pickguard removal

[xuthal]

i am considering buying an acoustic guitar.This guitar is an old one.It has a very large pickguard on it an i want to remove it as i am left handed.Is there a way of doing this and still maintaining the overall colour?The guitar looks to be from the 80's to maybe even the 60's.Solid spruce top and has that nice vintage look.I will post pictures when i figure out how to.

[xuthal]

here it is in a link: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/594014754.html
sorry i cant figure out how to post a picture.:mad:

[Greg Ellis]

The bridge is setup for right handed play - see how it slants?

I suppose you could string it left handed anyway, but the intonation will never be right.

[Lester B. Flat]

Even if that guard was glued on there yesterday it won't come off without leaving a mark. The bridge and nut would have to be replaced too, to convert it to a lefty. That looks like a cool hand made guitar. It would be a shame to mess with it.

[fraser]

pickguard will likely come off with a bit of heat, peel off like old tape. the area under the guard will be lighter- id leave it and just put a left handed nut on it, and probably cut a new saddle slot to angle for intonation- would be a cool guitar. cheap enough to justify the work

my 666th post

[xuthal]

yea i think ill just leave the pickguard on.The guitar was relisted yesterday so ill try again.I was going to take it to a luthier to get the saddle slot filled and routed.Is it a good idea to do it myself?I'm pretty sure i can handle the job,i just need to know what angle to cut/rout it at.

[fraser]

you could take a measurement(id use verniers to get it exact- ) from the front of bridge to the contact point at the saddle for the low e string. then do the same for the high e. then replicate the same angle only reversed for left hand. id use a rosewood plug to fill the old slot, then cut the new one. likely wood filler or wood putty will work- they sell crayons that can colour these things. the important thing to remember, is that you want the bottom of the new slot to be flat, or for at least the new saddle to be the same shape. and the saddle needs to fit in the new slot as tightly as possible- while still contacting the sides and bottom of the slot. the saddle will transfer its string vibrations through the bridge and into the top of the guitar, so the better you do this the better itll sound.
this kind of stuff takes a bit of time and attention, but its not rocket science- if it takes a week, itll likely be better in the long run than if it took an hour lol. id consider this worth doing, and relatively simple if your handy

[xuthal]

Thanks fraser but all my plans have come up short.Just got a response finally and the guy wont ship.As my cousin mickey would say"shitty bum"but i will use the info you gave me on my next guitar.I already have another one in my sights.:2guns:Its not the style i was hoping for but it will do the job.