Removing Magic Marker From Guitar?

[mc2]

I've seen this somewhere here before but can't find the answer...

What's the safest way to get off autographs on a Hamer guitar?? This one is black permanent magic marker/Sharpie on a white finish and has been there quite awhile.

What won't harm the paint? Will there be "bleed" into the finish from the marker that will not come out after the top layer of writing comes off? Then what?

[MCChris]

The stuff you use to clean dry erase marker boards worked wonders for me.

[Ryan07]

Toothpaste

[Rechts]

I used Meguiar's car wax and a rag when I removed the autographs of all the members of Cheap Trick from an FBIV bass a few years back.

Came off with almost no elbow required.

I should have sold that rag on eBay.

[SteveB]

an old trick to use on whiteboards if someone wrote with a "real" marker was to write back over it with a dry erase and then erase it. Worked great. Not sure if it would work on a guitar or hurt the finish or anything.

[Steve Haynie]

The bleed should be visible around the Sharpie marker lines. It may have seeped under the lines, but usually it spreads a little, too.

I think the solvent in the marker ink is called toluene. It is something that I remember using to make a printed circuit board with a Radio Shack kit. That stuff will take off the marker, but I'm not sure how much else will come up with it.

I have to know-- who signed the guitar?

[BCR Greg]

3m Polishing compound. No pressure, just gently work it around and the Sharpie is gone.

[Rock City Guitars]

Believe it or not.....naptha. You know, Ronsonal lighter fluid! Works like a charm for marker, stickers, just about any goo. I've used it on nitro and poly, and just about everything with no ill effects. Just to be safe though, always do a spot test first.

Corey

[Rock City Guitars]

Believe it or not.....naptha. You know, Ronsonal lighter fluid! Works like a charm for marker, stickers, just about any goo. I've used it on nitro and poly, and just about everything with no ill effects. Just to be safe though, always do a spot test first.

Corey B

[kenjones]

I've used both naptha and rubbing alcohol and neither has harmed the finish.

[Michael_]

i use the tried and true method of playing the crap out of it and letting it wear off. it has worked wonders to remove some lynyrd skynyrd scribblings from a special i have.

[mc2]

One of the Def Lepps...not the one missing a signing hand

Problem is that it's a bass but a guitarist signed it...makes no sense, so it has to go away.

Thanks for all the help guys !

[Submariner85]

It wasn't Steve Clark was it? If it was him I'd keep it cause, well, you know.

Phil Collen?

Vivian Campbell?

[mc2]

It wasn't Steve Clark was it?  If it was him I'd keep it cause, well, you know.

Phil Collen?

Vivian Campbell?

Yeah...I've heard it's hard to get Steve Clark's to sign autographs anymore...but it's Phil Collen's signature and it's on the front of a white Scarab bass...the LAST Scarab bass ever made.

I also have a Chap 5-string bass with all five of the D. Lepps signatures on the back (Collen & Campbell...wish it was Clark.) That one's sort of cool since it's the entire band and it's the back and in gold marker.

I also have a somewhat less annoying giant Steve Stevens signature scrawled across the front of an otherwise very nice Steve Stevens I (also white.) At least it makes sense that his signature is on his signature model...although he also signed the electronics cavity cover on it, apparently at some other time as well....plus his standard silkscreened name on the headstock. HAS to be the only Steve Stevens with THREE of his signatures on it. Talk about overkill.

Maybe guitar companies should put light blue lines and three-ring-binder holes on all their white guitars so "artists" could at least sign them neatly (and smaller?)