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I am building a guitar that will be auctioned off at a fundraising auction for my kids' elementary school this coming spring. It looks like there is a good chance that a HUGE artist may sign the guitar! I won't mention who it is until is certain, but it's a really big name. Woohoo! Apart from increasing the value for the auction significantly, this would be a real honor to have someone like this touch my guitar, let alone put his signature on it.

So here's the question: Logistically, what's the best way to have a guitar signed? I'm particularly interested in comments about where to sign it (below the bridge?) and what kind of ink to use that will last without creating any problems over nitro. If need be, I could apply a different kind of finish, but I'm very comfortable working with nitro so would prefer to do that if possible.

Thanks!

Congrats! This is great news! I'm no expert in these things, but I've seen a sharpie work on lacquer, but don't know how well it held up. You could have him sign it next to the fretboard extension on the bass sign with it facing the player, so they can look down and read the signature. Just a thought. Good luck!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

A friend of mine has a guitar that is literally a who's who of the country music world. He was doing opening acts for many big name entertainers. His is signed in ballpoint, sharpie, pocket knife etc. The ones in sharpie have fared the best. I would think a sealcoat over the signature would be a good idea just test it on something first.

Al

You just have to make sure that the sealcoat doesn't cause the Sharpie to run...
It reminds me of the OCC episode where the NY Yankees all signed a gas tank for a Yankees motorcycle to be auctioned off for charity. They had to be very careful when sealing over the signatures.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

That is awesome!!!!
Congrats

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

That is exciting! I hope he/she comes through for you and the school.

I have a Santa Cruz TR that Tony signed with a sharpie on the to the treble side of the fingerboard. It has held up for 7 or 8 years with nothing over the signature.

Good luck!

Paul

Great news Kelby, happy for you!

Congrats! The solvent for Sharpie type markers is alcohol, I believe, so it might be worth testing your finish over a test signature to make sure it doesn't cause the ink to run.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

When Joan Baez signed one of my guitars, I had her sign right in-between the tuners on the back of the peghead. I didn't want it to stick out too badly, and she used a red sharpie that is still good looking after six years. I didn't even overcoat it.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

what about below the soundhole, then stick a clear mylar scratch guard over it?

Congrats BTW!!

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Sharpie makes these little paint pens that have very fine tips and
extremely durable paint. Writing with them feels exactly like writing with
a felt tip pen. I like mark's idea of between the tuners on the back of the
headstock.

I've heard Sharpies work too, but to be safe I'd check on a sample first! That would settle it!!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Ideally, you'd want to have the signature done before the last coats of finish
are applied. Then, you could seal it nicely with lacquer. Go very lightly with
the first coat or two and you'll avoid running.

I just lacquer-sealed a signature by Paul McCartney on a catalyzed polymer
finished Fender guitar owned by a celebrity. A bit of an effort, but I believe
it worked out rather well. In a little while I'll do a piece on it for FRETS.COM.
Meanwhile, here's the guitar's owner playing it before having it signed:

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Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
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Oh.....very cool there Frank. Who is that celebrity, I can't make him out. Nothing like being weightless and cuttin' up some good tunes.

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Thanks, everyone!

Frank, my biggest fear would be that I put on the last coats of finish over the signature, and then the signature disappears when I inadvertenty buff through to it . . . .

That's Steve Robinson, the civilian NASA employee space-walking
astronaut guy. When he called me some years ago to announce that he'd
been chosen to go on a shuttle flight, I said, "Gee, I never thought I'd
actually know an astronaut." His reply was, "Yeah, me either." Early in his
career (mine, too) he worked for NASA-Ames nearby here. As a hobby he
did some very fine instrument inlay work. Now he heads up a NASA rock
band in Houston for fun.

Kelby - I know what you mean about the buff-through thing. I used a fair
amount of lacquer and block sanded very slowly with 1200 in that area so   
I could notice the first sign of touching the ink. I think the buffing is
pretty safe once you get everything leveled to 1200 because you can go
very lightly with the wheel.

Frank Ford38991.4405208333

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Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
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This is a bit off subject but there is a famous (within NASA) watering hole/honky tonk bar in Houston that is just down the road from the entrance of Johnson Space Flight Center. All of the astronauts and contractors have been there at some point. In side on every bit of the wall and ceiling are items given by astronauts before of after launches.

The place is called The Outpost and it is a real hole in the wall but a number of "astronaut bands" have played there over the years.