NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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George L
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NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by George L » Fri Aug 10, 2018 12:38 pm

Some days ago I submitted a best offer for this pickguard and the seller accepted my offer immediately. :)
I haven't received it yet but I was wondering how to clean it and if it's OK to use a Fine Polishing compound to make it more shinny. Thanks

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Enzo
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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by Enzo » Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:51 pm

Just be very careful which compound you use for polishing as nitrate pickguards like yours can react very sensitively to a lot of compounds that have alcohol. These pickguards are also very flammable so work carefully. Best of luck!

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George L
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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by George L » Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:33 pm

Enzo wrote:
Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:51 pm
Just be very careful which compound you use for polishing as nitrate pickguards like yours can react very sensitively to a lot of compounds that have alcohol. These pickguards are also very flammable so work carefully. Best of luck!
Thanks!
I guess alcohol will melt the surface of the pickguard
I have ColorTone Polishing Compound from Stewmac for fine scraches. must be OK

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by Enzo » Mon Aug 13, 2018 7:20 pm

George L wrote:
Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:33 pm
Enzo wrote:
Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:51 pm
Just be very careful which compound you use for polishing as nitrate pickguards like yours can react very sensitively to a lot of compounds that have alcohol. These pickguards are also very flammable so work carefully. Best of luck!
Thanks!
I guess alcohol will melt the surface of the pickguard
I have ColorTone Polishing Compound from Stewmac for fine scraches. must be OK
I’ve never used that particular compound, but I’ve had nothing but great experiences with the StewMac products that I have used! Let us know how it goes!

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:41 pm

Wait until you see it in person.

Vintage tort has a habit of looking very different when it's out of the sun, quite dull, sometimes. Direct sunlight seems to make it ping & that's when the real depth & beauty of the stuff comes out.
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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by mgeek » Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:36 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:
Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:41 pm
Wait until you see it in person.

Vintage tort has a habit of looking very different when it's out of the sun, quite dull, sometimes. Direct sunlight seems to make it ping & that's when the real depth & beauty of the stuff comes out.
This is good advice, also, it's 50+ years old, it's not meant to be shiny as such.

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George L
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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by George L » Tue Aug 14, 2018 4:26 am

mgeek wrote:
Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:36 am
PorkyPrimeCut wrote:
Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:41 pm
Wait until you see it in person.

Vintage tort has a habit of looking very different when it's out of the sun, quite dull, sometimes. Direct sunlight seems to make it ping & that's when the real depth & beauty of the stuff comes out.
This is good advice, also, it's 50+ years old, it's not meant to be shiny as such.
Sorry guys It's my fault. I gave the wrong impression that I want to restore of fix the pickguard.
The truth is when I saw it I fell in love with the colors and the pattern.
I was just wondering if it's ok to polish a vintage pickguard like buffing a new guitar finish
I can't wait to see it in person. Damn global shipping program!

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by mgeek » Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:11 pm

haha you're still giving that impression because buffing it like a guitar finish *would* qualify as restoration... ;)

It's your pickguard, though you can do what you like with it.

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by George L » Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:45 am

The pickguard arrived today and it's so beautiful!
Sellers photos were very bad haha
It is in very good shape
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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by andrewaward » Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:53 am

looks great!

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by Enzo » Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:06 am

Wow, it really pops! What color is your jaguar? Charcoal frost?

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by George L » Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:50 am

andrewaward wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:53 am
looks great!
thanks!
Enzo wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:06 am
Wow, it really pops! What color is your jaguar? Charcoal frost?
thanks! No it's black. Sorry bad photo my pottery workshop is overly bright

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by aliendawg » Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:51 pm

I loved the pickuguard but the color on that Jag seemed simply amazing for a sec
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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by George L » Thu Aug 23, 2018 12:24 am

aliendawg wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:51 pm
I loved the pickuguard but the color on that Jag seemed simply amazing for a sec
CFM is one of my favorite colors but I think it looks better with white/mint pickguards

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Re: NPGD Cleaning and polishing a vintage tort pickguard

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Fri Aug 24, 2018 1:01 pm

George L wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 12:24 am
aliendawg wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:51 pm
I loved the pickuguard but the color on that Jag seemed simply amazing for a sec
CFM is one of my favorite colors but I think it looks better with white/mint pickguards
I couldn't agree more!
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