Preserving a signature on a scratchplate...

Panama_Jack666

Now then,

I have a signature on a scratchplate and I'm wondering what the Wisdom is in regard to preserving it so I can play the guitar again. I could buy a new scratchplate but I'd rather keep it all together...

The guitar in question is a 50th anniversary Mexican stratocaster. so the scratchplate is made from... standard scratchplate material? Can I lacquer over it and keep the sig intact?

Apologies for the lack of information! Any questions will be gratefully answered!

randomhandclaps

I did this for a mate - dependent on size and placement of the signature.  Get a sheet of clear self-adhesive vinyl.  Cut one piece slightly large than the signature and a second piece a bit larger still.  Stick the sticky side of the smaller piece to the centre of the sticky side of the larger piece.  Align the non-sticky patch over the signature and press it down on to the scratchplate.

JD50

clear nail varnish?

Panama_Jack666

Both great ideas! I was going to attempt the clear adhesive vinyl last night but I've encountered a scratchplate related issue... I can't get one of the screws out to remove the plate because the head of the screw is knackered. No screwdriver will turn it so I'm going to have to cut into it and use some sort of flat head

:-/ Pretty risky with my track record! Guitar might come out in worse condition than when I found it!

DrBob

I've got an Esquire plate with Jeff Beck's sig on it in white paint pen.
I scanned it and sent it to a mate along with another blank Esquire Scratchplate, he then digitised the signature & used a CNC package to route it out of the new scratchplate. He then filled the grooves with white paint..

I'll post pics tomorrow

viz

Yes, I use library book backing, it's fine.

DartmoorHedgehog

Panama_Jack666 said:

Both great ideas! I was going to attempt the clear adhesive vinyl last night but I've encountered a scratchplate related issue... I can't get one of the screws out to remove the plate because the head of the screw is knackered. No screwdriver will turn it so I'm going to have to cut into it and use some sort of flat head

:-/ Pretty risky with my track record! Guitar might come out in worse condition than when I found it!

Sometimes if the screw's not too tight you can get enough purchase by putting a thin piece of rubber (like a wide rubber band) over the screw head and leaning hard on the screw driver. Worth a try before you do anything more "potentially risky"

Panama_Jack666

DartmoorHedgehog said:

Panama_Jack666 said:

Both great ideas! I was going to attempt the clear adhesive vinyl last night but I've encountered a scratchplate related issue... I can't get one of the screws out to remove the plate because the head of the screw is knackered. No screwdriver will turn it so I'm going to have to cut into it and use some sort of flat head

:-/ Pretty risky with my track record! Guitar might come out in worse condition than when I found it!

Sometimes if the screw's not too tight you can get enough purchase by putting a thin piece of rubber (like a wide rubber band) over the screw head and leaning hard on the screw driver. Worth a try before you do anything more "potentially risky"

Funnily enough I heard similar information yesterday and I'm going to give it a whirl - I don't hold out much hope but it's worth a try!

Cheers for reminding me as well - I'm about to leave work (which is where all the free elastic bands are!) and I just thought I'd give The Fretboard a check before I left!

Panama_Jack666

DrBob said:

I've got an Esquire plate with Jeff Beck's sig on it in white paint pen.
I scanned it and sent it to a mate along with another blank Esquire Scratchplate, he then digitised the signature & used a CNC package to route it out of the new scratchplate. He then filled the grooves with white paint..

I'll post pics tomorrow

Pics pics pics! Would be really interested to see it!

DrBob

Yep, I'll get some done this morning

ToneControl

Panama_Jack666 said:

DartmoorHedgehog said:

Panama_Jack666 said:

Both great ideas! I was going to attempt the clear adhesive vinyl last night but I've encountered a scratchplate related issue... I can't get one of the screws out to remove the plate because the head of the screw is knackered. No screwdriver will turn it so I'm going to have to cut into it and use some sort of flat head

:-/ Pretty risky with my track record! Guitar might come out in worse condition than when I found it!

Sometimes if the screw's not too tight you can get enough purchase by putting a thin piece of rubber (like a wide rubber band) over the screw head and leaning hard on the screw driver. Worth a try before you do anything more "potentially risky"

Funnily enough I heard similar information yesterday and I'm going to give it a whirl - I don't hold out much hope but it's worth a try!

Cheers for reminding me as well - I'm about to leave work (which is where all the free elastic bands are!) and I just thought I'd give The Fretboard a check before I left!

you can get screw removal tools quite cheaply, e.g.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/silverline-da70-screw-extractor-set-5pc/281-0725.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=281-0725&kpid=281-0725&gclid=CJ73t5Su5roCFbLJtAodSwsAoQ

 

Panama_Jack666

ToneControl said:

you can get screw removal tools quite cheaply, e.g.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/silverline-da70-screw-extractor-set-5pc/281-0725.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=281-0725&kpid=281-0725&gclid=CJ73t5Su5roCFbLJtAodSwsAoQ

 

Struggling to see it at work because if dodgy internet (although I can see it's £5.40 which is indeed cheap!)

Will look into it more when I get back to my home internet - cheers!

axisus

Those screw extractors will be too big for a scratchplate screw.

Panama_Jack666

axisus said:

Those screw extractors will be too big for a scratchplate screw.

I was concerned about the size of the screw when I was googling how to get it out. I'm pissed off someone has gone to the trouble of knacking the head on it!

GuitarMonkey

Drill the head off using a pillar drill if possible. Go slowly as if it gets too hot you'll melt the pickguard.

Lift off the 'guard and remove the screw with pliers.

Panama_Jack666

For fear of losing some sort of testosterone points - my determined girlfriend managed to take the screw out of the scractchplate using some of her sewing tweezers. The rubber band didn't work unfortunately

More making and modding questions to come!

DrBob

So, anyway, only a fortnight late,

The original plate as signed by Jeff with a white paint pen:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc343/lorddonricci/P1000285_zps041b5f52.jpg

And the copy with the signature etched out of the surface & flooded with white paint:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc343/lorddonricci/P1000283_zpsdb39aa41.jpg

I think he's done an amazing job of it

stickyfiddle

That looks wicked. Beck has a cool signature, which helps!

Panama_Jack666

DrBob said:

So, anyway, only a fortnight late,

The original plate as signed by Jeff with a white paint pen:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc343/lorddonricci/P1000285_zps041b5f52.jpg

And the copy with the signature etched out of the surface & flooded with white paint:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc343/lorddonricci/P1000283_zpsdb39aa41.jpg

I think he's done an amazing job of it

That looks bloody amazing! I'm not gonna lie, I was skeptical but that's blown me away. Have a wow!

DrBob

Mate, that's ever so kind of you but It was really my mate Gary who did the clever bit? incidentally he's the same guy who spray painted the 'Gulf racing' Steinberger in the WezV thread over in Making & modding Talented guy

viz

Looks excellent!