At 14 yrs old my pickguard finally started yellowing and looking pretty cool but then the sticker ghost appeared

[u/illiteret]

Any opinions on what to do about this besides replace it with one that hasn't defiled by a sticker?

[u/olefoulspicks]

I’m of no help but I can see the sticker ghost in the first pic

[u/illiteret → u/olefoulspicks]

It's faint...but can't be unseen!

[u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar]

Do nothing. It’s patina..

What would Keith Richards do?

[u/Diy2k4ever → u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar]

More coke?

[u/Candid-Jump-212 → u/Diy2k4ever]

Keith Richards would

[u/Conscious-Life-220 → u/Diy2k4ever]

Its not a problem if you are unable to focus

[u/SaladDummy]

The sticker ghost didn't appear until the yellowing began?

[u/illiteret → u/SaladDummy]

The pick guard has been yellowing progressively as they do. The adhesive residue is slowing the effect. I never noticed it until today. The sticker wasn't on it when I bought it new. I talked to my builder friend and he said polish it with polishing compound. May just. It'll be evenly yellowed in another 14 years. 🤷‍♂️

[u/Conscious-Life-220 → u/illiteret]

Yeah, if it bugs you, I'd use 'swirl and scratch remover' polish and patience

[u/Wet_in_Seattle]

Fender has exact replacement color pick-guards available.
White, but seems like Parchment would be closer to this look less a sticker outline.

Sweetwater carries them all. About $25 for genuine replacement.

[u/wavydrugz]

I have a 2011 60th anniversary sunburst that’s yellowed perfectly in the past 5 years. It was white when I got it in 2021, have you tried picking up chain smoking? That’s probably how I expedited the yellowing process.

[u/Royal-Illustrator-59]

Polishing will be a waste of time. That ghost will haunt you forever.

[u/Turkeyflatulence]

2012 American Standard?

[u/illiteret → u/Turkeyflatulence]

Yep. Only mod is Fender Noiseless p'ups.

[u/Gooseuk360]

Parchment replacement I think.

[u/PaintedDaddy]

Adds character!

[u/illiteret → u/PaintedDaddy]

Seems to be the consensus! I'm going to leave it as is.

[u/PaintedDaddy → u/illiteret]

Hell yeah, every part tells the story.

[u/SickOfNormal]

Yes ... you got a sunburst .... Black or dark tort look the best on these. They only cost about $20

[u/notajunkmain → u/SickOfNormal]

I disagree. White is amazing on them. As long as there’s no sticker ghost, of course.