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Vintage threads from the first ten years

protecting autograph guitar finish

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10/1/1999 11:45 PM
steven	protecting autograph guitar finish i am the proud owner of a double autograph jeff beck model strat and need to know just what would be the very best protective finish that can be put on this one of a kind any info would be appreciated thank you steven hembree

10/3/1999 10:27 AM
steven	can anyone help??

10/3/1999 3:01 PM
nic	A buddy of mine has a rick nielson autographed tele whick he placed a clear plastic plate over. A clearcoat of nitrocellulous lacquer shouldn't hurt a sea foam grean finnish. nic

10/4/1999 4:41 AM
steven	thanks alot for getting back to me nic, i've never used this medium to ask a question, and you being the ONLY one to respond, i wanted to thank you for your response., i had hoped to get maybe a posible choice to choose from and what would the pros and cons be.... and should i worry about the sharpie (used to sign it) lifting up off the original finish?? again, thanks nic

10/4/1999 2:59 PM

The regulars don't answer questions that they don't have answers for, don't be dissapointed. I have had many questions left unanswered!

Nitrocellulose will prbably bleed the sharpie... However if you spray it on in moderation, very thin passes it may be okay. From experience I know, ARGH! Don't know if it is worth the risk in your case. Plus it "ambers" over time.

Autographed items are strange things. When it comes to guitar it is amost best to leave it alone. This includes not playing it. I don't think it is right to have a great guitar you can't play. But everytime you play an autographed guitar you are dipping into it's "value". It is a comprimise! Do you play it and enjoy it, but "ruin" it? Or do you let it set in good condition and not enjoy it?

If I had an autographed guitar I would not try to protect the signature from the elements. Especially if I met the hero, the memory from the experience is worth more than anything someone else could pay. I'd play the thing too! Remember I am not a collector, some may consider my oppinion sinful. Deja.com may have collectors who have better oppinions.

nic

10/4/1999 5:00 PM

Depending on what solvents are in the laquer thinner mixture, the sharpie mark may bleed. There are clear protectant spray enamels that may be less aggressive.

Before I went ahead & sprayed over the keepsake, I would do a test using a similar mark on another surface. Spray the clear you've purchased lightly, as Nic suggested. This will tend to allow some of the solvents to evaporate on the way to the surface, reducing the chance for dissolving what the paint finally lands on.

If this is a late model guitar, the body paint will be catalyzed polyeurethane. You can spray lacquer over it without any melting of layers. The poly paint is kind of like a hard plastic, rather than paint, so the lacquer topcoat can be cleaned off at a later date without ruining the poly finish.

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