PrairieSchooner Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 My old HD-28 is in the shop for a lifting pickguard and the infamous Martin pickguard crack. When one of my old pals is not in its proper place - be it a shotgun, fly rod, guitar or what have you - it's like having a missing child! I actually play my J-200 more lately anyway, but you know... It's been needing to happen for quite a while. I'd planned all along to maybe dress it up a bit with a tortoise guard and the repairman showed me a really nice piece of material he could use, but when push came to shove I decided to stay with black; the repair guy agreed. So, the wait is on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 (edited) 8 minutes ago, PrairieSchooner said: My old HD-28 is in the shop for a lifting pickguard and the infamous Martin pickguard crack. When one of my old pals is not in its proper place - be it a shotgun, fly rod, guitar or what have you - it's like having a missing child! I actually play my J-200 more lately anyway, but you know... It's been needing to happen for quite a while. I'd planned all along to maybe dress it up a bit with a tortoise guard and the repairman showed me a really nice piece of material he could use, but when push came to shove I decided to stay with black; the repair guy agreed. So, the wait is on... I like black p/g’s much better on Martin’s. One of mine is black and the other is not. I’ve heard of the infamous Martin neck reset, and the binding pop glue debacle, but not the pickguard crack. I hope my guitars don’t get it or any of those illnesses. Martin needs to rush through a vaccine ASAP. How old or new is this beast? Edited May 18 by Sgt. Pepper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted May 18 Author Share Posted May 18 '78. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 3 minutes ago, PrairieSchooner said: '78. So 46 years till impending doom. Mine were made in 2013 and 2020. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted May 18 Author Share Posted May 18 Maybe 45 when it started. Been putting it off, more out of "not getting around to it" than anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Tortoise p-guards - thrilling and (in most cases) good looking. Yet have to mention 1 trap : Pixelation. I had 2 HD-28Vs with 5 years between them (2000 & 2005) and the youngest had serious printed mini-spots. So glaring it was that one day when the afternoon sun-rays hit the guitar in the right/wrong flat angle it became clear the pattern was made of purple and orange. The older dreads guard has a more discreet appearance and very cool bevelling all way around - but still is pixelated. . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 I've had quite a few Martins and never had an issue. The oldest one from the '80's and the newest one from the late 2010's. I'm currently down to one from '96., again no issues. HD40MS 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieDog Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 10 hours ago, Dave F said: I've had quite a few Martins and never had an issue. The oldest one from the '80's and the newest one from the late 2010's. I'm currently down to one from '96., again no issues. HD40MS What are those cool fret markers? They look like heiroglyphics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Cowboy type images. Marty Stuart model. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieDog Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Just now, Dave F said: Cowboy type images. Marty Stuart model. Ahhh, I saw the horseshoe, shoulda figured. thanks! Great looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted May 19 Author Share Posted May 19 (edited) 15 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Pixelation. The repairman is going to make a new guard as original guard has shrunk so as not to cover the area even if flattened; the tortoise was not Martin material. What he showed me was very attractive and he said that was the last of the material as the maker had gone out of business. But it could have what you're talking about; I don't know. Ultimately I decided to stay with black. He also said the tortoise material was a bit thicker than the OEM black stuff he'll use. Edited May 19 by PrairieSchooner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 (edited) 3 hours ago, PrairieSchooner said: Ultimately I decided to stay with black. Black will be black, , , , there are reasons to assume. . Best of luck Edited May 19 by E-minor7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 I picked up my HD-28 yesterday; glad to have her home and safe and sound, She looks just fine with her new guard. Interesting (?) factoid: the luthier said, "That pickguard crack has been repaired before." The weird thing is, I can't for the life of me imagine when that could have happened, or by who. It's only been anywhere near a repairman twice: when new, the intonation was off, and local luthier Steve Tripplet widened the saddle slot slightly and made a compensated saddle to put it right. It certainly was not cracked then. Then once when I put a decal on the pickguard which I later removed, and when I did it marred the finish on the guard. The repairman at the music store where I worked at the time touchup up the finish. I don't recall the crack being there then and even if it had been he certainly would not have done anything without telling me. Repair fairies? Very, very weird, and I guess I'll never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhanners623 Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 The late Frank Ford’s insight: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Pickguards/ReglueGuard/reglueguard.html and: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Pickguards/NewGuardFill/newguardfill.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted July 20 Author Share Posted July 20 4 hours ago, dhanners623 said: The late Frank Ford’s insight: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Pickguards/ReglueGuard/reglueguard.html and: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Pickguards/NewGuardFill/newguardfill.html Yeah, I'm aware. That was the problem, but still wondering who repaired my guitar and when? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted July 20 Share Posted July 20 18 hours ago, PrairieSchooner said: Interesting (?) factoid: the luthier said, "That pickguard crack has been repaired before." Must be the decal-mare misinterpreted. Best of luck with the new guard - hope your new edges have a nice bevel. HD-28 / J-200 is not a bad match to swing between. Natural / burst ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted July 20 Author Share Posted July 20 6 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Must be the decal-mare misinterpreted. Best of luck with the new guard - hope your new edges have a nice bevel. HD-28 / J-200 is not a bad match to swing between. Natural / burst ? It does! And yeah.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhanners623 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 On 7/20/2024 at 2:09 AM, PrairieSchooner said: Yeah, I'm aware. That was the problem, but still wondering who repaired my guitar and when? Great! Not everyone may be aware, though, hence my post. Seems the previous repair is a mystery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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