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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / How soon after you buy a new Strat....

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Stratrocker
Contributing Member
****

USA

good welder, crappy guitar player
Feb 18th, 2017 07:06 PM Edit Profile
....do you peel the plastic film and sticker off the pickguard? I have a hard time doing it.

littleuch
Contributing Member
**********
*****

Florida

Feb 18th, 2017 07:43 PM Edit Profile
Immediately.

Blueblender

20 miles out of town

...in cold irons bound
Feb 18th, 2017 07:52 PM Edit Profile
"I have a hard time doing it."
Someone has to ask, so I'll be that guy.
Why?

Modal Magic
Contributing Member
********

MBJ, Highway Hound.

You Can't Bend It Aussie!
Feb 18th, 2017 07:58 PM Edit Profile
I do it as soon as I get it home but I cut the plastic around the stickers and keep them along with the rest of the paperwork that comes with the guitar. I also give the scratch and back plates a polish to get rid of any residue left behind from the plastic, which can attract dust and dirt causing gunkiness.

Stratrocker
Contributing Member
****

USA

good welder, crappy guitar player
Feb 18th, 2017 08:03 PM Edit Profile
"Someone has to ask, so I'll be that guy.
Why?" - Blueblender

I know, it's weird. It just takes away from the "newness" I guess.

"...but I cut the plastic around the stickers and keep them along with the rest of the paperwork that comes with the guitar." - Modal Magic

I like this idea!

reverendrob
FDP Data Goon
Moderator

We all want

our time in hell
Feb 19th, 2017 01:22 AM Edit Profile
I get rid of that on any pickguard that has plastic, not just Strats.

Unless I found that within minutes I wasn't keeping it for one reason or another (which is very, very rare), that plastic goes away immediately along with stock strings.

Pinetree
Moderator Emeritus
(with many stars)

NW Pennsylvania

Feb 19th, 2017 02:16 AM Edit Profile
Immediately if not sooner.

budg
Contributing Member
**********

ohio

Home of the Goodyear blimp
Feb 19th, 2017 04:51 AM Edit Profile
It's part of the unpacking process.

Leftee
Contributing Member
****

VA

Feb 19th, 2017 05:34 AM Edit Profile
I'm in the right away crowd. As soon as I know it isn't going back.

Can't remember the last time I bought one in a store.

009
Contributing Member
****

USA

Feb 23rd, 2017 06:27 AM Edit Profile
^ ^ ^ Yeah, as long as it takes to confirme that it's a keeper.

HeavyDuty
Contributing Member
**********
*****

Northeast IL

Not very bright but does lack ambition
Feb 23rd, 2017 06:55 AM Edit Profile
Not just a Strat thing, but I usually replace the pickguard right away, and the original gets put in storage with the plastic and stickers intact.

jay1vinton

Hawaii, USA

Perfect is the enemy of good enough
May 25th, 2017 02:45 PM Edit Profile
I remove it immediately, I go so far as to loosen the pickguard screws to get those pesky plastic pieces that get stuck under the screws. I begin to scratch it up immediately also..;-)

5Strats
Contributing Member
**********
**********

Edmond/OKC

GospelBilly!
May 25th, 2017 02:48 PM Edit Profile
I keep it on until plastic starts shrinking and tearing, making the Strat look absolutely terrible. Only then is magic achieved.

(;oD

Peegoo
Contributing Member
**********
**********
******

I've got my own

double-cross to bear
May 25th, 2017 03:09 PM Edit Profile
I've never been a fan of condoms--so that stuff does not stay on more than a few days.

Like Jay1Vinton, I loosen the mounting screws (and the pots) to allow a clean, complete removal.

And like Mick--I give the plastic a wipe down with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits to remove the sticky residue that sometimes remains on the plastic.

Mick Reid
Contributing Member
***

Australia

American-made in Oz!!
May 25th, 2017 04:04 PM Edit Profile
"And like Mick--I give the plastic a wipe down with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits to remove the sticky residue that sometimes remains on the plastic."

I didn't say that! (right country, wrong member!) But I *do* loves me some mineral spirits! I go through litres of it every year! Use it on everything...

We call it "Metho" here. Short for Methylated Spirits.

Also... there's plastic on pickguards??? ;^)

stratcowboy
Contributing Member
**********
*

USA/Taos, NM

May 25th, 2017 08:59 PM Edit Profile
"Also... there's plastic on pickguards??? ;^) "

That's an up-charge option in Australia.

Mick Reid
Contributing Member
***

Australia

American-made in Oz!!
May 26th, 2017 12:39 AM Edit Profile
"That's an up-charge option in Australia."

You're not wrong!
I knew there had to be a reason Fender guitars are so expensive here!

Fenderookie
Contributing Member
******

Troy, IL

May 26th, 2017 05:29 AM Edit Profile
I see no reason to keep it on, so I remove it immediately

MLC

It's not just good..

...it's good enough.
May 26th, 2017 06:21 AM Edit Profile
"It's part of the unpacking process."

^^this^^

It's packaging material and should be treated as such.

Peegoo
Contributing Member
**********
**********
******

I've got my own

double-cross to bear
May 26th, 2017 07:56 AM Edit Profile
If you've ever bought plastic or metal (polished/painted) sheet stock, you know It always comes with the adhesive polyethylene film on it. The purpose is to help protect it from minor damage during storage, handling, and machining.

I've had guitars on my bench that were 10+ years old with the protective plastic film still on the parts. At that point, the film is ratty and brittle, and the adhesive has hardened and can be extremely difficult to remove.

Some people like that stuff to stay on. Some people like to leave the tags or labels on their hats and shoes. But it's nothing new: Minnie Pearl was doing this 80 years ago with the price tag on her hat.

Next 20 Messages

FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / How soon after you buy a new Strat....

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