I took the backplate off my guitar to add another trem spring. After playing it unplugged I noticed it sounded more resonant while sitting down and it felt more comfortable playing standing up.

If I keep the plate off I'm concerned the rough screw holes could catch on my clothes and eventually start rubbing away paint, so I want to cover them up.

If I cover them with electrical or painter's tape, can it react with the finish long term?

Can I fill them in with small rubber hole plugs and not have to worry about any reaction between the materials?

Or should I just buy a cheap back plate, dremel out the center, and put that on the guitar?

Just clean hole to remove burr and you won't damage your clothes. More chance is your clothes will damage guitar body with buckle belt.......

Whats the reason for keeping the backplate off?

I keep my backplates off my guitars. But I don't worry about screw holes. It's a needless concern.
Whatever you put in those holes, you're going to have to take back out again to put the backplate back on. Or just don't put the backplate back on.

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No no and no

Many artists leave the back plate off. [The Eric Johnson Signature Series guitar is finished that way.] During a busy gig, it can be too much of a hassle when needing to change strings. As for controlling belt rash, I used to keep my belt buckle off to the side, or wrap a small piece of terry cloth over the buckle, when performing. Small price to pay esthetically if preserving the finish on the back of the guitar is a priority.

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"Another day in paradise!"

This has to be one of the silliest topics yet.

Protecting screw holes.

More Resonance - Seriously!

It just facilitated quicker string changes if one broke while playing live. Nothing more. If you deck your trem you need to remove it to change strings, unless you make the opening larger.

You would be better served with more practice than concerned over screw holes and springs. For posting such silly stuff you punishment is to go practice for an additional 8 hours this week. Then report back for your next additional practice period.

Gently please.

The tenor of this Forum shows a modicum of respect for all participants. Live and let live. Share and share alike. If you think something is frivolous, Teflon is the magic word. It obviously isn't to the contributor posting.
.....Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

Reading comprehension. Seriously.

I said it has more resonance when playing unplugged - not amplified. It does. Anybody can hear that for themselves.

And your second reading comprehension fail - I'm not trying to protect screw holes. I'm trying to protect the paint job.

The screw holes have rough paint edges where clothes or other items could catch and begin to chip away at the paint, damaging the finish, not the screw hole.

But good job acting superior. You really showed me.

I knew when I posted this topic that there would be someone who would use this as an opportunity to make themselves feel better by mocking the question instead of answering it.

He didn't make me feel bad. He just made himself look bad by showing everybody he can't comprehend a post that is a mere six sentences long.

Of course. However, this is the kind of 'back and forth' we prefer to throw a blanket over ASAP because its inconsistent with the way most of us prefer to see business conducted and doesn't advance the cause for which we gather. Online etiquette is the rule of the day 'round these here part.

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"Another day in paradise!"

While that may be true, you should also willingly admit that your questions ARE silly.

Is this a case queen/museum piece, bedroom guitar or something you're gonna gig with?

If it's a case queen, just leave it alone, it won't get played anyway. If it's a bedroom guitar that you gingerly fondle and twitch in fear of getting pick scratches or a ding or two on, leave the plate off and don't worry about the screw holes, nothing will happen to them. If it's a gigging guitar, leave the plate off, screw hole cleanliness is the last of your concerns as you're gonna get chips, dings and scratches all over just from the amount of use you put into the guitar.

Hope that helps.

Silly to want to take a few minutes to prevent unnecessary damage to a guitar I'm going to have for the rest of my life?

It's not quite as silly as taking the time to lecturing someone on appropriate back plate use in various scenarios when the question was how to protect the finish while avoiding chemical reactions over the long term.

Wait - I think someone did that.

Yep, here it is:


It didn't, but you probably knew it wouldn't when you posted.

Hopefully that etiquette will one day include the ability to either say "I don't know" or remain silent when a question is posted that they can't answer.

Instead I received some of the customary "I don't agree with your concern so I'm going to mock you instead of answering your question" replies.

Next up in sequence: "Hey, I was just joking, lighten up".

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Get some small rubber washers and put the screws back in place. The washers will prevent the screws from digging too deep into the wood due to the absence of a pickguard.

If it means so much to you, put the back plate back on and stop being so lazy.
That is the protection that is meant to be on there, it is ideal to protect all the points that needlessly concern you.

Or you can wet'n'dry over the screw holes. Then spray some clear coat over the area. Don't skimp though, put enough on and you'll fill those pesky screw holes.
But be prepared to dig the clear coat out of the screw holes should you ever decide to put the back plate back on the guitar. Then repeat the process of sanding and spraying should you decide you want it off again.

Yes, this is very very silly.

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No no and no