Sealant for signature

I had a KennyWayneShepherd signature on the arm rest of my strat. I used nothing and it wore off in about 6 years. My arm was constantly rubbing on it.

You can get spray clear from a hobby store. Mask off the back of the tuners with masking tape... maybe even put a towel or shirt over the neck so no spray gets on that. Just give the signature area a light coat of mist. Wait a bit, and repeat. It should only take a couple of coats of mist to protect it. Don't put on too much. Also, it's in a good spot where only light dusting is needed periodically. It's not a place you'll ever need to "scrub down." Which is good.

I've also heard of people using clear fingernail polish to retrace the signature and protect it. I would test this with a sharpie on something else just to be sure it works, and of course to get your process down. Nice thing about nail polish is it goes on smooth with no bubbles or wrinkles.

My JB signature (on the same strat) has no protectant on it, got it in Oct. of 2005, and it still looks fresh.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

I second the motion of to leave it alone. I've not messed with Joes signatures on both of my JBLP's. Besides, when Joe signed my Bonaburst he guaranteed it to last until it needed to be done again. 

If you do clear coat it besure not to spray a full coat on it directly because this would raise the ink and make it wash away.  You need to mist on it once, then get another mist coat on for the second coat, and then spray directly to the ink after the first 2 mist coats dry.  they will dry fast because they are a mist but they shouldn't be so heavy that the ink rises.  My Dads Les Paul Studio plus top has Joe's, Charlie Sexton, and Marty Stewart on it.  He wanted to coat it because its on the body, but he decided not to because I play it every bit as much or more then he has and we've never rubbed off any of the autographs on it.  Joe signed it in 2008!