Easy to fix this warped pickguard?

konaboy · #1 05-18-2009, 07:27 AM

Hi

The black plastic pickguard on my Cort Performer bass is slightly warped. Not a big deal and it's a cheap instrument, but on the other hand, if it's an easy fix then I might as well do it and perhaps learn something in the process.

Any advice?

Stingray_EB · #2 05-18-2009, 07:43 AM

I wouldnt think you could get it back to the way it was.

202dy · #3 05-18-2009, 07:54 AM

Place the pickguard between two pieces of 1/4" plate glass and set the assembly in the sun for an hour or so. Remove to a shady spot and gently place some weight on the top panel. The upper panel must remain in place during the cool down phase. Let cool.

Most of the time you will not have to place the weight, so check for flat before going to the trouble.

konaboy · #4 05-18-2009, 10:20 AM

thanks guys. I had read about the plates of glass trick after searching the forum, but who has plate glass lying around the house? Furthermore, the likelihood of hot sun in Scandanavia is fairly remote.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

Why is the pickguard in this condition?

202dy · #5 05-18-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konaboy

thanks guys. I had read about the plates of glass trick after searching the forum, but who has plate glass lying around the house? Furthermore, the likelihood of hot sun in Scandanavia is fairly remote.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

Why is the pickguard in this condition?

Many of us who do repair have plate glass lying around in the shop. It is useful as a makeshift surfacing plate and for making comparisons about what is or is not flat. You can obtain it out of the scrap bin at a local glass house, usually for free if you ask nice before hand.

The heat of the sun in Scandinavia is not important. It is not the sun's heat that you're interested in, just the ability of the material to convert the sun's energy into heat through absorption. A black vinyl pickguard will do this for you handily.

The pickguard on your guitar probably warped because it was near a heat source. Maybe it was stored near a window when the sun was shining.

BTW, most schemes that involve heating the vinyl in an oven or other device usually end in flames.

Relic · #6 05-18-2009, 11:13 AM

turn it upside down, place a cloth over it, take a clothes iron to it as though you're ironing a shirt. Do it quickly, carefully and dont stop in any one spot for more than a second as the cloth may stick to the vinyl.

konaboy · #7 06-23-2009, 10:00 AM

just a follow up. I waited for a hot day then nipped down to the glass merchants to buy a couple of panes.

Put the glass/pickguard sandwich in the sun for an hour or so. Was very surprised how much heat it absorbed, when I moved it indoors it was too hot to hold.

Held it down whilst it cooled with a case of poker chips. The result is a mirror smooth pickguard, good as new. It has greatly improved the appearance of my bass.

Thanks again for the advice.

202dy · #8 06-23-2009, 01:27 PM

Invoice sent.

lmfreeman9 · #9 06-23-2009, 01:31 PM

Here in Chicago, you can get a small pane of glass for a reasonable price at any hardware store.

vejesse · #10 06-23-2009, 01:51 PM

anybody ever heard of plywood?

Steveaux · #11 06-23-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vejesse

anybody ever heard of plywood?

+1 ... and clamps ???

Rick Auricchio · #12 06-23-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vejesse

anybody ever heard of plywood?

Yes, perhaps on the bottom, if the wood is not warped itself and is stiff. On top, it would tend to block the sun, though it would eventually allow heat through to the plastic. You need heat to reshape the plastic.

And in Stockholm, you have plenty of sun per day this time of year!

Webtroll · #13 06-23-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202dy

Place the pickguard between two pieces of 1/4" plate glass and set the assembly in the sun for an hour or so.

I did this using shelves from an entertainment center. Set it out and went to work, when I got home the pickguard was as flat as the proverbial pancake. The pcikguard was really warped bad originally, it had shipped in a "do not bend" envelope and it was stuffed in a black mailbox in the Texas heat. To get it in there the postman had to bend it which didn't help either. If I ever get another warped pickguard this is the first thing I'm turning to.

konaboy · #14 07-03-2009, 11:22 AM

Bygde · #15 07-03-2009, 12:33 PM

Snyggt jobbat! Vart riktigt plant!

Rich807 · #16 08-09-2010, 06:52 PM

I just fixed a brand new (but badly warped) Fender pickguard for my J Bass, inspired by this thread. In my case I put the tortoise pickguard in the heavy clear plastic it came in, set it on a piece of plywood in the sun (dark side up even though it was warped to the back(white) side, waited about an hour in the 90 degree heat, then put 3 bricks on top of the package for a while. I then took it out of the package, shaped it some, then set it back in the sun (inside the package again), only this time with bricks on it. Waited about 30 min, checked it was ironed out flat, then pulled the entire setup into the shade to let it cool.

It came out flat as a board and has stayed that way. Saved me a 40+ mile round trip to the store for a return so it was well worth the effort.

Next time I buy something like this at the store 'll be taking a close look in the store as one can't assume even a factory part like this is good-to-go.