Is it hard to get sharpie off a guitar?

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

   just wondering.....

[gerald germany]

Hooo boy. Well, the first thing that comes to mind, and the first thing I'd try is a Magic Eraser.

[jjrpilot-admin]

  just wondering.....

Actually...not necessarily.  If you have one of those "dry-erase" markers it can be done.  If you make a mark with a Sharpie on a hard surface, you can get it off by doing the following.  (I don't have any experience with with getting Sharpie off of Taylors but anyways.)

So let's say you have a Sharpie mark:

1. Draw OVER the entire mark using an "Dry Erase" marker.
2. Wait about 5 seconds
3. Wipe it off. The dry erase marker literally attaches itself to the Sharpie ink, and it simply just wipes off.

It's that simple.  I learned that little trick awhile back after reading about it online somewhere. 

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

I suppose I should elaborate.

I am going to see Tommy Emmanuel on Friday and I know he would sign my guitar (I already have my meet and greet pass).  Not looking to "add value" or anything like that I just thought it might be nice to have him sign either my 516 or my Mini.

I got to thinking tho' what if I changed my mind?  He seems to sign the guitars right across the top of the fretboard extension.  I suppose I could ask him to sign the back of the headstock or something.  I'm not planning on selling either the 516 or the Mini anytime soon or really ever.  It's just something I would have for myself.

When I saw Jake Shimabukuro last year he signed my VERY inexpensive ukulele and it's fun to look at and remember the good time I had at the concert.

Maybe I should just buy a t-shirt......

[jjrpilot-admin]

Maybe I should just buy a t-shirt......

Then get the t shirt signed 

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I know about Magic Erasers, but never knew about using a Dry Erase marker to remove unwanted Sharpie script. Thanks for the tip.

 Magic Erasers are great at removing scuff marks from guitar cases and such.

[Edward]

Goof Off ...used it to take off sharpie and ink a bazillion times.  Find it at Home Depot or WallyMart.  Goof Off (and there's another that has a more citrus smell and works well, too) works great at taking off ink but can do damage to laquer ...of which Talylor's finish is not, so you should be fine.  Test in a small area, of course.

And FWIW, when I was at the Factory once and asked Bob to sign (with a black sharpie) the back of my headstock.  He was most willng and gracious about it but also quipped something to the effect of, "if you end up hating me someday, you can always remove it with naptha."  Naptha is basically lighter fluid, and is an old stand-by solvent that countless guitar techs swear by.  I've personally never used it, but it's apparently safe on fins given it seems universally adopted by those that make a living fixing these things

Edward

[michaelw]

this guitar used to have a couple signatures on it
(something about ricky skaggs & cody gilby)

i used this first - lighter fluid, not the 'tech-torch'

that wasn't quite enough, so a shop used the 'real-deal' naptha when
i had the areas of the top that were worn to the bare wood sealed

i've heard of using sharpie over it, although a dry-erase marker sounds like it'd work also

maybe it's just me, but i'm not letting mr. clean near any of my guitars
walls or cases
maybe 

another idea might be to get a clear static removable pickguard & have it signed

[not darth]

Pretty sure that Mr Clean contains ammonia, and although I'm not sure if it's bad for the UV cured finishes, I sure wouldn't risk it. 
-K

[Gutch]

A little 50 grit sandpaper will take it right off...   

[not darth]

A little 50 grit sandpaper will take it right off...   

Oh certainly, if we're talking about permanent removal leaving no trace, then shotblasting is probably the way to go!

-K

[gerald germany]

Pretty sure that Mr Clean contains ammonia, and although I'm not sure if it's bad for the UV cured finishes, I sure wouldn't risk it. 
-K

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Mr. Clean liquid cleaner does. Magic Erasers from Mr. Clean don't though don't, though. I'm not sure where the Mr. Clean thing came from....I'd certainly never recommend putting anything like Mr. Clean on a guitar finish.

[michaelw]

Pretty sure that Mr Clean contains ammonia, and although I'm not sure if it's bad for the UV cured finishes, I sure wouldn't risk it. 
-K

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Mr. Clean liquid cleaner does. Magic Erasers from Mr. Clean don't though don't, though. I'm not sure where the Mr. Clean thing came from....I'd certainly never recommend putting anything like Mr. Clean on a guitar finish.

mr. clean is a link to the magic eraser (had to fix it for it to show - something about apache tomcat )
using a magic eraser on a guitar is something i wouldn't recommend (seems to work ok on walls or cases)

[TaylorGirl]

IMHO, I would have him sign a T-shirt (as previously recommended) or this idea......have him sign a guitar strap.  A little less intrusive than the guitar, but would be with the guitar for you to enjoy as long as you want.  Have Fun!

[Edward]

IMHO, I would have him sign a T-shirt (as previously recommended) or this idea......have him sign a guitar strap.  A little less intrusive than the guitar, but would be with the guitar for you to enjoy as long as you want.  Have Fun!

Or simply buy a pickguard of your choice and have him sign that.  I've seen folks do this at NAMM ...strat or P-bass guards are perfect for this.  Just make sure you get a good-sounding one as you don't want to be embarassed by bringing him a dead one to sign...

Edward