Fender Starcaster Pickguard Removal Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

7

Time Required

                          30 minutes            

Sections

2

• String Removement
• 3 steps
• Fender Starcaster Pickguard Removal
• 4 steps

Flags

1

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Loosen the Strings               

• Start by loosening the strings. This is done by turning the tuning knob until the string has lost tension.
• Repeat this for all six strings on the guitar.

Start by loosening the strings. This is done by turning the tuning knob until the string has lost tension.

Repeat this for all six strings on the guitar.

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Step 2

              Remove the Strings from the Tuning Pegs               

• Be mindful of the string ends. They may be sharp and could puncture your skin.
• It may be necessary to use pliers to remove string ends from the tuning peg.

Be mindful of the string ends. They may be sharp and could puncture your skin.

It may be necessary to use pliers to remove string ends from the tuning peg.

Step 3

              Remove the Strings from the Bridge               

• After removing the strings from the tuning pegs, slide the strings through the bridge and out of the back of the guitar.
• If the twists in the string ends are in the way, use wire cutters to snip them off. This will allow the heavier strings to pass through the bridge easier.

After removing the strings from the tuning pegs, slide the strings through the bridge and out of the back of the guitar.

If the twists in the string ends are in the way, use wire cutters to snip them off. This will allow the heavier strings to pass through the bridge easier.

Step 4

              Remove the Knobs               

• While it is not necessary to remove the potentiometer knobs in order to remove the pickguard, it is much easier to remove them while the pickguard is attached to the guitar.
• The knobs are removed simply by pulling up on them. Be mindful not to pry too much, as older components may feel stuck at first, and you do not want to break the pickguard, knob, or potentiometer.

While it is not necessary to remove the potentiometer knobs in order to remove the pickguard, it is much easier to remove them while the pickguard is attached to the guitar.

The knobs are removed simply by pulling up on them. Be mindful not to pry too much, as older components may feel stuck at first, and you do not want to break the pickguard, knob, or potentiometer.

Step 5

              Remove the Selector Switch Cap               

• As with the knobs, the switch cap may be removed prior to removing the pickguard.
• Grip the cap firmly, and pull up to remove it from the switch. Be aware that the switch may move, and to be careful so that you do not break it.

As with the knobs, the switch cap may be removed prior to removing the pickguard.

Grip the cap firmly, and pull up to remove it from the switch. Be aware that the switch may move, and to be careful so that you do not break it.

Step 6

• Once the cap and knobs have been removed, you may begin removing the screws around the perimeter of the pickguard.
• Do not remove the screws on the electronics.

Once the cap and knobs have been removed, you may begin removing the screws around the perimeter of the pickguard.

Do not remove the screws on the electronics.

Step 7

              Remove the Pickguard               

• Gently lift up on the pickguard. With the screws removed, it should be loose, and easily pulled off of the guitar body.
• Carefully rotate the pickguard away from the guitar. Notice the electronics. There is a wire that runs through the body to the output jack.

Gently lift up on the pickguard. With the screws removed, it should be loose, and easily pulled off of the guitar body.

Carefully rotate the pickguard away from the guitar. Notice the electronics. There is a wire that runs through the body to the output jack.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

                                      with 3 other contributors 

                    Christopher Hartigan                     

Member since: 09/10/2014

158 Reputation

                                      5 Guides authored                  



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Team

                       Pasco Hernando, Team 5-3, Prince Fall 2014                        

                                                  Member of Pasco Hernando, Team 5-3, Prince Fall 2014 



                    PHSC-PRINCE-F14S5G3                     


                                            9 Members                     


                                            10 Guides authored                     

stantondvx - Feb 7, 2016

Reply

This process describes only how to access the internals of the guitar — how to MOVE the pick guard. NOT how to actually REMOVE it, as indicated in the title. And removing it is what is required if we were talking about ‘removing the pick guard…to change the style,’ as noted in the introduction.