SHARPIE !! ouch..

[ruster1]

Recently added to my Young Family stable a Gretsch G6131-MY which is a fantastic guitar and I scored one from a musician who needed to thin the herd. It has a slight buckle rash on back but he strung this with 9's and put sharpie around the bridge in case he bumped it .. ouch.. nothing serious but I believe sharpie is delivered via some type of solvent.. question is which solvent is safe on Lacquer to make it liquid again to wipe off?? I have heard stories of use this or use that.. but never "THIS STUFF".. even WD-40.. lol.. i was thinking mineral spirits would be safe.. I cant really test it on pickup routs because this hollow body really doesn't have any.. Saved $ 1k on this guitar and its going to be a keeper for sure.. love the SPACE BRIDGE for adjustments for string height and string spacing.. very clever.. just does not have individual saddles.. but it intonates GREAT if you adjust the angle.. in case I go up in string gauge.. I may reveal more of the SHARPIE.. I just want to be safe.. Any thoughts?

 

[donepearce]

A Sharpie solvent safe on lacquer is White Spirit - known in the US as Naphtha. Lighter fuel or IPA may do it. But whatever you use, move the bridge first and try a little underneath it where it can't be seen. I can't imagine why he did that - repositioning a bridge is the work of moments.

 

[ruster1]

A Sharpie solvent safe on lacquer is White Spirit - known in the US as Naphtha. Lighter fuel or IPA may do it. But whatever you use, move the bridge first and try a little underneath it where it can't be seen. I can't imagine why he did that - repositioning a bridge is the work of moments.

Thanks, I don't want to mess this guitar up.. most "artist replica" guitars are overpriced for what you pay.. as lets face it.. this is a G6131 with a lot of stuff missing.. but it plays excellent and gives a huge woody resonance through a low gain rock amp... really hits the mark.. (even with 9's). my big complaint is that this has a TV Jones powertron.. and not a classic lower output PUP.. it can get hot like a PAF.. and has ~ 7.6 DCR.. so to get the older sounds of the original filtertron it needs to be rolled back to 6 ish.. The musician brought this guitar to Europe on tour.. has a little buckle rash through the finish.. but not horrible.. its a relic anyway right?? I will try the naptha under the bridge.. I am hoping it will wipe off quite easily..

 

[Go Nigel Go]

Looks like a really nice guitar. The naptha should wipe off very easily, and hopefully will take the sharpie off quickly as well. My first inclination was to leave it, but the more I looked I kept seeing more marks. It was a bit over exuberant and far more than was required even if you wanted to mark the bridge location. I could forgive a couple of small unobtrusive marks, but I'm with you, I would try and take most (or all) of those marks off.

The above advice is good, test in hidden spot, and if it isn't a problem move on to the marks. Naptha evaporates quickly, and shouldn't leave any trace of the chemical behind after being wiped off allowed to dry for 15 minutes or so. I wouldn't expect any issues from a quick dab and wipe.

 

[rotorhead]

You could try tracing the marks with a dry erase marker over them and then rubbing it off.

 

[ruster1]

Looks like a really nice guitar. The naptha should wipe off very easily, and hopefully will take the sharpie off quickly as well. My first inclination was to leave it, but the more I looked I kept seeing more marks. It was a bit over exuberant and far more than was required even if you wanted to mark the bridge location. I could forgive a couple of small unobtrusive marks, but I'm with you, I would try and take most (or all) of those marks off.

The above advice is good, test in hidden spot, and if it isn't a problem move on to the marks. Naptha evaporates quickly, and shouldn't leave any trace of the chemical behind after being wiped off allowed to dry for 15 minutes or so. I wouldn't expect any issues from a quick dab and wipe.

I will have to make a run to my Lowes and get some Naptha.. I dont trust lighter fluid these days the old Ronsonol?.. it makes a good fretboard cleaner as well i believe?.. I really think $ 1k of the street price was worth even keeping those marks on there.. but they bother me.. lol..

 

[ruster1]

You could try tracing the marks with a dry erase marker over them and then rubbing it off.

I have heard this works well also.. but id be nervous to add more color.. lol..

 

[rotorhead]

I can't vouch for using it on coated wood, but I know it worked perfectly on my 9mm pistol. It was stolen a few years back and when it was found and returned via the sheriff's evidence room, it was covered with case ID numbers, etc, written in Sharpie.

The dry-erase marker trick worked like a champ with no damaging effects.

 

[Tashy26]

Thanks, I don't want to mess this guitar up.. most "artist replica" guitars are overpriced for what you pay.. as lets face it.. this is a G6131 with a lot of stuff missing.. but it plays excellent and gives a huge woody resonance through a low gain rock amp... really hits the mark.. (even with 9's). my big complaint is that this has a TV Jones powertron.. and not a classic lower output PUP.. it can get hot like a PAF.. and has ~ 7.6 DCR.. so to get the older sounds of the original filtertron it needs to be rolled back to 6 ish.. The musician brought this guitar to Europe on tour.. has a little buckle rash through the finish.. but not horrible.. its a relic anyway right?? I will try the naptha under the bridge.. I am hoping it will wipe off quite easily..

