Something old (S-100), something BLUE!?!

[hansmoust]

...what would be the best way to remove the paint without damaging the pickup ring underneath?

Well, I don't know what kind of paint they used but it looks like it was done with a spray can.
I would use the finest grade ( 0000) steel wool to remove the paint and a heavy duty car polish to get the shine back on the black plastic.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Maxer]

Excellent suggestion, Hans. Sometimes old plastic discolours a great deal. May have been a bad batch of plastic and this is what you get, years down the road. Having the guitar exposed to natural light for many years would have that effect... same as what happens to unprotected photographs, even paintings.

Edit: whoops, failed to read the whole thread! Problem solved.