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  #1  
Old 12-01-2012, 03:37 AM
lonecedar lonecedar is offline
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Default 4 year old signed my 12 string

Hi all - newbie member here.

My 4 year old grandson decided he was going to sign my Martin D12X1 with a pencil he found. The guitar was on a stand in my bedroom.

I told him I hope he grows up to be another Eric Clapton because I will have a guitar signed by him.

Anyway - it has a satin finish. Is there a way to remove the marks or do you think a luthier has the ability to do it?

Thank goodness it was a lower cost Martin. Should I worry about it ?

Thanks

-Pat
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  #2  
Old 12-01-2012, 08:06 AM
Bob1131 Bob1131 is offline
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Did you try an eraser?

I would try a cleaner like Fantastik on a cloth (do not spray directly on the guitar) to remove the graphite. Just dampen the cloth with the cleaner and rub the marks gently. A polishing compound will remove the marks but will leave a shiny spot on the satin finish.

If your grandson had a heavy hand, the pencil will leave indentations that might lessen with judicial application of steam (causes the wood to swell and push out). If that doesn't work and you want to restore it to "new" condition, bring it to a luthier who can sand down the area and blend in a touch-up finish.

All of my guitars eventually end up with a few bumps. nicks and scratches, so if it isn't too big of an area, I would let it be after removing the pencil graphite.
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Old 12-01-2012, 09:41 AM
dhalbert dhalbert is offline
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A kneaded rubber eraser (kind of like putty, used for art) or, second, a vinyl eraser (Staedler Mars or similar ,often used for drafting) might work if a cleaner like Fantastik does not. The kneaded eraser picks up graphite because it's tacky. Use very gently. You may need to polish a bit when you're done.
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Old 12-01-2012, 09:45 AM
HHP HHP is offline
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I would be proud if your 4 year old grandson can write.
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Old 12-01-2012, 09:57 AM
blackie51 blackie51 is offline
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Quote:
I told him I hope he grows up to be another Eric Clapton because I will have a guitar signed by him
Not if you remove his art work. I'd keep the signature right where it is and make sure to hand the guitar down to him someday. I'd also have a picture taken now of you and him with the guitar to pass along someday as well.

Tom
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Old 12-01-2012, 10:37 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is offline
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I'd leave it because it's a momento.
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Old 12-01-2012, 01:41 PM
wrench68 wrench68 is offline
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I can understand a reaction, but in the grand scheme of things, your grandson's signature makes that Martin unique and priceless.
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Old 12-01-2012, 02:09 PM
pitner pitner is offline
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Think about trigger and you won't feel so bad.
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Old 12-01-2012, 08:02 PM
ZekeM ZekeM is offline
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Default 4 year old signed my 12 string

I saw a 1944 Martin d18 at the Nashville guitar show today. It had a name carved into the soundboard, yes carved along with some other nonsense carved in there, price tag said $17,000. So I guess just wait 70 years and that signature won't devalue at all
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:35 AM
redir redir is offline
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Buy a kazoo for the kid so he has something to do with mom and dad on the long drive home.
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:45 AM
Shafe Shafe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redir View Post
Buy a kazoo for the kid so he has something to do with mom and dad on the long drive home.
Awesome!!
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:46 AM
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stratokatsu stratokatsu is offline
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I see it's an X series, but does it have an HPL top or is the top solid wood?

If it's HPL, you should be able to clean it with something like Fantastik like someone said before. If it's a wooden top, the art gum type eraser, (something very gentle), would be my first try.

But I have to admit, while I wouldn't want my grandchildren to write or draw on my guitars, the idea of leaving it as a memento is a pretty neat idea. I also love the idea of handing down the guitar to him someday.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:42 AM
steveyam steveyam is offline
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It really depends on whether the pencil point has compressed the lacquer into a mini valley or, if the pencil mark is just sitting on the surface of the lacquer with no real indentation. If it's sitting on top, then as suggested, try various erasers. If its compressed the lacquer, and you're that bothered - you seem fairly laid back! - then it needs to go to a luthier who can build up those valleys with the correct lacquer - having first got rid of the graphite of course!
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Old 12-03-2012, 09:01 AM
MisterZeus MisterZeus is offline
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"Simple Green" is the cleaner I use to remove pencil lines from both raw and finished wood in my other hobby, woodcarving.

i would try a little of that on a toothbrush.
Good luck.
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Old 12-03-2012, 01:11 PM
bwstl01 bwstl01 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackie51 View Post
Not if you remove his art work. I'd keep the signature right where it is and make sure to hand the guitar down to him someday. I'd also have a picture taken now of you and him with the guitar to pass along someday as well.

Tom
Ditto! And amend your will to make sure he gets the guitar and the pic should you be called away.
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