I have a new CJ which has some surface scratches on the pick guard where some heavy handed strummer has played it in the shop. I've come across this problem before and had it "micro buffed". I'm wondering is there any way I could fix it myself ie some sort of polish etc. Of course I don't want to risk any further damage to this fine guitar. Finally I just want to say that I don't understand how people do this to a guitar. I flat pick but never hit the guitar with my pick. I think it is reasonable to expect a $7k guitar to not have a mark on it.

SteveQ,
It really all depends on how deep the scratches are. If they are very shallow it would be pretty easy to remove them. There are various ways including 000 and then even finer steel wool. I would suggest you call the shop where you bought it and ask their guitar repair person. Since you bought it there he should be happy to do this simple thing for you for free. Beware that fine little scratches have a tendency to reoccur so don't let it bug you too much.

If the scratches are deep then do not do anything to it yourself. Show it to the shop.

I do not think you can expect a guitar to be spotless regarding fine scratches. The guitar store owner has to have a policy of letting people play the guitars to see if they want one. I would not buy and guitar from a store that did not have this policy.

Thanks for the reply Rick, and the shop will of course fix it for me (micro-buff), and I accept the need for people to try a guitar first. None the less, I reckon any one who scratches a guitar like that need some improvement in their technique. But, hey, I can let go.....

Steve, how about if you get the shop to order a new replacement pickguard from Collings for you? I think you can also order a replacement from Collings if you are the original owner of the guitar.

I had some similar scratches. I ordered a bottle of Petros Finish Restorer and went to work. It takes some elbow grease but the result is a scratch free, mint-condition pick guard. It also works great on any light scratches on the body as well.

I might try the polish if I can get it here in Australia. The shop will fix it but I would be without the guitar for a while and I'd rather not. Thanks again.

I wouldn't worry about it much. I bought a used 1993 D2H that had a lot of scrathes on the pickguard as well as some of the wood worn away both north and south of the pickguard and it's a great war-horse of a guitar. I never worry about good honest wear.
Chuck

There's a great plastics polish that the guys at Collings turned me onto. It's the same stuff used to buff out LCD computer screens just before they are boxed for shipping. It's a super fine "swirl remover". I believe it's called Novus Plastics Polish #2...I think. I'll have to look at the bottle when I'm back at the shop. It's pretty miraculous stuff. If you're interested, e-mail me at kevin@hillcountryguitars.com and I'll find out the exact name of it for you. Maybe you can get it down under.

kdd

Problem solved, thanks to the fickled finger of fate! My local dealer got in a new CJ but this one is a SB with tiger stripe p/g and I was able to exchange the natural CJ for the CJSB (with some extra folding stuff of course). The CJSB hadn't been in the shop long enough for many others to play it. It's clean as a whistle, looks superb, sounds devine, I'm very happy. Thanks to all for your valued feedback.