I know there's going to be several opinions thrown out but plz hear me out ! One of my best friends recently passed away and at his memorial service (Actually It Was A Celebration Of Life Service) his son had all his music friends sign his strat with a black sharpie(I know some say blue). It's a white American Fender Stratocaster and his son wants to protect the signatures on this guitar. You can see why I'm sure, from an honor stand point and out of respect for his father and friends.

I've looked all over the internet and asked some friends to try and find a solution to protect these signatures with alot of mixed results and not one 100% difinite answer! The young man is just nineteen and wants to protect the signatures and be able to play this guitar sometimes in honor of his father.

Can someone tell me with 100% certainty how to protect these signatures ??

Music is life~

Thank You,
Rufus

The only 100% way, is to put the guitar in a display case and don't play it. IMO, it isn't honorable or respectful to write all over a perfectly good Strat with a sharpie, but if that is what it is about, then put the guitar away to preserve the signatures.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Why not? It's not like the signatures are doing any harm to the guitar.

I think it's a great way to honor your father. I bet he had some great memories of playing that guitar with his friends.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

If it were my guitar, I wouldn't want it written on by anyone. My son knows this and wouldn't do it. If it is the friend's dad's guitar, it would be more respectful to preserve as is, or even just enjoy the guitar without scribbling all over it. If the guitar belongs to the OPs friend, I don't see how this honors the guys dad at all. It isn't my guitar, just giving my opinion about it. It is like graffiti to me, unnecessary.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Reminds me of the time my 3yr old coloured in half the frets on my Telecaster. I didn't want it gone either. But being crayon there was no chance of having it sealed. A clear coat would have just fallen off, along with the crayon.
You could have a similar problem in that a clear coat could react with the pen. But that's the way I'd be thinking in this case. Just get another layer of clear put over the guitar.
You need a finishing experts advice from here on. I'm rubbish at paint.

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No no and no

Maybe Xhefri will look at this thread later on today - he who was an auto painter and now guitar-build master ought to have some suggestions.

I would think a coat of clear and a buff would work. but it may make the marker run since its already on a smooth polished surface it is probably best to put it in a display case. or just cover them all with clear packing tape

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I think that's a nice tribute actually.

Maybe a clear coat, I don't really know. Depends on the ink in the pen I suppose.

Derek Trucks's SG guitar is liberally authographed by some of the finest players in the business - some no longer with us. But it's still his main guitar, played everyday I assume.
Maybe an email to his management?

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

My buddy gave me a call and told me about this thread. 1st I would like to say that I think this was a cool idea having everyone sign the guitar in honor of your friend. guitars come and go but there is only one life of a friend (at least in this world). I can tell you with moderate use and by putting the guitar away in the case when it is not used, that those signatures are not going anywhere. That is—if for sure it was Sharpie Permanent Marker. Example: I bought a guitar in Vintage White that was signed on the back in the 1990s. The signature was still there when I got it as plain as day. I decided to remove it....well I wet sanded and buffed and wet sanded and buff and got it off but there was still a faint sign of the signature and the body was lighter colored where I did the sanding/buffing. So I feel safe to say you need not worry, unless, maybe, they signed where you would have your sweaty arm. In that case wear a long sleeve shirt!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

IMHO, trying to preserve the signatures might very well mess everything up.
I would let them stand as they are and allow them to decay over time.

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FIGHT!

First thing I would like to say is "Thank You Both cnsky54 and Xhefri" !!! I think maybe cnsky54 may have been the one to call Xhefri and for that I'm grateful ! Xhefri thank you for taking the time to comment on this thread and for your opinion on what to do. As soon as you told me what to do, I contacted the young man and you would NOT believe how relieved he was to hear that you said to just leave it alone as was I too. We were both worried about ruining the guitar or losing the signatures.

I also would like to thank you Xhefri for your kind words about honoring my friend with the signatures. The young man said he wouldn't have wanted it any other way but signed by all of us because of not only for his father but that we all shared the love of music and the love of his father. His father was a great guy and was like a brother to me. He was one of those friends that you can count on one hand and I'm sure you know what I mean by that. If not, I mean he would do anything for you at anytime without a blink of an eye. He would give me the shirt off his back, the shoes on his feet, the last dollar in his pocket and the keys to all his belongings. That's a REAL friend !!!

The young man has left the guitar put up in the case and that's where it will stay. I think I might try and get a few friends to pitch in and see if we can't find this young man the same model guitar because it sure is one sweet sounding Strat! If I could afford it I would buy him one myself but this economy has been to hard on my wallet and I can't afford it at the moment.

Just to give you guys a little insight to how relieved this youngman is now. This is the message he sent me after I called him and told him about what Xhefri had said on what to do. Now keep in mind he had done thanked me several times over the phone! Here's the message below that I copied and pasted.

"Alright thanks man. I know for sure it was perm and I really dont plan on ever playing it. There are plenty of others I can play. Thanks a lot man!
A***** " <--- Yes I left the name blank but you get the point!

Thank You All !!!
Rufus~

Music is Life~

Good guess Rufus, Mr X and I are neighbours sort-of, only a state apart in the NW, and talk on the phone, making plans to get together and jam which we are always too busy to carry out!

I'm glad the plan with the sigs worked out. I think it is a great idea, and a treasure that will last forever. I thought it might be ok, but had to check with X first. Some years ago I gave a nice acoustic I was not using to a young man starting out in music, and later he was able to get a group of his favourite musicians to autograph the front of it. To this day he still plays it, and the sigs are distinct and unchanged. I hope this nice Strat comes out of the case now and then and gets to jam with all of you good friends! That will make it continue to live for the one who is absent...

john

I can relate to all this pretty well. My father instilled a love for music in me as a child. During the Great Depression he use to "ride the rails" (freight trains for those of you who have never heard that term) and worked and played music in the CCC camps. He wrote his own music, as well as played songs by Jimmy Rogers, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and many other country classics. I lost interest in his music when was around 11 years old because I was into Jimi and Page and that kind of rock thing. By the time I was 15, I was playing with guys that were between 22- 35. Before he died, I started to appreciate his music, so had the chance to "jam" with him several times. He was killed in a tragic accident when I was 23 years old.....

My dad started his own one-man-band as you can see in this picture. He played his 1950 Martin D-28, slide steel with his feet, and had a set of drums rigged up to his arm that could do an assortment of beats depending how he moved his arm. Then he had a stack of harmonicas to go along. He did concerts at the local university in the town where I grew up. I started playing that slide steel when I was 6-years old! I still have that and will never sell it.... Wish I would have got the Martin though. So I recently bought a Martin and will never sell it either.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

Sorry for the late reply guys but I've been busier than a cat in a litterbox. I'm sure glad you guys helped out on this matter because I was at a loss. Actually I was just going to tell the youngman exactly what X told me and be done with it but wanted more input from people with more knowhow. If I ever get out to the NW again, the drinks is on me guys !!!

Thanks Again !

Rufus~

No problem, we are always open to good company, music, and libations. Bring a guitar!