How to Remove the Inspire Pickguard
Welcome to Workshop #204 of the ENYA MUSIC Workshop series. In this guide, we’ll show you how to safely remove the Inspire pickguard step by step.
The Inspire features a modern and streamlined design where the pickguard mounting screws are hidden on the back of the body, creating a cleaner front appearance. Unlike traditional designs, the front of the instrument remains simple and minimal while all mounting hardware is secured from the rear.
Before starting the removal process, make sure you have properly cleared the backplate, battery, and tail-jack circuitry. If you have not completed this step yet, please refer to: Workshop #203: How to Swap the Inspire Tailjack PCB.
Once everything is prepared, follow the steps below to safely remove the Inspire pickguard.
#1 Remove the Rear Mounting Screws
Since the Inspire pickguard is secured from the rear of the body, the first step is to remove the hidden mounting screws.
Carefully place the guitar face down on a soft surface. On the back of the body, you will find 10 rubber plugs covering the screws.
Use a suitable tool to gently remove all 10 rubber plugs. Then, use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screws underneath.
⚠️ Hardware Notice: Pay close attention during this step. The screw located on the bottom-left side of the body is a different size from the others. Please keep this screw separate and organized to avoid mixing hardware during reassembly.
After removing the screws on the back of the body, check the backplate area. You will find two additional hidden screws underneath the backplate area that also secure the pickguard assembly.
Remove these two screws as well and keep all hardware safely stored. Once all screws have been removed, the Inspire pickguard is ready to be taken off.
#2 Remove the Inspire Pickguard
With all mounting screws removed, carefully lift the pickguard away from the guitar body.
During this process, you will need to guide the connector wires through the opening. Slowly feed the connectors through and avoid pulling or snagging the plugs.
⚠️ Handle With Care: The connector plugs are delicate. Do not force the wires or pull directly on the connectors, as this may damage the connection.
Once the connector wires have been safely guided through, the Inspire pickguard has been completely removed.
Removing the Inspire pickguard is a straightforward process when following the correct order: first remove the hidden rear mounting screws, then carefully separate the pickguard and connectors. Always remember to organize screws and components during disassembly so everything can be properly restored during reassembly.
Watch the Full Process
Next Up
In Workshop #205, we will cover How to Swap the Inspire Potentiometers. We’ll walk you through replacing both the small set-screw potentiometer and the large push-fit potentiometer, including tips for removing press-fit knobs and specialized nuts without damaging your instrument. Stay tuned.