Vintage Pickguard Fog/Residue?

[Number179]

I'm getting this residue from my 1974 Ripper pickguard; I know vintage pickguard material has a tendency to behave strangely, like shrink or emit gases, but I don't know enough to prevent potential damage.

Looks like its coming from cracks or imperfections, and it seems to be a liquid of some sort. It cleans up ok with a rag or paper towel, but after about 30 days or so, it gets foggy and moist again.

Anyone know exactly what this is on the original Ripper Tort guards? And how to treat it in a way that will 1) protect the guard from falling apart, and 2) corroding or damaging the other components?

TIA

 

[sissy kathy]

I'm inclined to believe that is condensation. Does the area where you keep it have temperature fluctuations; 70+ daytime, but 65 or so at night?

 

[Number179]

Thanks for the response. No, no major fluctuations. The residue doesn’t appear until like a full month of not being wiped down.

 

[sissy kathy]

Thanks for the response. No, no major fluctuations. The residue doesn’t appear until like a full month of not being wiped down.

Menses?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

70’s Gibsons aren’t what I think of first off when it comes to pickguards or binding off gassing but it could be that. It’s a little hard to tell in the pictures but it looks like the screws right next to the spots are really corroded and the others are old but not bad? If it is the pickguard off gassing or doing some other 70’s plastic weirdness there’s probably not much you can do. I had an old Kay where the binding was rotting and crumbling. I stabilized the really bad areas with some CA glue but ended up replacing the binding later on anyway. The best bet is probably a new pickguard and store the old one in a bag or something away from the bass.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I'd suggest getting a replacement, it's apparently returning to it's natural state which was a liquid.
By the way we have no way of knowing what it's devolving into, and that liquid could be toxic or an irritant,
just be careful dealing with it.

Places like Pickguardian can make great copies with modern materials.
You send your old one in, they measure it and match it, and send both back to you,

I wouldn't believe you would devalue your classic axe one penny with a new custom pick guard.
I don't believe the instruments value is related at all to the pickguard.

Then again I'm not a 70's Gibson collector, so I could certainly be mistaken.

 

[Number179]

I appreciate the insight. That's what I came here for. Sounds like I should replace it and seal the original in a plastic bag - I'll probly screw it into a piece of wood to prevent shrinkage.