I did it per snkysnake's comment - the pickguard came loose slowly, although it left the glue behind, which took a while to clean up.
Paul, that's great advice, and if I still remove the bridge, I will tackle it that way. Placida raises a great point, however: I had been all set to reply that, well, yeah, it kind of is necessary to remove it. But that stripping the top would require stripping the bridge was something of an unexamined assumption on my part; now I come to think of it, it may be possible to sand around the bridge. Given the difficulties of getting the thing off, going around it should really be the first option so long as it doesn't impede the broader goal of refinishing it.
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