SCRATCH GUARD

[David Biggers]

I WISH SOMEONE COULD CREATE A KEY HEAD SCRATCH GUARD FOR PROTECTING THE AREA UNDER THE STRING TUNERS TO PREVENT SCRATCHES ON A STEEL GUITAR FROM INSTALLING NEW STRINGS.

CURRENTLY I HAVE CUT SOME CLEAR PACKING TAPE AND IT WORKS OK, BUT A PRE-CUT GUARD THAT CAN JUST REST THERE WITHOUT STICKING WOULD BE IDEA.

ON A SIMILAR NOTE;
A CLEAR PRE-CUT SCRATCH GUARD FOR PEDAL BARS WOULD BE NICE ALSO.
I'M USING A CLEAR CAR GUARD THAT'S MADE TO SHIELD MY CAR FROM ROCKS ON MY MSA NOW.

JUST A PASSING THOUGHT. AS MUCH AS WE PAY FOR THESE GUITARS I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A HUGE SELLER.

AGREE OR DISAGREE

HAVE A GREAT ONE,
DAVID BIGGERS

PS, SORRY ABOUT THE ALL CAPS. I STARTING TYPING AND DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I TYPED THE WHOLE PARAGRAPH. TOO LAZY TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT.

[Erv Niehaus]

I disagree, I don't think it's really necessary.

[Larry Allen]

I have cut the string length 1.5” off before winding them since the 50’s, never a a scratch.. >

[Chris Templeton]

Double ball end strings are really the way to go. Easy to change, no scratches.
Hard with steel to have sets and there's probably not enough call for them to have all the gauges.
Most often, Traditional designs override design improvements, in any field..

[Jack Hanson]

I would tend to side with the faction that opines that it's a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist. Even so, it would be relatively simple to create a custom "scratch guard" from any number of different materials, if you have access to a few common tools, and are somewhat handy with 'em.

[Marco Schouten]

cut a piece of rubber or leather. any thin material will do.

[David Biggers]

Thanks for the input everyone.
I will create my own.
Please close this up.

[Jerry Overstreet]

FWIW David, I think it's a great idea. A few years back, Tommy Dodd came up with something like this as an adhesive pick guard to keep tracks and smudges off aluminum necks and pickup blocks.

I wrote a response but I lost it somehow so I'll just say best of luck. I would suggest something like a very thin plastic such as lexan or the like and maybe some very thin double sided tape such as the stuff that W-mart sells for placing weather barrier plastic for windows etc. to secure it underneath the machines if your guitar is a mica finish. I would stay away from fabrics because the string end will grab it when installing the string.

I also wrote that I once designed a thing I call a "tweener" that fits between the necks of a D10 to protect from scratches and dings. I think I built 5. I sold 2, kept one for myself and ended up giving the others away.

So hard to know what players are going to go for.

[Larry Ball]

Like someone has already said.. cut them first before winding them on the tuning pegs.. there are some good “Utube “ videos showing that..

[Jerry Overstreet]

I think we all cut them first. It's getting the cut end in the tuner with enough length to grab the post without touching the deck underneath the keyhead. I'm sure David and I are not the only ones who see this as an issue.

Nearly every used keyed guitar I've ever owned had witness marks caused by loading and winding strings on the post.

If you have plenty time, good lighting, you are very careful and doing this at your leisure it can usually be done without gouging.

Try that in a dim light, thick smoke tonk when one breaks. Not quite as easy.

[Lee Baucum]

My Williams S-10 is the only pedal steel guitar I have owned that doesn't have scratch marks from string ends.