Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a clear plexiglas upper guard that I hope to get signed by Roger McGuinn next week after his show.

Since I doubt he is capable of signing his name *backwards* on the back, Im wondering what is the best type of marker to use on the top surface of the guard?

I tried a Sharpie and it rubs off very easily. Maybe just a few coats of clear over top of the signature will work?

I intend to install this on my guitar and play it, so I would appreciate any suggestions of how to best apply and preserve the signature.

Thanks!

A Sharpie "permanant" marker should work. If it's not permanant, it will rub off.

Hmmm... I tried to respond to this yesterday, but apparently I neglected to push the right button...

Anyway, Sharpie marks can be removed from non-porous surfaces with methanol (wood alcohol) or ethanol (grain alcohol). In my work as an analytical chemist, I use a Sharpie to temporarily identify contents of various pieces of lab glassware, and because the glassware isn't the throw-away stuff, I just take off the markings before washing the equipment for reuse.


With regard to the clearcoat overspray idea, this probably will work, but the spray should be checked for compatibility with the plastic ahead of time (it might contain a solvent that will attack the plastic). I have a B.C. Rich custom bass with the late John Entwistle's autograph; the previous owner (who got the autograph) sprayed a couple of clear coats over the signature and this seems to be doing a good job protecting it.




Of course, this was signed on the finish, not on plastic, so there was no compatibility issue in this case.

By the way, do you think, Paul McCartney would sign the upper pickguards of my two ricks if i'd send them to him?