Members Guitar Finder Posted April 8, 2020 Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Hello all. I got this doing a house clean out. I would like to know how to remove the pickguard. I removed the outer screws but it still won't come off. Don't want to force it and break the guard. Any suggestions. Tks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted April 8, 2020 Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Just a guess but it looks like the guard slips under the end of the fretboard. If you can raise the bridge end you may be able to slide it out from under. Worst case you may have to unbolt the neck. Here's a pic of the pickguard I found at the WD Music Products site: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 8, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 8, 2020 loosen the strings, then loosen the 2 bridge bolts ...that plastic cover is a PITA strictly there to cover a bad design issue [you will see it when it comes off], if it doesn't come out then, hit it with a blow dryer [no, seriously...sometimes they just get gunk-stuck. I worked on a Viper about ...ooh, 6 years ago, and the faceplate was a beeyotch to remove...so...good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted April 8, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 8, 2020 16 hours ago, daddymack said: loosen the strings, then loosen the 2 bridge bolts ...that plastic cover is a PITA strictly there to cover a bad design issue [you will see it when it comes off], if it doesn't come out then, hit it with a blow dryer [no, seriously...sometimes they just get gunk-stuck. I worked on a Viper about ...ooh, 6 years ago, and the faceplate was a beeyotch to remove...so...good luck! So, what's the design issue? (For the rest of us who don't have a Viper to open up to find out.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 8, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 8, 2020 the way the bridge is installed is, well, IMHO, funky looking.....there is a bolt through the back of the guitar that apparently holds the bridge in place...When I got the plastic cover off, I was 'why would you do that?' I didn't need to mess with the bridge on that job, so I didn't get any deeper into it, but it just seemed wrong... They had the same bridge on the Breadwinner, but the BW has a rear plate that may cover that bolt, I don't know as I never pulled that plate off of the two I have serviced; There is a very similar model to the Viper, the double cutaway Preacher, that has the same rear bolt, but rear mounted pots. They also, according to the owners manual, bolted and glued the neck...fortunately, I did not have to deal with the neck on any of the ones I serviced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 8, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 8, 2020 found a manual pic... look at #14 [points to the plastic cover], and #16 refers to the neck joint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 8, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 8, 2020 Oh, and I forgot, you will possibly have to remove, or at least raise the p-ups... I can't remember exactly...been a while... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 8, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Tks to all. From what I'm told, the two bridge bolts on the front bridge will release the cover? The POT side of the pickguard comes up Greeley. I ran an index card under it and it comes off the body. It is sticking to the body on the left side going closer the the neck, so should use the hair dryer carefully. The POT side lifted up freely and I can see some dirt funk. My concern is I want to check all the solder connections before I plug this in since it has been sitting for some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 8, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Meant to say it comes up freeley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 8, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Update. I dropped the pickup screws and ran index card under guard. Off it came in one piece. Bottom pickup is missing screw and spring on right side. Thanks to all for replies. I did not have to mess with bridge cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 8, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Another pic, just removed bridge and discovered the great solder connection lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 8, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 8, 2020 Also wondering, is the spring clip that is placed on the rear saddle bolt that has a ground wire on it a factory clip. It is rusted and I will have to replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 14 hours ago, Guitar Finder said: Also wondering, is the spring clip that is placed on the rear saddle bolt that has a ground wire on it a factory clip. It is rusted and I will have to replace it. I believe it is - it's just a way of holding the ground wire to the bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 9, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 9, 2020 to be fair, I have not pulled one of those bridges, but there is that wacky bolt I mentioned. I'm sorry Phil, though, that is likely not OEM....looks like a paper clip! The pickups, I'm glad I remembered that about that beast...glad you got her opened up! They are interesting guitars; IIRC the p-ups are clear and punchy, but not very loud. I don't recall what they read out as when I tested them, but it was lower than I expected. Those pots likely need a good cleaning, too, btw.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 9, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 9, 2020 Yes it does look like a paperclip but actually is a machine made spring. Looking for a view of this bridge from another of the same model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 9, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 9, 2020 The spring sqeezed open easily, got I soaking in oil. It can be saved. However I am wondering if I can get new springs for the pickups. I have not dealt with guitars for at least 15 years so my reasearching is not fresh. Also would like to replace the rubber screen bases on the pickups. Any info would be greatly welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Finder Posted April 9, 2020 Author Members Share Posted April 9, 2020 Meant to say rubber spring bases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 10, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 10, 2020 check stewmac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 10, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 10, 2020 looking at the 'exploded' assembly /BOM sheet by golly that spring clip is OEM, my apologies to Phil!! This also has the OEM part numbers for the parts you need! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 On 4/9/2020 at 6:09 AM, daddymack said: I'm sorry Phil, though, that is likely not OEM....looks like a paper clip! I'm sorry, but I disagree - it looks like a spring clip to me that's intended to serve as a solder point while holding fast to the bolt. YMMV. Edit - I see that issue has already been addressed. The springs should be easy to find... the rubber parts may prove to be more difficult - you might have to self-fabricate something to serve as a workable replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 10, 2020 Moderators Share Posted April 10, 2020 56 minutes ago, Phil O'Keefe said: I'm sorry, but I disagree - it looks like a spring clip to me that's intended to serve as a solder point while holding fast to the bolt. YMMV. Edit - I see that issue has already been addressed. The springs should be easy to find... the rubber parts may prove to be more difficult - you might have to self-fabricate something to serve as a workable replacement. Hey, when I'm wrong, I admit it! And I apologize! Fortunately, it doesn't happen often...😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AMZ-FX Posted November 9, 2020 Moderators Share Posted November 9, 2020 I have a Viper in white... or maybe it is cream colored. Hard to tell since it may have yellowed over the decades! It plays quite well actually. regards, Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted November 11, 2020 Moderators Share Posted November 11, 2020 Dood, I thought you were long gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AMZ-FX Posted November 23, 2020 Moderators Share Posted November 23, 2020 I still pop in from time to time to see what's new! 😀 Best regards, Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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