How do I get the plastic off this pickup on my new Fender Telecaster Ultra Luxe?

[miwasheeler]

Just got my first electric guitar. I have never played an electric. I got the plastic off the pickguard ok but the plastic on the pickup seems to be wrapped under the pickup. I am reluctant to unscrew anything. Is there a way to do this that an old guy (75) like me can easily do it? Thanks!

 

[Wooly Fox]

Remove scratch plate screws, lift scratch plate enough to see under the neck pickup, you maybe able to pull the plastic off from underneath otherwise you'll need to remove neck pickup.

Otherwise you'll need a razor blade to careful cut the excess off if you won't want to remove the scratch plate.

 

[stormsedge]

I've used tweezers for smaller bits of plastic in the past. But, that plastic is much tougher than it looks and you have a lot to deal with...lifting the guard is probably your best bet.

 

[miwasheeler]

I think I might just live with it for a while. Thanks Wooly. I am not comfortable unscrewing it right now. I definitely won't take a razor to it. I'm sure, with my poor eyes, I would scratch the plate. Thanks for the replies. I have already used tweezers. It really is a tough piece of plastic!

Thanks stormsedge.

 

[sloppychops]

Did you already try raising the pickup? You just need to turn the little screws on either side of the pickup to raise it. That might get it up high enough to get at the plastic.

 

[Cali Dude]

You could take it in for a set up, and ask them to remove it for you.

 

[miwasheeler]

Thanks sloppychops...that is simple enough for me to try. It didn't look like those were attached even though they are so close.

 

[miwasheeler]

Loosening those two screws didn't loosen the pickup. As far as taking it in for a setup...it has already got a better setup than my Martin D18. Sweetwater must have played with it a little. It was perfectly tuned right out of the case...with good low action.

 

[MelodicBend]

No one is congratulating OP on his first electric?

I'll start. You are mercilessly decisive and chose the mother of all first electrics possible with the purchase of an Ultra Luxe Telecaster. They are beautiful and loaded to the top with class. It's the only Fender series with stainless steel freats that I know of. Well done.

I'm sure you can will yourself to work the guard out gently to remove the plastic. You will want to do this in the near future before the plastic wrap material dries out and flakes being a much greater operation at that point.

Ccongrats and good luck.

 

[miwasheeler]

Thanks, MelodicBend. I will make sure to take care of it soon! And thanks for the opinion on this guitar. I am hoping I can do it justice. I am pretty new to guitar in general. I was a mediocre 5-string banjo player most of my life but have always liked the sound of guitars more. The guitar was actually bought for me by a guy I am doing a 3D animation for. It was his opinion that it helps to have a quality instrument. I was just looking at entry-level Telecasters, even the Squire line. So I am pretty thrilled to have this top-of-the-line instrument.

I have a lot to learn. In fact I will be posting a new thread to the forum about what courses to take to learn electric guitar. I have been taking lessons on JustinGuitar.com.

 

[Lies&Distortion]

Could you lower the pickup, move it below the pickguard or close to? So the cover isn’t pinching on the plastic wrap

 

[miwasheeler]

I don't know Lies&Distortion. I have only tried loosening the two screws next to the pickup. I will break down, remove the strings, and do it all properly. I just want to play the instrument right now.

 

[eldorado2001]

I recently bought a new PRS SE model that has a tough plastic coating on the pickups. I thought it was the kind that's supposed to peel off, but it's resisting my efforts and looks like the film on your Tele pickup. Gonna have to take the pups out to do the job.

 

[miwasheeler]

pups?

 

[John C]

pups?

Shorthand for "pickups" - as in "p'ups" where the apostrophe is replacing the "ick".

Welcome to the forum; congrats on the Ultra Luxe Tele, and good luck getting the plastic film off the neck pickup.

 

[Peegoo]

@miwasheeler

At your first string change (when all the strings are off), remove the little screws from the pickguard and lift it up to allow access to the back of the pickup. It's easy and you won't damage anything.

The only thing left to do is to reset the pickup height once you have the pickguard screwed back into place. It's easy to measure and adjust...anyone can do it, really.

Meantime, watch a few YT videos on how to change pickups on a Telecaster. You'll see how easy it is to "operate" on a neck pickup. The bridge pickup is a little more complicated for first-time guitar tech adventures.

Congratulations on your first electric guitar. You got a good one!

And welcome to the crazy house

 

[schmee]

I think I might just live with it for a while. Thanks Wooly. I am not comfortable unscrewing it right now. I definitely won't take a razor to it. I'm sure, with my poor eyes, I would scratch the plate. Thanks for the replies. I have already used tweezers. It really is a tough piece of plastic!

Thanks stormsedge.

I think if you lower the pickup down quite a bit, it will free the plastic enough to get it out of there.

 

[W.L.Weller]

Just to be clear, these 2 screws I circled in yellow don't exactly tighten/loosen the pickup, they function as the height adjustment.

Turning these screws clockwise raises that side of the pickup closer to the strings.

 

[jammybstard]

Did you already try raising the pickup? You just need to turn the little screws on either side of the pickup to raise it. That might get it up high enough to get at the plastic.

Make a note of the height though so you can put it back where it was. otherwis you'll be starting a. pickup height thread

 

[Matthias]

I’d also get some tweezers on it.