drathbun Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 Since I haven't seen a post about this, nor could I find a post in a search, I thought I'd remind everyone about damage to your instrument from cheap guitar stands and all things vinyl. The thread about fretboard grunge and green frets and the discussion regarding naptha, boiled linseed oil etc. reminded me about the dangers of various materials on fragile finishes like the nitro on our beloved Gibson acoustics. Nitrocellulose lacquer finishes do not react well to VINYL or some other plastic or rubber tubing material or things like bug spray. The finish will soften and come right off. If you try to wipe it with a cloth you'll get lint and the cloth material embedded in the finish as well. The best thing to do is, AVOID cheap guitar stands, cheap guitar straps and all things VINYL (and bug spray). Those Chinese guitar stands with the orange tubing on them should be tossed and replaced with stands by manufacturers who guarantee there is no vinyl or off-gassing compounds that react with nitro finishes in their stands. You can, I suppose, cover the cheap orange tubing with a leather sleeve or whatever, however, I'd be concerned that the tubing would still off-gas through that material and damage my axe. If I am spending 2K or more on a guitar, why not buy it a good leather strap and a first class Hercules type guitar stand. AVOID VINYL STRAPS LIKE THE SWINE FLU! Look at some examples of vinyl damage here.
Taylor Player Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 Good information drathbun! Been there done that on the Mosquito spray thing... with help from some luthiers on another forum it all turned out good as new in the end, but not until much kicking myself first.... I have good, expensive stands but still use a flannel shirt pieces wrapped around all rubber parts where the guitar body hits the stand. I also use a furry glove thing made for these stands where it holds the headstocks. I never have to worry about my Taylor UV finish as it is bullet proof but my Gibby's take the extra precaution.
Gilliangirl Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 I think this should be a 'sticky'. I've got fleece on my guitar stands and I'm still smartin' over the bug spray incident.
pohatu771 Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 Believe it or not, the finish on my LG-0 doesn't have any scars from chemical reactions... it has plenty of damage, but it was all caused by getting knocked into things. Considering it lived for at least ten years on a wall hanger in a middle school classroom, I'm surprised. The rest of the guitars on that wall are Chinese classicals, some with steel strings and some with nylon.
drathbun Posted April 27, 2009 Author Posted April 27, 2009 Believe it or not' date=' the finish on my LG-0 doesn't have any scars from chemical reactions... it has plenty of damage, but it was all caused by getting knocked into things. Considering it lived for at least ten years on a wall hanger in a middle school classroom, I'm surprised. The rest of the guitars on that wall are Chinese classicals, some with steel strings and some with nylon.[/quote'] Vinyl does not affect cat poly finishes. You'll find most asian import guitars have poly and some domestic brands as well like Taylor and Larrivee. Gibsons are all nitro to my knowledge.
ksdaddy Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 I had a couple cheap stands in the shop and I had them padded with socks or something; I think one had duct tape spanning the bottom swivel thing with a hole strategically placed for the end button. However one day my 13 year old Golden Retriever walked by and brushed my '64 SJ with his overactive tail. The SJ fell face first onto the floor.... BANG! No damage though. However the stands got tossed out in the garage. I usually leave an Ovation in the bus so that will be a good place for the stands as well.
6stringTom Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 This discussion reminds me that some years back we were warned not to let t-shirt appliques contact our guitar finishes. They supposedly could soften the finish as vinyl does. I haven't heard that in several years, so I'm wondering if the information was wrong or if the material used on t-shirts is different, or ??? I see a lot of professional players at summer events wearing t-shirts with appliques.
TommyK Posted April 28, 2009 Posted April 28, 2009 I'm certain this has been covered before, but never hurts to reinforce. I've discovered when doing searches, you have to be sure to select 'All' at the bottom of the screen. The default is "Last Week". Also, when doing searches, after selecting All, If you get no items found, click 'search' again. More often than not you'll get hits on the second click of the search button.
TommyK Posted April 28, 2009 Posted April 28, 2009 I agree KSDADDY. Floor guit tar stands are dangerous. Only good for bachelors, with no kids, friends, pets, or significant others sharing living quarters. And only if it's placed in a corner of a room soes you yourself don't catch a tuner button with a belt loop and dash the whole caboode, with it's kit, to the ground. Nice new avatar KSDADDY. You get a new lawn ornament?
TommyK Posted April 28, 2009 Posted April 28, 2009 This discussion reminds me that some years back we were warned not to let t-shirt appliques contact our guitar finishes. They supposedly could soften the finish as vinyl does. I haven't heard that in several years' date=' so I'm wondering if the information was wrong or if the material used on t-shirts is different, or ??? I see a lot of professional players at summer events wearing t-shirts with appliques.[/quote'] Good point. Natural rubber (latex) will eat guit tar finishes of the expensive variety like the vinyl. Tee shirts are decorated with latex paint. "How come I got a wierd haze on the back of my shirt? It looks like JESUS!... Praise Be!"
EdgarHF Posted April 28, 2009 Posted April 28, 2009 I keep my guitar on a stone platform surrounded by bloody virgins and burning incense.
ksdaddy Posted April 28, 2009 Posted April 28, 2009 Nice new avatar KSDADDY. You get a new lawn ornament? Naw, about 5 years ago the junkyard I used to frequent when I was junking bikes had a massive influx of some choice older pieces and I had my camera. A '58 Olds, a '47 Chevy, the '48 Ford in the avatar, some misc torpedoback carcasses, even some 20s/30s stuff (but burnt). I get all weepy eyed because I can't bring them ALL home.
TommyK Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 ...misc torpedoback carcasses' date=' ...[/quote'] "Torpedoback"? I got an idea, ... but does that mean? A 70's Riviera?
ksdaddy Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 Right idea, just wrong decade. Torpedoback is a colloquial term for the late 40s version of what our generation would have called a fastback. The style only lasted a couple or three years in the very late 40s
Taylor Player Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 I keep my guitar on a stone platform surrounded by bloody virgins and burning incense. I assume you have 4 sets of virgins then so you rotate them in about once a week with the new crop then?
EdgarHF Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 I assume you have 4 sets of virgins then so you rotate them in about once a week with the new crop then? I was talking about the famous drink minus the vodka of course.
TommyK Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Right idea' date=' just wrong decade. Torpedoback is a colloquial term for the late 40s version of what our generation would have called a fastback. The style only lasted a couple or three years in the very late 40s [img']http://www.buickcarclub.org.au/features/2003%20GM%20DAY/1948_Buick_Sedanette_GMDAY.jpg[/img] That rear window serve any purpose other than burning the necks of the rear seat passengers? Those were cool years for cars to be sure. I bet that whopper weighs every bit of 4,000 lbs. Might be pushin' 5K.
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