Buckle rash protection

[Sancho Panza]

I have purchased an S2 standard 22 tobacco sunburst with gloss finish, which I think is georgeous. Plays well too. I dont really want it to suffer buckle rash if I can help it. It is probably sacrilege to cover up the back with some kind of sticky tape of something, but that is what I'm thinking nevertheless. People will probably say just dont tuck your shirt in, and others will probably say it is most un-cool to be worried about it at all. At the other extreme, I have seen some 'distressed' fender guitars in my local shop that look totally fake and silly and cost thousands, and overall I have decided the pristine look is more my thing. Any other ideas to retain pristine-ness?

 

[MohnJayer]

Wear the pants backwards.

 

[László]

Sticky tape will probably eventually ruin the finish, so you'd be defeating your own purpose.

There's stuff like this, but I have NO IDEA whether it will leave goo on your guitar or not. I have no experience with it, and don't know anyone who's used it. It's definitely not recommended for nitro.

BackGuard Protects the Back of Glossy Poly-Finished Guitars from Buckles, Button | eBay

“Hi again, I want to pass along to you that I also use your BackGuard as a pickguard for the front of my guitar under the strings! I keep fingernails on my right hand for finger picking. The fingernails will tear up the body of a guitar.

www.ebay.com

There are belt buckle wraps that go around the buckle and secure with velcro, but unfortunately, they will do nothing to protect the back of the guitar from rivets on jeans, or shirt buttons.

Some players actually tuck a microfiber cloth into their pants to cover the clothing where the guitar touches the body. Seems a little weird, but it probably doesn't show once the guitar is on.

I slide my belt buckle to the side and untuck a T-shirt or wear a sweater, and have no issues. All of my guitars have nitro finishes, but that's how I used to do it when PRS used Poly as well.

Unfortunately, I think that's the safest way to do it and not look like one's wearing an apron or the World's Strangest Belt.

 

[Bogner]

Tan Pants And Suspenders Or Buy Pants That Fit Or Don't Wear Any Pants. I Am Running Out Of Ideas Here...

 

[veinbuster]

Tan Pants And Suspenders Or Buy Pants That Fit Or Don't Wear Any Pants. I Am Running Out Of Ideas Here...

Yes. My answer was wear pants that fit.

 

[Huggy Love]

Simplest and most effective buckle rash prevention is to take a rag or bandana folded in a rectangle then tucked into your pants with half hanging over your belt buckle.

 

[bodia]

You mean, you guys don't wear sweats, or basketball shorts all the time? Am I doing it wrong?????

 

[Moondog Wily]

Wear only microfiber belt buckles!

 

[Greywolf]

I learned my lesson the hard way back in the 70's when I wore through the finish on my Les Paul. The luthier laughed a bit as I handed over the refinish $$ and just said .. dude , you can keep paying me or stop wearing a belt . So .....now if I wear a belt when playing , I have a Cayman hide one with a rounded , leather covered buckle from Ecuador , most times in the warm months I wear Aloha shirts, in the cool months sweaters ... so never really an issue .. .

 

[CandidPicker]

Buy a belt that mechanics use for working on cars (a buckle-less belt). Also, don't wear pants that have rivets on them (Levi's etc.). Also, don't wear a button-down shirt. Instead, a pullover.

After employing all 3 techniques the past 20 years, my guitar backs are in near mint condition.

https://www.amazon.com/Timberland-PRO-No-Scratch-Buckle-Mechanic/dp/B07RPV1GTZ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2L8OQYOFWTL6Z&keywords=buckle-less+belt&qid=1695065122&s=apparel&sprefix=buckle-less+belt,fashion-mens,87&sr=1-5

https://www.amazon.com/Dickies-No-S...695065281&sprefix=mecanics+belt,aps,98&sr=8-9

Cintas also sells mechanics belts.

 

[Rider1260]

Drink more beer , eat more food you will not have a problem with belt buckles
before I had a belly, I used to move the buckle to the side more on my right hip.

 

[FragileThunder]

It seems to me that a properly re-designed codpiece could be the solution to so many guitarists problems. And not just the one related to buckle rash.

I'm not compensating for something...YOU are!

 

[Tony M.]

I wear my buckle on the left side of my pants above the left front pocket.
Your guitars can't get buckle rash if they never touch your buckle.

 

[Toolmaster Of Brainerd]

Regular t shirt (ideally with a cool band on the front) and gym shorts (or sweatpants) and you won't scratch anything. I've probably worn a belt less than 10 times in my (admittedly short so far) life.

 

[Bogner]

Simplest and most effective buckle rash prevention is to take a rag or bandana folded in a rectangle then tucked into your pants with half hanging over your belt buckle.

Ahh...The Old Lead Singers Pant Stuffing Trick.

 

[DISTORT6]

I wear my buckle on the left side of my pants above the left front pocket.
Your guitars can't get buckle rash if they never touch your buckle.

This is exactly what I also do.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Sticky tape will probably eventually ruin the finish, so you'd be defeating your own purpose.

There's stuff like this, but I have NO IDEA whether it will leave goo on your guitar or not. I have no experience with it, and don't know anyone who's used it. It's definitely not recommended for nitro.

BackGuard Protects the Back of Glossy Poly-Finished Guitars from Buckles, Button | eBay

“Hi again, I want to pass along to you that I also use your BackGuard as a pickguard for the front of my guitar under the strings! I keep fingernails on my right hand for finger picking. The fingernails will tear up the body of a guitar.

www.ebay.com

There are belt buckle wraps that go around the buckle and secure with velcro, but unfortunately, they will do nothing to protect the back of the guitar from rivets on jeans, or shirt buttons.

Some players actually tuck a microfiber cloth into their pants to cover the clothing where the guitar touches the body. Seems a little weird, but it probably doesn't show once the guitar is on.

I slide my belt buckle to the side and untuck a T-shirt or wear a sweater, and have no issues. All of my guitars have nitro finishes, but that's how I used to do it when PRS used Poly as well.

Unfortunately, I think that's the safest way to do it and not look like one's wearing an apron or the World's Strangest Belt.

Simplest and most effective buckle rash prevention is to take a rag or bandana folded in a rectangle then tucked into your pants with half hanging over your belt buckle.

So what you guys are saying is that I need to become “a man of the cloth”.

 

[Maxime Bousquet]

See here the best practices to adopt to never scratch your guitar! for chic evenings and at home

 

[Alnus Rubra]

See here the best practices to adopt to never scratch your guitar! for chic evenings and at home

Are you on Only Fans?

 

[Juan Luis Vidal]

Flea has the ultimate solution