Peel it off, or leave it be?

[lonote]

Get rid of it...NOW!

 

[Osprey]

Surely the sheets of plastic from which the pickguard is cut come from the manufacturer with a transparent covering to protect them. It stays on when the shape is cut out (by a machine) and is left on when the pickguard is screwed onto the bass. Unless you are the sort of cheapjack who plays a new bass for the maximum time then sends it back (subsequently moaning about the quality or price or setup of basses from that shop) there's no reason to persuade yourself that the craftsmen who whittled your new bass from the solid wood also somehow applied a sheet of transparent magic to the pickguard.

 

[Cb4rabid]

If it didnt look so worn out and have a big ugly sticker, i'd tell you to do whatever you want.

But because it's hideous....please do everyone a favor and peel it off!

 

[tkcthulu]

Why would anyone EVER want it on after like, a couple of days?

 

[Josh Ryan]

I lied, I have no fireplace! I would have that thing off almost instantly.

 

[jabsys]

Take it off, even if it wasn't already peeling off I'd still remove it.

 

[HertzWhenIPlay]

leaving it on is like keeping the window sticker on a new car and expecting lots of rain to wash it off.

disclaimer....i have never bought a new car, or a car with a window sticker.
i just play bass.

 

[Phalex]

Surely the sheets of plastic from which the pickguard is cut come from the manufacturer with a transparent covering to protect them. It stays on when the shape is cut out (by a machine) and is left on when the pickguard is screwed onto the bass.

Dammit! Way to give away trade secrets.

I never really thought about it, but I think that's spot on. It prevents scratches during shipment of 4X8 sheets of raw material.

 

[ghostdog93]

I lied, I have no fireplace! I would have that thing off almost instantly.

I was tempted to fib about my fireplace ownership as well, but I voted for instant removal instead.

 

[treekiller]

You could've done what I did when I bought both of my Am. Std. Fenders new, take off the pickguard with the plastic(and label) still attached and stash them away. I had wanted different guards anyway(mother of toilet seat for my 'burst Jazz, gold anno for my Oly white/maple P), so now they are safely hidden away. Judging by the collecting craze out there now I guarantee someday many years from now somebody will go nuts for them.

 

[Etchbass]

Get a little bit of super glue and glue it back on all the way! It's good for the tones!

 

[Dekker]

When I first read the thread title, I thought it was going to be about blisters...

But seriously, one reason to keep it on is to protect your new bass from aggressive picking and learning scrapes... but if you are skilled enough now to pick without using a chisel, you should be able to lose the film (hey, it's almost off anyway)

Dekker

 

[WilliamSandoval]

When you paint your house, do you leave the blue tape on? Or do you take it off? Same difference.

 

[cassanova]

If it wasn't well on its way to being off, I'd say leave it on, but that looks like crap man!

That is my exact sentiment on it as well.

 

[Aspidites]

If it was meant to stay there it would not be removable.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

does it really matter?

 

[SBassman]

Get a new bass teacher.

For the win.

 

[Bass Mule]

Haha! I feel like I'm reading lines from a webcam chatroom. "Peel it off! Peel it off!"

 

[Hevy T]

Why even ask the question? Why would you want to leave a piece of plastic just 1/2 attached such a beautiful bass?????

 

[Hapa]

pocket protector protector = scratch film on pickguard protecting your bass. Peel it off. It looks like you are new, not just the bass.