Thinking of buying guitar but it has been signed on front

[lovehifi]

Thinking about buying a Telecaster but the current owner had Joe Bonamassa autograph the front of the guitar. Just curious if in most cases will the signature polish off? It does have a nitro finish. While I like Joe as an artist I cant stand signatures on the front of the body on a guitar.

 

[BadPenguin]

If the seller ISN'T jacking up the price due to the signature, and you like buy it, buy it, and wipe the signature off.

 

[paco1976]

Can't stand signatures either, The only person allowed to sign on an instrument is the builder himself.
Sure you can easily water sand it with sanding wool or something else super light. Check in the Luthier's Corner area of the forum, they will tell you in no time.

 

[SparkyJones]

Ugh, I hate signed guitars. At the end of the day, it's just ****ing sharpie ink graffiti ruining a beautiful instrument. I don't care what hand signed it. Don't do it.

 

[Parasite68]

If the price is discounted, and you like the guitar, go for it.

Me, I'd be annoyed at first, then get used to it. At least it's a real guitarist, with a name other guitarists might know.

When setting a price, treat it like it was signed by the current owner. Who defaced it isn't important. What's important is that it's been modded in a way you don't like.


Also, there are plenty of Teles out there. Unless this one is a steal, move on. Let it go to someone who will appreciate the sig.

I agree with you. The OP can surely find another without a signature. I personally own 17 guitars 5 of which are signed by KISS, bonamasss and Shinedown.

I respect that people don't like signatures on guitars, but in my case every signature has a story... Bonamasss by the way normally signs the back of the headstock only unless requested to sign the front so to the OP: be careful of a fake!

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

If you're not paying a premium for the signature, buy it. You can almost always remove it with naphtha, which is nitro-safe.

 

[Stage Fright]

Two NASCAR drivers signed the headrests on my pace car when it was at Daytona. Some people ask about it when they see it.

 

[Stevie 202]

I've used dry erase markers on poly.

Trace over the sig with it and then wipe.

Never tried it on nitro though.

 

[penguinchit]

Leave it and let the brushing of your hand naturally wear it off. When it's worn to the point of being unreadable, when someone asks who signed it, you can can say, "I don't know...Some guy," because you're that talented of a player!

 

[Royal Crimson]

I'm in the "There are plenty of Tele's in the sea" camp.

Buy one that isn't adorned/defaced/ with/by an/a artists/vandals signature/tag.

 

[Fuelish]

^^^ That same technique works to get Sharpie writing off the dry-erase boards, when someone chooses the wrong marker.

Yes, that trick comes in handy working at the hospital where at least a few times a week in at least a few rooms some moron has used perm marker on patients' white info boards.....damn dayshifters

 

[lovehifi]

Thanks all. I passed on it. I will just wait until one pops up that doesn't have scribbling on the front.

 

[CherryBurst14]

I don't really get why this is a bad thing, if you like the artist why does it matter? Unless its lime a huge signature or something...

 

[Rocco Crocco]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser would be the first thing I would try to remove it.

 

[Royal Crimson]

He made the right call and passed on it.

/threadover

 

[Lepard]

If it was a poly finish, car wax would take it right off. Sharpie signatures can be a major pain in the ass to remove from nitro lacquer. I spent a good hour trying to get Kerry King's signature off a USA Custom Shop BC Rich Warlock headstock. I got it off for the most part but it did damage the finish just a little.

 

[rabidhamster]

you can usually still see the outline of the signature in the finish from certain angles

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

I am on the fence about sigs on a guitar. I would probably let Merle Haggard sign a lower end guitar.. Willie Nelson....if George Jones was still alive yeah and Chris stapleton. Can't think of anyone else and not really even sure about those 4.