Now, its perfect (Yamaha pickguard removal)

[Italuke]

Originally Posted by L20A

As much as I love Yamaha guitars, I have never liked the look of their pick guard.

Same here. That skinny part of the guard just ruins it. I would change it too if I bought a Yamaha dread. (But I love the guards on the AC series, sort of a mix of Taylor and some old Gibbys.)

[kliend]

I like clear pickguards, good stuff.

[hairpuller]

Love my new FS5, but not the pickguard. I've been talking to Taylor at Holter pickguards about what to replace it with.

Thanks for the info on getting it off!

scott

[Ds114]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

Love my new FS5, but not the pickguard. I've been talking to Taylor at Holter pickguards about what to replace it with.

Thanks for the info on getting it off!

scott

FG-180 looks to be a direct replacement

[nrand]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

Love my new FS5, but not the pickguard. I've been talking to Taylor at Holter pickguards about what to replace it with.

Thanks for the info on getting it off!

scott

My apologies for the late bump an older thread but I am considering the same.
Thank you for the helpful info too.
I had no idea that pickguard was vinyl!
One question though, does anyone know it all the Yamaha acoustic soundholes are the same radius?
The Yamaha N-500 pickguard has an interesting shape to it that I like the look of.

[PineMarten]

Originally Posted by Italuke

Same here. That skinny part of the guard just ruins it. I would change it too if I bought a Yamaha dread. (But I love the guards on the AC series, sort of a mix of Taylor and some old Gibbys.)

I actually like that about Yamaha, they have their own look that's not a straight copy of anything else.

[Italuke]

Lol, unable to delete this, as I forgot I had already commented (complained) about this!

[Ds114]

Originally Posted by nrand

My apologies for the late bump an older thread but I am considering the same.
Thank you for the helpful info too.
I had no idea that pickguard was vinyl!
One question though, does anyone know it all the Yamaha acoustic soundholes are the same radius?
The Yamaha N-500 pickguard has an interesting shape to it that I like the look of.

I've seen some custom pickguard makers online in the past that have downloadable / printable templates. Sorry I don't recall the site, but if you dig into a few of them you will maybe be able to find

[Guilty Spark]

I replaced the pickguard on my Yamaha 12-string and replaced it with a wood veneer one in the Gibson Hummingbird pickguard shape. The wood color and grain nicely matches the rosewood bridge and rosewood armrest I put on it.
It's a pretty simple process that most folks should be comfortable doing as long as they exercise patience and take their time. The tan lines on mine are just about gone.

[nrand]

Originally Posted by Guilty Spark

I replaced the pickguard on my Yamaha 12-string and replaced it with a wood veneer one in the Gibson Hummingbird pickguard shape. The wood color and grain nicely matches the rosewood bridge and rosewood armrest I put on it.
It's a pretty simple process that most folks should be comfortable doing as long as they exercise patience and take their time. The tan lines on mine are just about gone.

Overall that is a pretty nice look. Looking at the alignment it appears that the Gibson radius is a little larger than the Yamaha, but stilll it works. I am a big fan of the armrests.

[Guilty Spark]

It's not perfect, but for having picked it up for about $250 in mint condition, it has morped into a decent guitar. The Colosi saddle and pins didn't hurt.
It's been a fun guitar to play around with as far as modifications.
In my experience, armrests make a HUGE difference (for the better) in how a guitar sounds. Huge.

[doctone]

Tonight I decided that my FS5 Pickguard had to go, and boy am I glad I did! It's a shame what Yamaha did here to an otherwise stellar instrument.

The fake "wood" sticker came off easily with the help of a hair dryer.

Underneath is a thin gloss black standard plastic PG you will probably find on the FS/FG3 series or any lower budget Yam. Used the hair dryer again to remove it, being particulary patient with the wide part. It looks ok, but no, don't stay with it. You have already come so far! It will be a nice template for a new, good one.

But the really nasty part is the thick, foamy kind of black glue that awaits you at the bottom. It does not hold together, so you have no choice but rubbing it off somehow. Heat and fingers didn't work for me. But fortunately, naphta (standard lighter fluid) does not affect the finish at all. I'm taking my time, rolling it off millimeter by millimeter with a naphta soaked Q-Tip. I think it will take me two more hours at least, but I'm looking forward to see this beautiful top naked. Fortunately, it has the semi-gloss finish under the PG, too, and almost no tanline.

[llew]

I gotta do this...I can't stand that pick guard!

[Shortfinger]

You guys and your pickguard stuff. If it ain't peeling off, just play the guitar. In the time you took to read this thread and think of something to say, and then type it all out, you could have learned to play a new tune.

Or practice one.

Go play.

[Horsehockey]

Originally Posted by drive-south

You can safely remove a guard in 5 minutes with a hair dryer. Heat softens the 2 way tape used to attach it. There is a lot less residue to remove with Naphtha. I've done several and never had any problem whatsoever.

That’s my approach too. Took about 10 minutes to remove the guard and the leftover adhesive. I use heat for unwanted auto dealer stickers, bumper stickers, and the like. Wife’s hairdryer is usually enough but from time to time I’ll bring in the big gun, the heat gun, although I’d never use a heat gun on a guitar. A little bit of heat and adhesive don’t play well together, and the adhesive ends up on the losing end.