard does the trick.

e-merlin · May 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDKopf

were the holes prefectly lined up when you installed it?

It's factory. Maybe I'll just throw a Tortoiseshell guard on. I like "dead turtle" on black.

May 7th, 2008, 10:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
e-merlin Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,445	My Single Ply Pickguard is Bunching Up! Well, I've had my MIM Esquire almost a year. I've been expecting this since every other guitar I've ever had with a single ply pickguard has done it, but it took a while. The pickguard is apparently stretching and is forming a bubble in the middle. On other guitars in the past, I have just put on a multi-layer pickguard, but I'm hoping to salvage this one to keep the vintage look. What are you guys doing about this? __________________ WARNING:This post may contain items including, but not limited to, sarcasm, irony, hyperbole intended to bring humor to this discussion. Those of you who are overly sensitive or who have no sense of humor are better off ignoring this post.

May 7th, 2008, 11:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
CDKopf Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spokane, Wa Age: 33 Posts: 342 3 Photos	Man you must play pretty good for the PG to get hot enough to bubble up! I have a matte finish 5 hole single ply and for about 2 years now and Ive had no issues with it. I do like how the matte finish starts to get shiny in the "worn" spots. Got a little "relic" action. But no bubbles or warps. were the holes prefectly lined up when you installed it? Sounds like it may be under some stresses that it finally gave in to. Maybe take it off, cover with a towel, WARM iron till toasty then put it flat between a couple books for a while. At least till cool. then make sure the holes are all good - redrill if necessary & try again. Just some brainstorming ideas that sound like they may work...good luck __________________ "Luther's wife is real pretty........ she's about this tall.........LAYIN' DOWN!" (Johnny Cash & guitar player Luther Perkins)

May 8th, 2008, 12:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tdot Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Back of the Wasatch, UT Posts: 3,283 58 Photos	My white 1-ply's warp too 50's Strat 50's Esquire Baja I haven't notice anyone complain about black 1-ply, is white softer plastic? It doesn't bug me on the Tele's, but the pups are attached to the pg on the Strat and it changes the height/angle. Why hasn't somebody made a 3-ply white/white/white? Does the glue make them stiffer? __________________ And now for some feedback: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

May 8th, 2008, 12:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
crawdad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,240	The one thing I like about the black bakelite guard is that it won't do that. __________________ "The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."

May 8th, 2008, 03:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
stxrus Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2007 Location: St. Croix, USVI Age: 56 Posts: 558	all of my single ply guards warped do i eplaced them with 3x ply and life is good steve

May 8th, 2008, 05:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 583	I've heard backing off the screws and putting some double sided tape under the guard does the trick.