Official Luthiers Forum!

I've read a lot of people mention that they've had a bad experience with a lacquer finish reacting with vinyl in a variety of ways (i.e. straps, cases, capos, stands, etc.).

I have a guitar that's french polished (Seagull S6+) and am wondering if I should have any concerns.  I use a capo (shubb) almost daily, store the guitar either in a stand with foam on the arm to protect the neck, or in a case. 

I just want to be sure I don't cause any damage to the delicate finish.  Thanks for your advise!

I try to keep all rubber and plastics from touching the guitar surfaces of any finish. I think it's better to assume that they will react with the surfaces until proven otherwise. On stands in particular, I just drape a towel over over and have the guitar contact cotton...so far no problems. My opinion is that a cherished guitar should be in its case when not being played.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

unless you have a desire to subsidize your local repairman's lifestyle your instrument belongs in a case when not being played. and then you should be careful to keep plastic such as that foung in straps away from the finish.

I hear what you and JJ say Michael but the ones on wall hangers and stands look more guiltily at me and get played all the time as a result. I appreciate that in the UK the humidity control is not such an issue as in the US.

To me a "cherished" guitar is one that is played and if it gets a few dings in the process then that's part of life's rich cycle as far as I'm concerned. I agree though that if you want to keep it pristine, keep it in it's "coffin" when you are not playing it (being careful here too as I've dinged guitars in the past getting them in and out of cases ) and don't hurt yourself when you trip over all of those cases!

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I believe the culprit in these plastics is silicone oil, which is a ubiquitous plasticizer that migrates freely. I'm told it is even absorbed through the skin, and is found in fatty tissues in people. It does _not_ seem to effect French polish, or, at least, not the kind I use: seedlac. Knock wood.... Varnish and lacquer, though, are attacked.

Dave...I'd still cover those wall hangers if the padding is foam or plastic. I've seen felt used as a cover and that's what I'd use as well.

Alan...actually the plasticizers are not silicone but phthalates in the case of vinyl plastics and foams...and they do indeed migrate. Look at the film on the inside of your windshield, especially in hot weather. Silicones are more ofen found on molded components as a result of their use as a release agent. They seem to hang around forever as well.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Does anyone recommend a capo that doesn't have any rubber (or other material that contain phthalates)?  I don't leave it snapped on when I'm not playing, but lately I find that I've been using one daily. 

 

I'd still use the capo...just don't leave it in place for days at a time. I would imagine that latex rubber might be kinder but only a hunch.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I strictly use the Shubb original.  I don't know what material is used on that one.

dave, humidity control is juat one reason to keep instruments in a case when not in use.

another is physical security. i have one in the shop right now with a split back, split bridge and damaged top and bridge plate as a result of being knocked of a wall hanger. this is the typical sort of damage they suffer when transitionng from wall to floor. there is often split sides, end block(end pin does a job when the floor hammers it in), etc. i don't consider these nicks and bumps, and they really don't add character.

but its your instrument, worry(or not), and potential loss.