Mystery Dings

[etj92]

I'm totally mystified and wonder whether anyone can offer an explanation. I look after my guitars meticulously, some are wall hung, the others in a good quality floor rack. When I transport them I put them in quality hard cases.
However, despite all my care, on virtually all my electrics, very small ding/scratch marks have appeared on the end of the treble horn. I cannot, for the life of me, work out how this has occurred and wonder, perhaps, whether the guitar finish is most stressed at this point, causing these marks.
Has anyone out there had a similar problem, or can offer some sort of explanation?

 

[Cagey]

If you look at old guitars, or new ones that have been purposefully wrecked to look old, you don't see that. If you look at new to moderately aged guitars you don't see that. But, somehow, on your guitars, it's a common problem. That strongly suggests it's something you're doing, not a problem with the finish.

Do you sit down to play much? If so, what kind of belt buckle do you have? Are zippers or metal buttons/rivets exposed on your pants? Hanging chains or keyrings? Where does the guitar strap fall? Does it have any metal or stone decoration? If you play standing up most of the time, look around for things that are about the same height as the treble bout that you may be bumping into. As for the case, is there anything else in there besides the guitar? Loose wang bar, capo, tuner, studded strap, tools, etc.? Might be worth it to feel around the muppet hide inside the case where the lower bout touches and see if something sharp got jammed into the padding where you can't see it.

Ask the people you play with to keep an eye on you. You may have some handling habits that are so ingrained you don't realize you have them. I know my niece can relic a guitar in no time, and she swears to all that's holy that she never bumps into anything and treats the instrument with kid gloves. But, she probably only weights 90 pounds soaking wet and playes a Les Paul. Thing's probably 10%-12% of her weight, so while I'm sure she feels like she has a good grip on it, it's not held in place with as much control as it would be by some who weighs 180 lbs.

 

[Danuda]

It is crazy where you get marks on your guitar.  I have a couple of strange places just due to the fact of how I put my guitar on its stand.  It ended up being my wedding ring was nicking it.  Little bits over and over.

 

[etj92]

Thanks Cagey, given me some things to think about. I'm very careful with buckles etc and with the strap. However, I do stand up a lot to play and use a microphone stand, so I wonder whether I'm snagging this somehow. I will have to watch out on future jams.

 

[Jusatele]

My luthier complained about the finish of my guitar when he was doing the neck setup. said it was way soft
the build I am doing now I wait a long time between steps of the finish to let the different stages cure and harden, it seems to be working out now. the last build is hard now, but even I noticed it toke a few months before it was really hard.

 

[dNA]

Do you have a wedding band on your left hand that could be hitting that part of the guitar when you're playing higher on the neck?

 

[etj92]

That's a very good thought dNA, but no, I don't wear a wedding ring, so that's not the cause.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Whenever you're sleeping, I sneak in and play your stuff.  I'm very careful with it, but do wear a wedding ring.  My apologies.  :icon_jokercolor: