Tap plate removal question

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JasonM

Posts: 2057
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

Tap plate removal question

So I just got a used guitar and it has been extra fortified with some cut up pieces of tap plate around the original golpeador. It doesn't look to pleasing to the eye, and I don't need them there.

After doing a little searching, I found that using a hot air gun or blow dryer can be used to loosen the glue.

But what about cleaning off the glue after the plates are pulled off? What solvent can I use that won't damage the finish? Would lighter fluid be ok?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 30 2006 21:36:31

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to JasonM)

Jason,

In my opinion you are playing with fire (pun intended), using a hot air gun or a blow dryer. Just a little too long and the finish can be toast (pun intended). The best way to go is lighter fluid (Naptha), but you have to do it very slow and careful. I have done it successfully.

Flood an edge with fluid and lift the plate just a hair adding fluid as you go and giving it plenty of time to dissolve the glue; lifting and adding very slowly. Lift just a hair to fast and away goes a bit of finish. I would assume being added afterward they are just the press-on type. If it’s a high-end guitar, I would take it to a pro.

I lifted a plate on a guitar finish with French polish. After I got the plate off you could see a line in the finish around the edge of the old plate, but this wouldn't likely happen with lacquer.

Good luck

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 30 2006 21:59:16

JasonM

Posts: 2057
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to JasonM)

Pat, Thanks a lot! Glad I asked.

Yeah it looks like the press on type, slightly thinner than the original. I was worried about the lines you mentioned too. The finish is laquer so we'll see.

I'm off to the drug store to get some lighter fluid.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 30 2006 22:11:01

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to JasonM)

quote:

I lifted a plate on a guitar finish with French polish. After I got the plate off you could see a line in the finish around the edge of the old plate,

This guitar has most probably been repolished with the tapplate on.

Jason.

On a lacquer guitar its not to difficult. Just do what Pat has already told you.

Try taking a tapplate of a french polished cedar top. Thats scary

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2006 7:25:41

JasonM

Posts: 2057
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Thanks again guys, I did exactly as you said, took my time, and it worked perfectly. If you look closely at the top under a light you can see the outlines. But I'm not worried about it.

Jason

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2006 13:55:16

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to JasonM)

Ouh... That was fast. Its ok when its laquer, but if you are going to remove a tapplate from a french polished guitar, expect to use 3 - 5 days doing it. If not scary things

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Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2006 17:25:26

JasonM

Posts: 2057
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

3-5 days! Thats crazy. I'm glad its not polish. I spent about 4 hours.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2006 20:35:05

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to JasonM)

Jason,

Instead of removing all the pieces of tap plate, you should have just added more to cover the entire guitar so it would have been like a tap plate cover

Hey what did you end up getting?

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2006 12:40:00

JasonM

Posts: 2057
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to TANúñez)

Hey Tom,

I bought that sanchis out of the classifieds. I have to put new strings on before I can really give it a fair judgment. I am in the process of giving it a bath. But so far it seems like a good guitar. Very close to a 1f blanca I played (I think). Although, I'll have to do a side by side comparison to be sure. The maestro will give me a better opinion.

None the less, it should hold me over until I save up for a 1fa/ 1fa extra.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2006 15:44:54

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to JasonM)

So you got the 2F or that other later model we were talking about?

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2006 16:30:43

JasonM

Posts: 2057
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Tap plate removal question (in reply to TANúñez)

I got the other model. The 1a BF. I'll upload something eventually.

My only thing about the sound so far is that the trebles seem a bit dull. But I'm hoping that the saverez strings are the culprit. I'm gona put some la bella negras on right now.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2006 18:36:56