Signing Guitar - What To Use?

[awilcox]

I would like to sign my name on the back of the headstock of my guitars. What is the best way to do this. I was thinking 3 or 4 coats of lacquer, sign my name with a marker, then finish my clearcoats. Is this correct and what type of marker should I use? The finish is nitrocellulose. Thanks.

[BigM555]

I have a guitar signed by Steve Vai. When a friend and I had it done we did some research and the consensus was a paint marker, but that was on top of the paint/laquer.

I've heard that you can apply laquer over signatures to preserve them so I'm not sure why it wouldn't work. You might just want to check your particular marker with your laquer first to make sure the laquer won't make the ink run before you put it on one of your fine instruments.

BigM555

[marksound]

On my blue mongrel I signed one of the pickup cavities with a Sharpie on top of the paint and then cleared over it. Start with mist coats so it doesn't run, then once it's locked in proceed as usual.

[SwedishLuthier]

Frank Ford has a good tutorial on finishing over a signature:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Te...elebsigsig.html

Me, I use the Melvyn Hiscock trick and, instead of a decal or similar, sign all of my guitars on the front of the headstock. I use ordinary markers, black, silver or gold. But I use waterbourne finished.

[awilcox]

Thanks for the help. After 4 clear coats I signed, dated and numbered the guitar with a sharpe (in the pick up cavity), then misted a light coat of nitro over it - then carried on with normal clear coats. it worked perfectly.

[Jozer99]

Be really careful, the thinner in many lacquers also thins sharpie, so make sure you do REALLY light mist coats.

[GuitarEng]

I use ebony...oh yeah...the CNC machine helps out a lot with this...

-G. Eng