I'm not sure if this is a well known fact, but vinyl ruins your guitar if you have a nitrocellulose finish, rubber also may damage and discolour your finish. This was brought to my attention today because I bought a guitar stand with padding of this sort on it, thankfully my guitar did not stay long on it. I'm just putting this out here because there are so many products sold with vinyl on them. Capos, stands, straps all may have vinyl in them, so when you're at your music or guitar store or supplier, make sure to ask if the product contains vinyl or not.
Vinyl is only damaging to nitrocellulose finishes, so if your guitar is finished with catalyzed polymer finish, your guitar will be fine. However many guitars are finished with nitrocellulose.
Here are the brands that are finished with nitrocellulose that I know of:
-Martin
-Guild
-Seagull
-Gibson
Please add more if you know of any.
Below is a link to Frets.com that explains this a bit more coherently.
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenMaint/Vinyl/vinyl.html
Just thought I'd post this for those who may not be aware, or did not know the severity of the damage this can cause.
This applies mostly to acoustics, but electric guitars may also use nitrocellulose finish, check with your manufacturer.
I hope this helped someone,
cheers!
you bet!
Ive know too many players that have left their guitars on stands as a habit. most of those guitars have two strips of nasty finish damage because of the padding.
plastics and similar products all out gas as they age and oxidize.
that out gassing can ruin finishes.
it is important to be aware of this.
that blonde surgical tubing is nasty. aviod it.
I think it really sucks, especially for those just starting to learn guitar, for their guitar to be mamed because of a negligent manufacturer, its really discouraging.
Perhaps this could be stickied in the beginners forum?
Just a thought...
cheers!
