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I've got a top crack to fix that runs just under the edge of a pickguard. The pickguard isn't lifting at all. Any suggestions on how to remove the pickguard without tearing out a whole bunch of the top?

I may not have to remove the pickguard at all, I haven't looked closely at the crack yet, but thought whether I do or don't it's something I haven't had to do so might as well ask because I probably will eventually.

I thought I'd lay a towel on top and then use an iron to heat the glue.

Once the pickguards off and I want to re-install what do people usually use as an adhesive?

Do not use an iron to do this. Ever.

Naptha (mineral spirits) dissolves adhesives without heat. Squirt a little under the guard and reapply as you gently peel it off.

As a cautionary tale about heat. I had a client that brought in a mid 2000s HD28V with a gorgeous sunburst. He had tried to heat the guard to peel it off, he got it hot and when he peeled the guard off he also removed a 1" chunk of the finish with it. He ended up having to send it to Martin for repair.

To reinstall I've always used those adhesive pickguard sheets that LMII sells.

I used a heat gun to remove a p/g stuck on with double stick tape from a guitar with a catalyzed modern finish. I then used naphtha to remove all the sticky residue and put new double stick tape on it when I reapplied it. When my old Martin developed a pick guard crack I had it removed, repaired, finished and a new one applied by someone who had experience with pick guitars applied directly to the wood - I didn't want to risk doing that myself.

I have one other p/g removal and reattachment - it was very badly curled, the owner had "fixed" it with some epoxy or something, it stared coming off again. I did manage to remove it with heat and pallet knives, repaired the damaged wood, put a few coats of lacquer on, straightened the rather ornate p/g and attempted to reattach it with double stick tape. It was mostly a cluster.

double post, don't see how to delete it

It ended up peeling off super easy without any extra help. I know the naptha trick for getting rid of the glue. On to fixing the crack!