Double Bass Protective Coating

[Randy Shelton]

I have an autographed 1974 Engelhardt double bass. It was signed with a Sharpie by Bill Monroe in 1995. I would like to preserve the signature by coating over it. Lacquer may cause trouble, sanding to allow varnish to bond is out of the question. Any suggestions?

TIA, Randy

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Hey Randy, that's pretty cool!

I think you'd have to use a water-based polyurethane finish to keep from dissolving/smearing the ink. Talk to the counter man at your local paint store.

If it was me, I'd test the proposed finish on some Sharpie written on plywood, just to make sure.

Then again, my Bill Monroe autograph is on my Pacific Bluegrass Club membership card and safely under glass.

 

[P Town]

I wonder if there are experts in the valuation, and preservation of autographs, or possibly someone educated in document conservation who know of a product that would work.

You may try asking someone who works as a curator of documents at a prestigious museum.

You might check out artist supply houses in addition to a paint supplier.

I would be careful about anything a paint supply counter worker would suggest.

The suggestion to do a test on a non-valuable specimen is good, but you also need to be confident in the long term effect of any process.

I think any material that uses petroleum distillates as the carrier/solvent would NOT be wise.

 

[Damon Rondeau]

In the shop I once made a jig and wrote on it with a Sharpie. Then I gave it a washcoat of shellac and watched the ink dissolve and smear into illegibility. Alcohol messes with the Sharpie ink.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Clear nail polish. I had Mike Watt sign the headstock of my slab, which like your Engel is finished in nitro. When I got home I painted a layer of nail polish over the signature. It's still there and perfectly legible 15 years later.

 

[vejesse]

There's a technique to this that involves using a gun to shoot clear finish over the signature and I've seen it done with guitars using nitrocellulose lacquer and with catalyzed urethane on a car. To avoid smearing you spray light tack coats where the finish is almost dry when it hits the surface. After you seal things you can spray heavier coats until there's enough thickness if you want to polish it. I did this once on a guitar body with rattle can lacquer and it worked out nicely.

 

[JoeyNaeger]

It's very to common apply an adhesive plastic film to parts of older instruments where the hands touch. It's easily removable and fairly discreet looking.

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[Randy Shelton]

Thanks to those who replied.I will make a few test samples today.