Martin Pickguard Replacement

A common repair on older Martin acoustic guitars is replacement of the pickguard. As was the practice prior to 1985 for Martin, pickguards were adhered directly to the top prior to painting. Gibson and other manufactures did this as well. When these celluloid pickguards shrink some tend to curl up around the edges. If the pickguard manages to keep a fairly good grip on the top as it shrinks, cracks can occur.

Side View of A Curling Pickguard

Repairing Cracks

The first step to repairing is to remove the original pickguard and repair any cracks that may be present. Large open cracks tend to "relax" a little after the tension created by the shrinking pickguard is removed. Proper humidity is also essential to closing these open cracks.

   
Inner and Outer edge cracks can appear adjacent to pickguard

Cracks that permeate thru the wood should be cleated for reinforcement.

After cracks are repaired the bare wood area is then finished with lacquer and leveled with the surrounding finish.
Because several layers of finish may be necessary this is usually the most time consuming portion of the repair. Lacquer is quite high in solvents and shrinks quite a bit making multiple coats necessary to build up the finish. I layer the finish until it can be leveled with the surrounding top finish to provide a smooth flat surface for the new guard to adhere to.

  After wet sanding I take the instrument to the machine buffer to polish the top and install a new pickguard.

Replacement Pickguards

Because the original pickguards were sprayed over with finish they look and shine a little differently than the replacements. Due to the nasty contortion many go thru it's rarely possible to reuse them, if it's critical we try, but badly curled guards are likely to pop loose if a good deal of tension must be used to force them flat. You will also find that the shrunken pickguard no longer conceals the area which it was originally adhered to. Custom guards are made to fit the instrument in hand.
 

 Hand Made Pickguards

I hand cut, bevel and round over the edge of new pickguards before buffing them out.
It's a matter of opinion but as you can see from the guards above, I believe that's a far better look than the inexpensive pre-made, stamp cut pickguards with 90° edges.

I also install and stock pre-cut pickguards by  Tor-Tis™ Pickguards.  It's important however to have the top properly sealed prior to installing a new oversized guard as the ledge between finished and unfinished top will cause the new guard to wrinkle around the edges as it tries to adhere to uneven surfaces.
 

I would not recommend attaching a new peel and stick pickguard to an unfinished top as future removal could cause top splintering if not removed carefully. These original guards come off quite easily but the adhesives we use for new pickguards is quite strong. Heat and caution is necessary to remove a well adhered pickguard, something I don't recommend to do-it-yourselfers as the finish is at risk.
 

Top Dip

In a few cases there are instruments that have a fairly recognizable dip in the top in the area of the pickguard. In fact, I've see some shrink and curl so severely that the top broke loose from the underlying finger braces. That's one reason I like to replace a curling guard before it goes too far.
In an instance such as this, application of finish is not going to "perfect" that area or make it completely level, but it will give the new pickguard a smooth area to adhere to. The use of a veneer to flatten the area is a possibility but I would only recommend that if the situation truly warranted it and would be greatly improved. I do not prefer to add the mass to the top if not sincerely necessary.
 

Cost

In most cases Martin's lifetime warranty will cover the cost of this repair to the original owner of instruments that have not been abused. (Registration or proof of purchase is required by the factory.)
Prices to finish the bare top area and install a new pickguard start at $150. Additional charges may include top crack repair, reinforcement and upgrading to more pricey pickguard materials.

Related Articles:
Acoustic Guitar Pickguards
Martin Warranty Service