I’m taking my teenage son to see one of his heros, Les Paul, next week. And LP will sign autographs after the show, we are told. Should we bring my son’s (Les Paul model) guitar to have it autographed? I’m thinking that my son may get concerned with the autograph fading and not want to play the guitar again. Any ideas?
A typical option is to ask Les - and wow, what a cool thing for you to take your son to see - to sign the pickguard, then switch the pickguard to a different one when your son wants to play the guitar. Store or frame the signed one and save it - only put it back if you are going to permanently display the guitar or sell it.
Guitars, although beautiful and collectual - are best honored if you (or your son) play them. Buying one and treating it nicely is, frankly, a waste. I don’t mean one should be cute and destructive in a disrespectful way in a lame-ass attempt to be cool. But a guitar is best respected if it is treated as a wonderful musical tool - acquiring wear over time as a byproduct of that is a badge of honor your son should not avoid on his Les Paul. Trust me, Les would agree.
By the way - I thought LP’s arthritis was so bad he couldn’t write? Heck, I think he has the guitar pick basically fastened onto his hand…
Have a great time - a really cool thing to do.
now I gotta go get ready for my band’s gig tonight - with my two Les Pauls…
“collectual”?! :smack:
Let’s try “collectible” - especially Les Pauls…
I’d get the autograph, no matter what.
Check with a guitar store or a luthier about preventing fading. There may be a suitable product or technique for this.
Word ta WordMan.
On the pickguard is how it’s done.
Ya gotta play 'em!
Ever see an ad for a collectible guitar signed by someone who doesn’t play guitar?
I’ve seen ones autographed by Elton John and Tori Amos.
A musician friend borrowed Mr. S’s Stratocaster to use in recording her most recent CD (she’s an excellent guitarist, among other talents, but usually only acoustic). She autographed it for him when she returned it. Awesome! When she’s rich and famous, it’ll be quite the item. And yes, he does play it now and then.
A good friend of mine has a guitar autographed by Al DiMeola and a bass autographed by Tony Levin.
So long as the signature isn’t where you normally touch the instrument while playing it should be fine.
Thanks
I have a Strat that’s signed by Thom Yorke, Jonny and Colin Greenwood, and Phil Selway (IOW, 4/5ths of Radiohead). I still play the thing anyway. I take the same view of that as I do of my more expensive Magic cards: if you don’t play 'em, what good is it to have 'em in the first place?
Even moreso with the guitar, really, because in all honesty, is your son ever going to try to sell it? Of course not; it’s too valuable to him as a memory of someone he greatly admires. So, then, who cares if the signature becomes a bit faded and worn? He’ll still know it’s there, and he’ll be one step closer to playing with an artist he loves.
Or you could just have him sign the pickguard.
Here’s 98 cents change. Please come again.
If he just got the pickguard signed - only sensible way to go in my opinion, otherwise you’re lugging the whole guitar around - couldn’t you just put some shellac or something on it?