How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

rashayritto

Off-Topic Lurker
hey guys saw Mastodon last night (best night of my life) and got every member's sig on my guitar in silver sharpie. now this is my main axe and i dont intend to sell it any time soon so i'm terrified of the marker coming off

the guitar has a poly finish. is it possible to apply a clear coat over the sharpie without messing it up? any products that can go directly over the writing so i wont have to cover the whole guitar? (this would be my preference so i could polish and maintain the guitar's finish while knowing my ink is safe)

the sharpie isnt glossy and smudgable on the guitar like a dry erase. it has a matte metallic look to it and doesnt feel slick like the guitar's surface.i noticed that when i was gently wiping away some string lubricant that got on the guitar body some faint silvery haze smudged from the writing, while the writing itself seemed unaffected. there's one spot on the lower cutaway where one of them accidentally marked the guitar with the sharpie, and it can be worn away simply by rubbing it firmly with my thumb.

please help! i'm terrified!
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

^^ and we have a winnah in the first round, congratulations :D
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

hmm.....is it possible to apply the clearcoat by a small detail brush on just the sigs? or would that be unnecessary as any smudges and such on the guitar wont get "locked in" under the coat
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

^^ clean teh rest of the guitar off with rubbing alcohol first, then spay a light clearcoating on teh area with the sigs.;)

This is why I always just have the trem cover signed :laugh2:
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

i might want to avoid the brush idea... but it might work... if it was me i'd shoot a flash coat of clear over the signatures to seal them in... a flash coat is a very light coat that you allow to dry fairly well... followed by a few more heavier coats...
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

A clear coat might dissolve the sharpie.

You need to write sharpie on something else first, then try it there.
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

^^ very good point, the wrong clear coat can dissolve the ink instead of protecting it...
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

i once had Albert Lee sign the back of a headstock and i applied some poly w/ a small brush...worked GREAT!!!
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

Folks, the silver sharpie has nothing to do with a black sharpie. The silver stuff is lacquer. Lacquer on lacquer binds with the previous layer, it's like the previous layer never curved.

Test on separate sample.
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

get some windex and wipe that sharpie off your guitar before the finish is ruined!
I'd just as soon smash my guitar over his head than let some noob scribble my axe with a marker.
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

i would have bought a CD at the show and had them sign that.

not even half as awesome, my friend. already have the CD anyways

i'm going to do some tests first on my beater guitar to make sure. any brand suggestions for the clear laquer?

thanks for all the help so far guys! i'm pretty clueless when it comes to finishes outside of polishing and such
 
Re: How do i protect sharpie on my guitar finish?

get some windex and wipe that sharpie off your guitar before the finish is ruined!
I'd just as soon smash my guitar over his head than let some noob scribble my axe with a marker.

i will assume thats a joke since you are on my cool list

if its not.....well.....:censored:
 
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