How to protect a Vai Autograph on the body ?

[IbanezFreak777]

Hi all

I have a signiture of Mr Vai on my rg550. I plan on keeping this guitar forever, so I want to somehow get some clear plastic of some sort and screw it over the top of the signiture. Anyone know of the best ways to go about this. What sort of plastic to use, how I would carve it to slot nicely into the signed section. Or any other alternatives to keep the signiture in tact for years to come

Thanks in Advance for any help or ideas ?

[KurtCobain]

Are you sure? I would use a thin clear coat. You need no screws and holes so it would be easier to restore (sand of).

[IbanezFreak777]

I understand your view, but I wont ever be restoring the guitar. I want to make a sort of plaque with gold screws, so eventually one day retire the guitar and hang it on the wall. But i will clear coat it first as it seems like the obvious choice for a quick solution to protect the signiture.

thanks youve helped alot

[jb4674]

It's pointless man, eventually that signature will rub off to some extent. The best place to get a signature is where that pyramid is on your DY, or on the back of the headstock, IMO.

Jimmy

[KurtCobain]

Just a suggestion. I never tried it myself, but I think it would be my first choice. MAybe you should find out what kind of coat your guitar has. Im not sure if you can use nitro an acryl an vice versa.

[Distantshore]

Cool Painting in the background!

[Distantshore]

That all seeing eye you have on your guitar didn't happen to be a necklace? I think I had one of those years ago.

[quik]

Clear coat can provide all the protection necessary. It's routinely used to protect the rest of the finish on guitars, along with cars and other items that face far tougher conditions than guitars have to withstand.

[shogun]

Originally Posted by jb4674

It's pointless man, eventually that signature will rub off to some extent. The best place to get a signature is where that pyramid is on your DY, or on the back of the headstock, IMO.

Jimmy

Just forge the signature and rub the old one off, thats what I did and im a WINNER

[IbanezFreak777]

There all very good, ideas, with the clear coat do I use a brush and brush that specific area or should I use a spray can ?

Yes that Pyramid was a necklace, also funny story when I met my now wife, she owned an Acoustic Guitar that was her fathers and she had the very same pyramid in the very same place on her guitar and she had never even heard of Steve Vai.... Crazy huh it must be an instinctive place to put a pyramid with an eye lol!!!

Also I asked Steve where he thinks the best place for the signiture is, and he said that spot, So what Steve says Goes :P

[brothersnowgone]

You could try this route http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Pickguar...Materials.html

not sure if the adhesive would react with the paint though...

[GuitarGuru]

If you don't want to mess with this, clear coat it with Urethane. It will never come off. If you don't do it right, the magic marker will run and smear. It's trickier than you think.

[S-man]

I used a 3M automotive, clear vinyl adhesive.

Actually, I had an automotive shop apply it.

Though it's just a trem cover. But... It is not recessed and has held up perfectly.

The camera flash and my lack of photography skills reveal what may appear to be imperfections...but that's only visible in my crappy picture.

[GuitarGuru]

That's a good idea for that type of part. The whole body is a different story.

[Salamander In The Sun]

Stick a piece of clear packing tape over it, then trim off any excess. It's worked for anything I've ever had autographed.