Fingernail marks on soundboard - dangerous?

[edwardcav]

Hi everyone.

I have a two week old Ramirez 4e. I have noticed that from my occasional playing of percussive flamenco style music on the instrument has resulted in some small fingernail marks, and one or two are a bit bigger than small.

Is it possible, that if I get a bit carried away and hit a little too hard with my fingerails on a certain spot more than once, that my finger will break through the soundboard? It is a cedar soudboard btw.

For the moment, I am only using the guitar for its main purpose - classical music. I am scared to tap it :oops:

What would you do? Are tap-bards an option? They may be effective but boy they are ugly. Help.... please.

[rumbamaster]

Being a flamenco guitarist, I happen to know a thing or two about this problem. First, don't worry about tapping through the soundboard right now. This will not happen unless you tap agressively over a long period of time. However I would not advise for you to do any flamenco techniques on a classical guitar without a tap plate. You will ruin your finish and eventualy tap through the wood.

You can have a clear tap plate installed on your guitar that is barely noticeable. Be careful not to get one too thick or you might compromise your guitar's sound.

Nicks and scratches are bound to happen on a guitar no matter how careful you are or how much protection you have. So play your instrument. A fine guitar like a Ramirez deserves to be played. If you want you can always re-finish it.

[edwardcav]

Thanks heaps! how do i get a clear tap plate though? In Australia? Can i make one?

[rumbamaster]

You can order tap plates, sometimes called "Golpeadors" on the internet. But you should really have a professional luthier install it. It needs to be glued on and you have to make sure that no air bubbles get trapped.

My suggestion is to find a good local luthier that can work on your guitar. Its good to establish a relationship with one because he will know you personaly and know how you like your guitars set up. Good luck.

[keith]

for a reasonable solution without going to the extent of a permanent solution (glued on tap plates) you can do the following:

1. go to an office supply store and get lamination sheets. they can be applied by anyone who has any reasonable amount of patience--say one to two minutes and they can be taken off-- more patience is needed as well as a little naptha (not for french polish) without risk of pulling up the face.

2. kling-on's. no not the star trek folks in need of plastic surgery but the product called kling-on's. guitarsalon sells them and i have seen them and they seem to be a good solution. for a classical guitar they are probably the best solution. check them out.

as to your tapping--i play flamenco and do not worry about taping through the top--if i am tapping that hard i am tapping way to hard. as to flying fingernails--the thin plastic will do the trick.

here is something interesting: on a couple of photos of greg smallman guitars, which probably have the thinnest tops, i have seen small squares of plastic protectors. and flamenco guitars are known for their super light build and folks have been tapping for along time. so i would not worry about it.

[adrian]

GSI carries them here:
http://www.guitarsalon.com/store.php?it=ACKLIXX-00293

[edwardcav]

If it's good enough for the LAGQ, it's good enough for me! I'll definitely look into it; but does GSI ship to Australia? Is it just a matter of a telegraphic Wire Transfer, or is there a cheaper way? Perhaps this isn't the place to be discussing this; my email address is edwardcavanagh@hotmail.com. Thanks!

[adrian]

Thanks edwardcav,

I'll have someone contact you shortly.

Adrian, GSI