Contracting pick guard

jamesM
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Posts: 772

Location: Victoria B. C.

Contracting pick guard Feb 3, 2019 19:38:31 GMT -5

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Post by jamesM on Feb 3, 2019 19:38:31 GMT -5

There's an ad on the local used stuff site from a music store in town. They're selling a 1972 Gibson J-40. I'm not interested in buying it but I'm curious about something they say in the ad: "has common crack on top from contracting pick guard". I'm not a guitar repair guy but I've never heard of this. I know that wood is constantly expanding and contracting but a contracting pick guard? And one that moves enough to cause cracking? Just how common is this? Is this one more thing I have to be concerned about?

TonyKgull
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Contracting pick guard Feb 4, 2019 4:14:48 GMT -5

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Post by TonyKgull on Feb 4, 2019 4:14:48 GMT -5

jamesM, Pick guards contract as they get old. The plastic (of whatever type) dries out eventually and it shrinks a bit.

The other part about the pick guard causing a crack in the guitar due to the pick guard shrinking a bit, that I've never heard of.

It could be that the guitar is so old that it cracked due to age and the humidity not being perfect for it the "whole time" of its life. The seller might just be putting the blame on the pick guard. Who knows.

But ya, pick guards will eventually start to shrink a bit when they get really, really old. I've never heard of one actually causing a crack in a guitar though, but hey, I guess anything's possible.

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CTGull Global Moderator MOD/ADMIN Posts: 4,634 Location: Connecticut Playing guitar since: Early 80's & 2011	Contracting pick guard Feb 4, 2019 6:42:41 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by CTGull on Feb 4, 2019 6:42:41 GMT -5 This is common in old Martins. The celluloid pickguard shrinks, cracking to top below the soundhole.
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RobertW
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Contracting pick guard Feb 4, 2019 8:32:11 GMT -5 CTGull and Stud Muffin like this

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Post by RobertW on Feb 4, 2019 8:32:11 GMT -5

Stewmac has a video about shrinking pickguard cracking the top...

www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_Pickguard_Making_and_Repair/A_shrinking_pickguard_cracks_the_guitar_top.html

Last Edit: Feb 4, 2019 8:34:59 GMT -5 by RobertW

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jamesM Elite Member Posts: 772 Location: Victoria B. C.	Contracting pick guard Feb 4, 2019 10:10:27 GMT -5 TonyKgull likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jamesM on Feb 4, 2019 10:10:27 GMT -5 Wow, thanks folks, something else to cross off my, 'i didn't know that..' list. Or am I adding it to that list... ?
	Last Edit: Feb 4, 2019 10:40:18 GMT -5 by jamesM

jamesM Elite Member Posts: 772 Location: Victoria B. C.	Contracting pick guard Feb 4, 2019 14:17:55 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jamesM on Feb 4, 2019 14:17:55 GMT -5 RobertW, great video, thanks.

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Post by jamesM on Feb 3, 2019 19:38:31 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on Feb 4, 2019 4:14:48 GMT -5

Post by CTGull on Feb 4, 2019 6:42:41 GMT -5

Post by RobertW on Feb 4, 2019 8:32:11 GMT -5

Post by jamesM on Feb 4, 2019 10:10:27 GMT -5

Post by jamesM on Feb 4, 2019 14:17:55 GMT -5

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