Gabor

Sincere thanks again. You fellow warriors have been so helpful. I live in Sydney Australia and contacted Bozeman direct about this problem, and also their local distributor to seek advice. Guess what they both have in common? No response at all and it remains so quiet on the home front! Given that we all spend a lot of money on these instruments, and I only learnt how common a problem it is, you would think they should be more forthcoming. All i wanted was a local luthier who i could get to fix this, as the ones I have contacted have all shied away from it! At the end of this process, i may well write to their CEO and let him know how 'helpful' their people are! Nevertheless, all your feedback has given me more confidence to try to fix it myself - but ever so slowly and step by step! So two final questions regarding de-flexing and then reattachment. 1/ After the deflexing process using a blow dryer (very carefully), will I leave the pickguard on the shelf for a while just to be sure the flexing has gone. If so, how long would you recommend? 2/ In relation to re-attaching the de-flexed pickguard, I have read some of you have used a very thin 3M double sided tape which would require me to trace the pickguard shape on it and then cut it out. If I use this method, how far in from the edge of the pickguard should I cut the 3M sheet to ensure it cannot be seen? I also assume this product is clear so it wont be seen from any angle above? I am also assuming I can buy it here in Sydney which i will check on. 3/ Alternatively, if I try to glue it back, can anyone advise the recommended glue to do this, and perhaps how much glue to put o on? Do you use a small brush and put it on all of the pickguard our perhaps just inside the outer dimensions of the pickguard. Also I assume no glue to be initially put on the guitar - only on the back of the pickguard. Thank you so much everyone. I am so very grateful.

Sincere thanks everyone. Now I just need to get it off without damaging the guitars surface and then clean off the glue. using some of the suggestions above, Thank you

Thank you all for fantastic feedback and commentary. This subject appears ageless and i would also have expected a company like Gibson to have got a fix on it.

Many thanks everyone. Here are 2 photos that show the extent of the curling. when I gently lift the pickguard the glue is clear but looks like when you lift a hot pizza up and the soft cheese stretches up with it with long gluggy strands. I am sure you folks know what I mean. So in order to use the double sided tape, i really have to carefully remove the pickguard and clean off the top of the guitar and back of the pickguard and start over. Top priority is to leave the top undamaged. Also finally was able to get the photos going! Thanks for being so patient.

Sincere thanks everyone. My biggest concern was if to, and how to remove the guard completely. I guess it must be slow and careful. I have just never mucked around with trying to fix something like this on an expensive guitar like this.

Thanks fortyearspickn. My luthier has long retired and moved away and another luthier I called just said leave it as it is. But he warned me never to use anything like superglue. It is only curling up about 0.5" but seems more at the pointy ends. So perplexing as i can see the glue lifting in stands where the pickguard has lifted. I just want to avoid and damage to the timber. A pickguard can easily be replaced if broken. I am waiting on Gibson's local distributor to call me back to see if they can advise an authorized repairer so if they damage it then it will be covered by liability insurance. There is no rush as it has been like this for 14-years. I just thought perhaps i could get the pickguard off and go from there first. Many thanks.

Hi Guys I am new to this site, but own a few Gibson's. I live in Sydney Australia and used to travel to the USA a lot with my work, so most of my guitars were bought there and hand carried back here. My concern is that I bought a Hummingbird in 2007 via EBAY in the USA and it is a 2007 build. It is a beautiful guitar. But the pickguard has been lifting and curling up approximately 0.5" / 1cm around all the edges but still quite firm in the middle sections and no lifting around the sound hole. This has been the case for most of its' life. I've always just pushed is back onto the glue and it holds for some time until it starts to lift again. I keep the guitar indoors and our temperature here is quite stable where I keep my guitars. But lately it is really becoming annoying. I understand this is not an uncommon issue, and I have never used any silicone polishes as it has never needed it. One luthier I asked said to just live with it (not great if I ever want to re-sell it). Someone else said to glue the accessible area down with something stronger like superglue. But surely that would damage the finish or run! Surely this is not an insurmountable problem is it? 1/ I am unsure how I can best lift the rest of the pickguard where the glue is still sticking without casing damage or breaking the pickguard 2/ Then i am unsure as to the best way of cleaning off the glue from both the back of the pickguard ,and also from the top of the guitar without damaging the paint job and finish 3/ I have read elsewhere about using a hairdryer to deflex the pickguard and then placing some books on it to eliminate the flexing and then putting it back on 4/ And I am unsure what glue would actually be suitable to be used to hold it down permanently, and what to use to mop o any excess that comes out on reattaching the pickguard. Thank you in advance for all your responses and advice.