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14 Mar 10 - 05:13 PM (#2864093) Subject: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Ian Hendrie I have previously used Guitar Armor from a company in Mocksville, North Carolina (www.guitararmor.com) to protect guitars without a scratch plate. This now seems to be unavailable from this source. Recently I bought a product of the same name from a company, Oasis, Md (www.oasishumidifiers.com). Though very similar to that which I previously used this comes with a warning to remove when not in use. I am now reluctant to use this as no reason for removal is given and to do so seems very inconvenient. Has anyone experience of this product? Is damage caused if it is left in place for too long? |
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14 Mar 10 - 05:41 PM (#2864114) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Amos From Harmony Central's archives: January 08, 2002 "Guitar Armor has introduced a new product line that has been carefully designed and now, introduced to the market as a simple way of keeping a guitar looking as new as possible. Guitar Armor Inc. was founded a little over a year ago by a couple of guitar playing buddies who have always had a great fascination for the instrument, one of whom has actually been playing the guitar since the age of seven. They decided one day to find a way to protect a guitar from marks and scratches it is susceptible to, and where a pick guard is just not able to get the job done. They went to work on creating something that would work for them and that they would be able to count on to protect their instruments. What they came up with after much thought, trial and error, is something that could be regarded as a breakthrough in guitar protection. They were so happy with the results from this new creation that they decided to make it available to others. Their company aim is to make Guitar Armor "available in every store possible and within convenient grasp of anyone who owns a guitar". The Guitar Armor kit includes four pieces of clear urethane film that is placed above and below the guitar strings, a piece for the center of the back of a guitar and a universal piece to be placed in any other vulnerable area on the guitar. Guitar Armor is virtually invisible after application and will keep new finishes looking good, and older finishes protected from further damage. It is designed to be easily removed and not leave a residue when peeled off the surface of the guitar." From the Oasis website: "Guitar Armorª Classical guitars, with their delicate finishes, are easily damaged by fingernails. Guitar Armorª, made from static cling vinyl, will protect the finish without requiring any adhesive. Guitar Armorª is applied before playing the instrument and removed after practicing. It can be reused over and over again. Purchase Oasis¨ Guitar Armor today. Only $6.95 with free shipping! " |
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14 Mar 10 - 05:55 PM (#2864122) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Ian Hendrie Thanks Amos. So it appears the original was a urethane film and the Oasis product is vinyl. Even though I have some chemical knowledge I can't work out why or if the vinyl would interact with guitar finishes. Has anyone any experience of using this Oasis product? Is it easy to remove and replace? Are there any signs of it affecting the guitar finish? |
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14 Mar 10 - 06:27 PM (#2864133) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: DADGBE I have seen severe damage to instrument finishes when a plastic strap was left on and in contact. Nitrocellulose lacquer is vulnerable to many of the plasticizers found in plastics manufacture. I also don't know enough about which ones are potentially harmful so caution is the watchword for me. I'd follow their suggestion and remove it. |
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14 Mar 10 - 07:27 PM (#2864169) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Amos It may be "urethane vinyl" just being differently described in the two blurbs. Otherwise I can't get why they are using the same trade name. A |
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14 Mar 10 - 08:25 PM (#2864190) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: dick greenhaus All flexible vinyls contain plasticizers--which are essentially high-boiling-point solvents. Plasticizers will attack most finishes, over time. |
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15 Mar 10 - 09:01 AM (#2864430) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Ian Hendrie Got rather worried about possible damage so I removed the original Guitar Armor from a treasured Fylde mandolin on which it had been stuck for at least three years. After removing some of the residual 'sticky stuff' with guitar polish I am relieved to say there is no damage to the finish. Phew! |
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14 Nov 12 - 04:41 PM (#3436608) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: GUEST I am wanting to remove my Guitar Armor from my Martin om28 that has been on for at least 4 years. Peeled back a little which left a lot of residue behind. Not sure what to remove remaining sticky with. Any ideas? |
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14 Nov 12 - 04:47 PM (#3436611) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: GUEST,999 Read the post before yours. Jaysus. |
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15 Nov 12 - 05:41 AM (#3436836) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: JohnInKansas The instruction to remove the Armor when not in use may be because prolonged contact will damage the guitar. It might, on the other hand, be because prolonged contact with the nitrocellulose finish on the guitar will damage the Armor. Most likely, it's a mutual degradation of both, but in the absence of any comment on why the recommendation is made it's impossible to tell. And does "in use" include when the guitar is in the case and needs to be protected from the tuners, capos, spare strings, pliers, wire cutters, tunning forks and other Modern merchandizing: "You don't need to know what it's for, just send us the money." John (in slightly cynical mode) |
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15 Nov 12 - 06:38 AM (#3436849) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Henry Krinkle Why would you stick crap on your guitar? Bad karma. I think it's bad news. Your guitar is screaming in pain. =(:-( O) |
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15 Nov 12 - 04:19 PM (#3437060) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: dick greenhaus HK- To protect the wood. Inexperiened Luthiers (Matin for example) have been doing it for years. |
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15 Nov 12 - 07:08 PM (#3437136) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Bert My guitars get a dab of furniture polish once a year if they are lucky. A scratch or two gives them character, just ask Willie Nelson. |
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15 Nov 12 - 08:42 PM (#3437174) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: alex s Krinkle has done it again. A totally useless comment from the master. |
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15 Nov 12 - 11:17 PM (#3437235) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: GUEST wouldn't such protective films dampen sounboard resonance to some degree ? |
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16 Nov 12 - 12:07 AM (#3437248) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: GUEST,999 Yep. |
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16 Nov 12 - 03:21 AM (#3437286) Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar Armor From: Henry Krinkle I think it's sinful. The Beatles stripped all the finish off their Epiphones so they could breathe. You're choking and suffocating your guitar. And you want the finish to harden and thin. Who taught you about guitars? =(:-( o) |