Preserving a signature?

missourireb · February 5th, 2006, 06:12 PM

Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this question.....

I'm going to have a player that I admire sign one of my telecasters. I want to play the guitar from time to time but I want to protect the signature....Anyone have any experience or suggestions with this sort of thing.

I was thinking of him signing with a sharpie marker or something similar and then doing a light coat of poly on top....I've been wrong before though!

jwells393 · February 5th, 2006, 06:33 PM

I would probably have him sign the pickguard with a Sharpie. That way you can transfer the pickguard to another Telecaster or keep the signature if you sell the guitar. I have John Mellencamp's signature on a Telecaster pickguard ............ but the protective film wasn't removed when he signed it........... I keep the pickguard in a plastic bag.

missourireb · February 5th, 2006, 06:46 PM

That is an excellent idea, but I want him to put a large signature just to the rear of the bridge if possible... on the painted part.....

Joe-Bob · February 5th, 2006, 06:50 PM

I would recommend one of those paintstick marker thingies. Once it's dry, it should be permanent. BTW, you will want to remove the layer of wax/polish on the finish (in that area) so that the new paint adheres well.

jwells393 · February 5th, 2006, 06:58 PM

What color is the guitar ............. I bought a silver paint Sharpie at Lowes.

missourireb · February 5th, 2006, 07:05 PM

Arctic White....I was thinking a regular black sharpie...

Ronkirn · February 5th, 2006, 07:08 PM

There isn’t really much you can do within the realm of practicality. Most new guitars are finished in some type of catalytically hardened finish, usually a urethane; nothing is going to permanently stick to it. Thus the signature will eventually wear off.

If you are dead set to do what you want, you must disassemble the guitar, and sand the surface, with something above a 500 grit paper…. Then have him sign the rough surface. Also make a mark or two where it will not be seen when the guitar is reassembled.

Once back at the shop.. take small sample of whatever you are going to clear coat it with.. and test it on the sample spots to be certain the coating will not melt the marker. If good, spray a very fine mist coat,. An allow to dry, repeat several times over the next few days, once the signature is completely sealed, apply a few final wet coats, allow to dry/harden for a month, wet sand with 600 then 1500 wet or dry, then polish…

You sure you wanna do this?

Ron Kirn

missourireb · February 5th, 2006, 07:18 PM

I thought about just putting some clear tape over it and leaving it alone....You know like the big 8x10 sheets that are used to protect screens. I could trim it to match....

You may be on to someting...Perhaps I could rough up the surface in the area I want signed and then do a quick coat of clear and buff the edges in a month or so....I think you may be on to something!

gtrjones · February 6th, 2006, 11:11 AM

I have 2 guitars that various people have signed... They're both poly-painted guitars, and I've just used a can of clear poly 'spray paint'... I don't work real hard to mask everything off, and also don't build several coats so I can buff it to a shine, so my method may not work for you, but the signatures (black sharpie on white body) are well-preserved.

Spray it thin, as a heavy coat will interact a little with the marker, even before it runs...

February 5th, 2006, 06:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
missourireb TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Overland Park Kansas Posts: 98 7 Photos	Preserving a signature? Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this question..... I'm going to have a player that I admire sign one of my telecasters. I want to play the guitar from time to time but I want to protect the signature....Anyone have any experience or suggestions with this sort of thing. I was thinking of him signing with a sharpie marker or something similar and then doing a light coat of poly on top....I've been wrong before though! __________________ "I've never had a problem with drugs. I've had problems with the police". Keith Richards

February 5th, 2006, 06:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,253 101 Photos	I would probably have him sign the pickguard with a Sharpie. That way you can transfer the pickguard to another Telecaster or keep the signature if you sell the guitar. I have John Mellencamp's signature on a Telecaster pickguard ............ but the protective film wasn't removed when he signed it........... I keep the pickguard in a plastic bag. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

February 5th, 2006, 06:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
missourireb TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Overland Park Kansas Posts: 98 7 Photos	That is an excellent idea, but I want him to put a large signature just to the rear of the bridge if possible... on the painted part..... __________________ "I've never had a problem with drugs. I've had problems with the police". Keith Richards

February 5th, 2006, 06:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 3,893	I would recommend one of those paintstick marker thingies. Once it's dry, it should be permanent. BTW, you will want to remove the layer of wax/polish on the finish (in that area) so that the new paint adheres well. __________________ Music is the language of God.

February 5th, 2006, 06:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,253 101 Photos	What color is the guitar ............. I bought a silver paint Sharpie at Lowes. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

February 5th, 2006, 07:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
missourireb TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Overland Park Kansas Posts: 98 7 Photos	Arctic White....I was thinking a regular black sharpie... __________________ "I've never had a problem with drugs. I've had problems with the police". Keith Richards

February 5th, 2006, 07:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ronkirn Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 62 Posts: 2,752	You sure you wanna do this? There isn’t really much you can do within the realm of practicality. Most new guitars are finished in some type of catalytically hardened finish, usually a urethane; nothing is going to permanently stick to it. Thus the signature will eventually wear off. If you are dead set to do what you want, you must disassemble the guitar, and sand the surface, with something above a 500 grit paper…. Then have him sign the rough surface. Also make a mark or two where it will not be seen when the guitar is reassembled. Once back at the shop.. take small sample of whatever you are going to clear coat it with.. and test it on the sample spots to be certain the coating will not melt the marker. If good, spray a very fine mist coat,. An allow to dry, repeat several times over the next few days, once the signature is completely sealed, apply a few final wet coats, allow to dry/harden for a month, wet sand with 600 then 1500 wet or dry, then polish… You sure you wanna do this? Ron Kirn

February 5th, 2006, 07:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
missourireb TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Overland Park Kansas Posts: 98 7 Photos	I thought about just putting some clear tape over it and leaving it alone....You know like the big 8x10 sheets that are used to protect screens. I could trim it to match.... You may be on to someting...Perhaps I could rough up the surface in the area I want signed and then do a quick coat of clear and buff the edges in a month or so....I think you may be on to something! __________________ "I've never had a problem with drugs. I've had problems with the police". Keith Richards

February 6th, 2006, 11:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
gtrjones Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX y'all Posts: 818	I have 2 guitars that various people have signed... They're both poly-painted guitars, and I've just used a can of clear poly 'spray paint'... I don't work real hard to mask everything off, and also don't build several coats so I can buff it to a shine, so my method may not work for you, but the signatures (black sharpie on white body) are well-preserved. Spray it thin, as a heavy coat will interact a little with the marker, even before it runs...