Clear coating a pickguard

[kapoblom]

Help please! I was fortunate enough to get the Hag himself to sign my pickguard. I want to make sure that it doesn't rub off so I would like ( or think I need to) spray some sort of poly or something over the top. I only have 1 shot at this so I wanted to see if anyone here had any experience or recommendations on the best way to go about this.
Thanks!
Kapo

 

[Colt W. Knight]

Id put a clear vinyl protector on, like a screen protector for a cell phone.

 

[kapoblom]

I had wondered about that too. I was thinking along the lines of the laminating pages you get from an office supply. Is the vinyl you're talking about any different or wouldn't it make a difference?

 

[Radspin]

I would take the pickguard off and replace it with another one. If you are going to play that guitar regularly you'll probably wear through anything.

Also, think of how bad you'd feel if you sprayed the guard and then watched the ink dissolve in the paint...the one way to make sure the signature doesn't get ruined is to never let it happen in the first place.

 

[voided3]

Stewart MacDonald sells clear mylar self adhesive pickguard material meant for use on acoustics. You could cut it out on the shape of your tele pickgaurd and stick it on over it. However, buying another pickgaurd might be the better (and maybe cheaper) option. Plus it might look weird if you get air bubbles or dirt under it while putting it on.

 

[kapoblom]

Thanks for the recommendations. I appreciate your advice on buying another guard but it just looks too cool on the guitar! Lol. The Mylar stuff from stew Mac looks interesting too but still have a hesitation with the adhesive, chemicals and/or who knows removing the ink!

I have another tele with George Jones' signature but I ended up wearing half of the last name off as I had him sign it on the heel area and I use to do a lot of the makeshift whammy bar by pushing on the heel and the neck. I ended up spraying some poly over that. Not a great job but protected.

I may start with the clear window cling on sticker things that are removable pretty easy. That's along the same line as the cell phone thing that Mr Knight mentioned above. Will be a start until maybe I can find something different.

Any other suggestions are appreciated!

 

[twangplank]

I got a lot of sigs on my guard. I just lightly dusted it with lacquer a few times and then put a few good wet coats.

I carefully cleaned it with alcohol and scuffed all I could first.

The sigs were in Sharpy and it worked great

 

[Joe Sailor]

I like the dusting of lacquer, then how about a thin acrylic or lexan sheet cut into a pickguard shape and screwed downto with the pickguard? Never tried it, but its an idea.