Preserving autographs on a guitar

Explorerlover

Does anybody know of a way to preserve autographs on a git. I'd like to do it to my Explorer so that I can play it again and not worry about the signatures fading or getting "rubbed" off. It was written on with a marker as per attached....Also, the scratch plate has one aswell...any ideas? It's a sin to just have her sitting there in her bag....

nick

random guess but I think you would have to use some form of clear laquer to put a layer between the marker and what it'll come into contact with.

Heath

i wouldn't spray clear lacquer on , might dissolve it , i personally would put a small piece of clear sticky cover ( the stuff you use on books) over it and ther lacque it to seal it to the guitar . the thinners in the lacquer might just dissolve the permanet marker

nick

Tailon wrote i wouldn't spray clear lacquer on , might dissolve it , i personally would put a small piece of clear sticky cover ( the stuff you use on books) over it and ther lacque it to seal it to the guitar . the thinners in the lacquer might just dissolve the permanet marker

true. is the clear plastic not called contact? been a while since school..

Explorerlover

" DC Fix " if I'm not mistaken?

Heath

could be .......

Manfred-Klose

How did you manage to get your guitar signed by Metallica?

Explorerlover

My girlfriend signed me up with Metclub when she heard they were coming over in 2006. It was then with this that I won a meet & greet pass to go back stage to meet them. We were allowed 2 items for autographs...So I took the Explorer and a T shirt...the shirt never got signed.... You cannot believe how heavy an Epiphone Explorer can become when you carry it on your back for a couple of hours , but it was worth it...The guys are really cool and even took demos from my band , probably threw 'em away as they walked out, but the experience was worth it.

AlanRatcliffe

The body could be sprayed over - you build up a protective layer over the signatures first by "misting" on a non lacquer-based rapid drying finish like shellac, which fixes it enough that you can apply a heavier coat to seal it and then a few coats of lacquer over that for the protection. Not a job for the neophyte finisher though. Also, the chances are that there is oil and grease on it already and that could interfere with the finish (and cleaning it could damage the signatures). So the sticky transparent vinyl is probably your best bet for the body - although make sure there are no edges that will be rubbed by hands or clothes when you play as it will eventually lift the edges..

The pickguard is easier - replace it. Get another and put the signed one away safely. Otherwise, whatever you put over it is going to get damaged in the long run and then you have to try remove it to replace with a new protective surface (or put something over it, which will be ugly). It's possible to use two layers of vinyl, just replacing the top layer when it becomes worn, but often you end up leaving a lot of sticky mess behind when you remove it and the two layers could possibly bond together over the years.

LMinnie

The lacquer will dissolve permanent marker if applied in a "wet"coat..if applied steadly in a "dry"coat you shouldnt have any trouble....

but why chance it...that guitar is worth 1000's of rands........I say lock that Explorer in a glass case and charge admission to view it!!!! 8)

Explorerlover

"Get another and put the signed one away safely"

Funnily enough, that's Lars' autograph, I couldn't give a ...... if his gets missing...but I reckon I'll have to follow Lawrence's suggestion and just frame it and pour clear epoxy all over it...[ not really ]

Matt-White

Had a similar problem a while ago with an acoustic (although mine was only signed by local guys!). I took it to Barry, the dude that works on my guitars in Pta and he lacquered it, no problem. No smudges, no problems afterwards. I've seen a Strat he lacquered successfully to cover a full-body artwork in pencil!! It can be done, in other words.

Bl-nk

lol you post a picture of the marker but not of your Metallica-signed guitar ? scandalous

Explorerlover

Na,ah,ah......check the "The Harem" post.I'll post better/bigger pics of the guitar soon

Explorerlover

Bl!nk....As promised.....