Clear scratchguard

[64lusso]

Scott,
I was recently perusing pictures of Nuggets and looked at one that had some sort of clear mylar type protector stuck to the top in the area right under where the pickguard would have been. The owner said that mando had come through you at one point and maybe you would know what the material was.
Thanks, Jay

[Michael Lewis]

LMII has a couple thicknesses of this stuff.

[steve V. johnson]

I have used some of the stuff from StewMac on a couple of instruments, and I liked it a lot. I didn't really consider it permanent, and the material was labelled as removable/reusable.

I really like the concept of clear pickguards/scratchguards, which I first noticed on Lowden guitars. I like to see the tops of instruments without a (plastic) 'guard, tho in the mandolin world, many of them are beautiful.

stv

[64lusso]

Thanks Michael, I don't hang out in this part of the forum very much, what is LMII?
Would like to find some kind of material that I might have a chance of finding locally rather than ordering it mail order somewhere.

[billhay4]

This is lmii: Luthier's Merchantile International (https://www.lmii.com/Default.asp)
bill

[64lusso]

Thanks Bill--J

[Paul Hostetter]

I think 3 mil is the best thickness, which is thinner than the Stew-Mac stuff. It goes down easier and looks better. All the mylar is originally 3-M, regardless of subsequent brand names. The adhesive is acid-free. You can buy it at art supply stores, where it's sold for laminating artwork. Naphtha is the key to removing it, even 30 years later. Any clear guard needs to go down over smooth finishes, because any dings will show as air bubbles.

[PaulD]

You might also check local music stores that do repair work. I bought a partial sheet locally for my daughter's guitar and cut it to size, although I think what I bought was thick enough that it may not conform well to a carved top.

pd

[64lusso]

Thanks Paul, that's the info I was looking for--Jay