Have a look at SoloDallas SoloTron pickups, they have the SDF63 which is a copy of a stock 1963 filtertron with I believe a 3.6k output or the European store has the SDF76 which is modelled after Mal’s sound after they got to the UK in ‘76, has an 8k resistance

 

[ruster1]

Excellent.. I love SD stuff.. have had a STORM forever.. I set up my Marshall or Splawn in simple "plexi" type tone.. and i can have Mal with the boost off and press on the storm and instant ANGUS.. yes.. the TVJ Powertron is a bit too PAF for my taste.. but it does give you Mal tones from the post BnB in the early and mid 80's until they returned to the old "Black Flag" era of Razors edge.. that was probably the lowest gain they had ever used .. the new Album has some great riffs on it, even Angus solos are not as memorable as the past and he is low in the mix.. but I believe Stevie's rhythm is smooth and I am guessing he used the G6131-MY to record much of this record.. as I am hearing the Powertron pup mostly I believe.. just my guess.. I found me some Naptha and will report back my efforts to remove the sharpie.. I may test it in the front PUP cavity on the maple block used to hold the original filtertron in..

 

[papagayo]

I like the G6131T '62 vintage serie

 

[Jack Hammer]

I once scored a G310 for $100 from a recording studio that was liquidating their assets. It had about 25 autographs from less than popular artists on it. I decided to remove the autographs and resell. The naptha didn't quite cut it, but the dry erase markers worked like magic. The heavier and wetter I marked over them, the better they came off. If there was a ghost image left behind, the naptha finished it off. Worked on both the silver and the black signatures.

 

[ruster1]

I once scored a G310 for $100 from a recording studio that was liquidating their assets. It had about 25 autographs from less than popular artists on it. I decided to remove the autographs and resell. The naptha didn't quite cut it, but the dry erase markers worked like magic. The heavier and wetter I marked over them, the better they came off. If there was a ghost image left behind, the naptha finished it off. Worked on both the silver and the black signatures.

That may have been the SHARPIE PAINT .. especially the silver.. not sure if its the same.. but i may start with the NAPTHA.. move to dry erase and back to NAPTHA if it does not work out.. I can test it at least on a small section as the guy did run the sharpie around both sides (3 sides of bridge)..

 

[pancake81]

Recently added to my Young Family stable a Gretsch G6131-MY which is a fantastic guitar and I scored one from a musician who needed to thin the herd. It has a slight buckle rash on back but he strung this with 9's and put sharpie around the bridge in case he bumped it .. ouch.. nothing serious but I believe sharpie is delivered via some type of solvent.. question is which solvent is safe on Lacquer to make it liquid again to wipe off?? I have heard stories of use this or use that.. but never "THIS STUFF".. even WD-40.. lol.. i was thinking mineral spirits would be safe.. I cant really test it on pickup routs because this hollow body really doesn't have any.. Saved $ 1k on this guitar and its going to be a keeper for sure.. love the SPACE BRIDGE for adjustments for string height and string spacing.. very clever.. just does not have individual saddles.. but it intonates GREAT if you adjust the angle.. in case I go up in string gauge.. I may reveal more of the SHARPIE.. I just want to be safe.. Any thoughts? View attachment 44664 View attachment 44665

Man, I HAVE to get one of the MY Beasts for myself one day. Green with jealousy

 

[ruster1]

OK, I ran a test with Naptha on the edge of the neck pickup block that holds the filtertron in place and no issues.. So I got out some Q-tips and Naptha and dabbed it and rubbed lightly about 3 times. It got most of it off so that it at least looks much better. Next time I change strings I will most likely try it again.. surface is fine and the Naptha dries relatively quickly from the surface.. soft cloth did the job but i think it will take more applications.. good test so far since this lacquer has a bit of a low gloss almost matte finish.. so far so good.. first image is the actual issue, 2nd one was first retreatment on 2 of the marks with Q-tip and the 3rd is the final result after 2 goes at it.

 

[ruster1]

Man, I HAVE to get one of the MY Beasts for myself one day. Green with jealousy

I have tried the new double jet electromatics I believe the G5222 in various colors including natural.. and while they are fine playing imports, they are solidbody.. even some of the past center block models sound and play great .. but this G6131-MY with full hollow body is very woody and resonant for sure.. big difference.. I was fortunate to snag this since it was played live and had some rash on the back and perhaps needed a quick sale.. find these under $2000k jump all over it.. I have found the G6131T sells in the used market for more actually.. since the MY is a one trick pony perhaps.. but that pony is a great horse..!!

 

[ruster1]

Did a little research on dry erase markers as the carrying agent seems to be ethanol and isopropanol alcohols.. one must be careful with alcohols on lacquer.. but from what I understand the dissolve rate is slow.. I will have to hold off that test for now.. the Naptha did a good job thus far.. that sharpie must have been on there 3 years.. since this guitar is one of the early models of 2018 when they came out..

 

[Brooklyn Zeke]

A Sharpie solvent safe on lacquer is White Spirit - known in the US as Naphtha. Lighter fuel or IPA may do it. But whatever you use, move the bridge first and try a little underneath it where it can't be seen. I can't imagine why he did that - repositioning a bridge is the work of moments.

I second that suggestion.
Depending upon how long those positioning marks have been there, you may find that naphtha may not completely remove them. The marker's pigment may penetrate the finish and become a permanent stain in it. If you go the naphtha route, please report back with the outcome.

 

[ruster1]

I second that suggestion.
Depending upon how long those positioning marks have been there, you may find that naphtha may not completely remove them. The marker's pigment may penetrate the finish and become a permanent stain in it. If you go the naphtha route, please report back with the outcome.

just looking over this older thread and I did have luck with Naptha.. multiple goes at it.. about 95% gone.. just didnt want to press my luck any more.. the sharpie was most likely on there for quite a while..