Yamaha Red Label Series...

llew · #1 04-01-2023, 08:55 AM

Just curious if anyone has successfully removed the wooden pick guard from their Red Label Yamaha FG/FS models and if so how'd you do it? Also was there a tan line? Many thanks!

YamahaGuy · #2 04-01-2023, 09:05 AM

I rook mine off within the first two months of owning my FGX5. The black adhesive tape Yamaha uses takes a lot of elbow grease to remove. I recall using my finger and friction. I got blisters during the process. It's worth the effort. No tan lines on mine.

The pickguard on my gen 1 AC3R was much easier to remove but it left tan lines.

llew · #3 04-01-2023, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

I rook mine off within the first two months of owning my FGX5. The black adhesive tape Yamaha uses takes a lot of elbow grease to remove. I recall using my finger and friction. I got blisters during the process. It's worth the effort. No tan lines on mine.

The pickguard on my gen 1 AC3R was much easier to remove but it left tan lines.

Thanks! Did you heat it up with a hair dryer or something to get it off? And did you put a different pick guard on after taking the factory installed one off?

Rogerblair · #4 04-01-2023, 11:02 AM

I removed mine and made a new one out of real wood, a thin veneer with adhesive backing. The ones from the factory are not wood…they’re a thick rubber-y plastic, and a pain in the butt to remove. As yamahaguy stated, the adhesive doesn’t want to come off. Very stubborn.

Mine left no tan line at all, but was pretty new when I did the project.
Roger

YamahaGuy · #5 04-01-2023, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llew

Thanks! Did you heat it up with a hair dryer or something to get it off? And did you put a different pick guard on after taking the factory installed one off?

I didn't use heat. I have left the pick guard off and did not replace it with anything.

llew · #6 04-02-2023, 09:02 AM

Thanks guys...may be my Sunday afternoon project today. One last question...if you didn't use a hairdryer/heat how did you get its started?

YamahaGuy · #7 04-02-2023, 04:34 PM

I started at a corner and peeled slowly. Get as much of the black glue off with the pick guard as you can.

Good luck.

co2bruce · #8 04-21-2023, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogerblair

I removed mine and made a new one out of real wood, a thin veneer with adhesive backing. The ones from the factory are not wood…they’re a thick rubber-y plastic, and a pain in the butt to remove. As yamahaguy stated, the adhesive doesn’t want to come off. Very stubborn.

Mine left no tan line at all, but was pretty new when I did the project.
Roger

Wow. That thick black adhesive is really something to remove! We don’t have anything like that in this country. It took me and a friend about 1 1/2 hours to slowly rub it off with fingers. Lots of blisters but I think it was worth it. Not sure what Yamaha was thinking with that pick guard?

YamahaGuy · #9 04-21-2023, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by co2bruce

Wow. That thick black adhesive is really something to remove! We don’t have anything like that in this country. It took me and a friend about 1 1/2 hours to slowly rub it off with fingers. Lots of blisters but I think it was worth it. Not sure what Yamaha was thinking with that pick guard?

Brings back memories of sore fingers...I feel it was worth it.