Guitar Scratches?

[matt88]

A couple of months ago i got an EPI standard. I was getting used to it and found the pick guard was getting in my way when i was playing solo's on the 1st and 2nd strings (anyone else find this happens to them). So i took it off. Then after abit i noticed i was scratching the guitar from strumming, not to much but a little. I've since put the pick guard back on and have adjusted slightly to soloing with the guard. Now is there anyway to remove these scratches?. Does guitar polish help?

I really want these scracthes gone cos it took me a hell of a long time to get it and i really wanna keep it in good nick ya know. So any help is appreciated

[Dont Try Me]

I have scratches and stuff too on my Epi but you can't get it away with guitar polish. That I know. Anyways I think guitars need to be lived anyways. The scratshes give the guitar it's own story, as long as you can get a good sound out of it it's not a big deal. You'll get over it. I was there too but I stopt caring allong the way. I have some jewelley on my hands too what causes scratches everwhere, but I don't mind anymore. 

[Darkburst]

Leave the scratches. You bought the guitar to play, not be a museum piece right?

[Oddy]

I have a 30 year old les paul replica, it was basically in perfect condition when i got it.

But now the finish is beginning ot flake away at the neck and there are scratches around the body. I honestly tried to keep it in good condition, but its still the best guitar i've ever played. Who cares if its gettin worn. I have my Epiphone for looks.

Sorry i cant answer your question. If they're really small little chips try and find some nail polish of the same colour and just dot it in. Only on real small ones, it'll be obvious on large scratches.

[matt88]

Leave the scratches. You bought the guitar to play, not be a museum piece right?

Yeah true i guess. It's just like this thing in my head knowing the sctratches are there lol.

Well thanx people. Thanx Oddy i might try the nail polish.

[Oddy]

yep just find the right colour, put some tiny blobs of it over the scratch, and then wipe it off so the nail polish only stays in the crack of the scratch if you get what i mean.

Its not too much of a solution though, as up close you'll be able to tell its nail polish (depends how close you get the colour).

But from a certain distance onwards the scratches and chips wont be visible at all.

I dunno how long it lasts, but mine had obviously had some chips nail polished and they havent flaked away the whole time i've had it, except the colour is just a tiny bit off.

Ah well good luck.

[erose]

depends on the color of the guitar, but i know gibson has these brush-up markers, you might want to try that out to.

http://www.gibsonstrings.com/accessories/pens.html

i think a worn guitar is cooler than a brand new one, but then again, stupid scratches will always be stupid scratches and they will be stuck in your head for a long time, just like you said he he... it's cool when you know that the scratch came from a live gig or whatever rather than just raping the finish with a little bit to wild strumming you know. imo, there shouldn't be scratches where the pickguard was. thats where the guitar looks the best! i can't get over those two fucking holes in my brand new lp... 

btw, be carefull when playing with a heavy belt buckle, that can make some pretty nice scratches in your axe too

[Butch Français]

Leave the scratches. You bought the guitar to play, not be a museum piece right?

hear hear!

[Darkburst]

depends on the color of the guitar, but i know gibson has these brush-up markers, you might want to try that out to.

http://www.gibsonstrings.com/accessories/pens.html

i think a worn guitar is cooler than a brand new one, but then again, stupid scratches will always be stupid scratches and they will be stuck in your head for a long time, just like you said he he... it's cool when you know that the scratch came from a live gig or whatever rather than just raping the finish with a little bit to wild strumming you know. imo, there shouldn't be scratches where the pickguard was. thats where the guitar looks the best! i can't get over those two fucking holes in my brand new lp...?

btw, be carefull when playing with a heavy belt buckle, that can make some pretty nice scratches in your axe too

Those markers only work on guitars with lacquer finishes, almost all Epis are poly finishes.

Personally I don't even give a crap about the belt buckle crap either. As long as there aren't chunks of wood missing it's all good!

 

[erose]

depends on the color of the guitar, but i know gibson has these brush-up markers, you might want to try that out to.

http://www.gibsonstrings.com/accessories/pens.html

i think a worn guitar is cooler than a brand new one, but then again, stupid scratches will always be stupid scratches and they will be stuck in your head for a long time, just like you said he he... it's cool when you know that the scratch came from a live gig or whatever rather than just raping the finish with a little bit to wild strumming you know. imo, there shouldn't be scratches where the pickguard was. thats where the guitar looks the best! i can't get over those two fucking holes in my brand new lp...?

btw, be carefull when playing with a heavy belt buckle, that can make some pretty nice scratches in your axe too

Those markers only work on guitars with lacquer finishes, almost all Epis are poly finishes.

Personally I don't even give a crap about the belt buckle crap either. As long as there aren't chunks of wood missing it's all good!

 

whats the difference betwween lacquer and poly finishes?

[Miz]

Polyurethene is a lacquer, but it's different to nitrocellulose lacquer which is what is on most expensive guitars (and all the vintages).  Poly finishes are cheap, and it's easy to get a good looking finish, which is why cheap guitars use polyurethene.  I think PRS uses a mix, halfway between the two, but Gibson and most high end luthiers use nitro.  Nitro is generally applied thinner than poly, so the wood can 'breath' better...or so the theory goes.

[Darkburst]

PRS is poly. Poly is also much more resistant to scratches and checking. I like the fact that nitro ages the way it does. A well worn vintage Les Paul looks hot in my opinion. I'm sure in 10 years or so mine will start to get that look. I play the damn thing almost every single day and it sits out on the stand, it's only in the case if I'm taking it somewhere.