Shirt buttons and belt buckles...

[Den]

Whenever I practice at home or play in front of an audience, I wear a polo shirt, a tee-shirt or a sweater, as long as it's buttonless. But I've realized a lot of guitarist don't seem to bother with that. What about you? Are you concerned about shirt buttons or a belt buckle scratching the back of the guitar?

[George Crocket]

Yep.

My wardrobe now consists of rugby shirts and sweatshirts because they have no buttons (or only at the neck) and hang over my belt. I never play in a button fronted shirt - because of the buttons and the belt. I keep my watch on, but always have sleeves, so it is covered for the most part.

I have been looking around for a fly-front shirt that I might wear if performing for an audience. I don't want a white dress shirt because that's too formal. So far I've had no luck.

I did wonder about a clerical shirt - but we're not allowed to discuss that here.

[Den]

(...)I have been looking around for a fly-front shirt that I might wear if performing for an audience. I don't want a white dress shirt because that's too formal. So far I've had no luck.(...)

Sometimes I would like to wear something more formal than a polo shirt (albeit comfortable), what about something like this?

I'm not sure what to call this type of shirt when I go shopping though.

[George Crocket]

That's what I would call a fly-fronted shirt. It looks like the type of thing I'm after. How easy are they to come by?

[robin loops]

i wear a long sleeve polo type or shirt or a short sleeve t-shirt and wear a leg I cut off of a pair of long johns on my right arm (to keep sweat off the guitar and for better mobility)... A lot cheaper than the $20 sleeve things you can get at guitar shops.

I think those shirts are pretty available at formal mens clothing stores. There are tux shirts that are really similar to them too (definitely available at stores with men's dress clothes/formal wear)

I don't care much for them because although they protect the guitar, the back of the guitar mashes the buttons into my chest and hurts after a while

[Guitar-ded]

I'm not sure what to call this type of shirt when I go shopping though.

Isn't this known as a placket-front shirt?
Maybe someone here can confirm.

[Gil_Wade]

Most people have some sort of cloth/chamois cloth/etc. they use on their left leg...I use a second one between my shirt buttons (when the shirt I wear has them) or belt buckle. An old sock is usually used on the right arm but I like the black sleeves sold by SBM.

[lagartija]

I'm not sure what to call this type of shirt when I go shopping though.

Isn't this known as a placket-front shirt?
Maybe someone here can confirm.

Placket is where the buttons are located. In the US, you want to search for a "hidden placket shirt" or "hidden button placket shirt". It is also sometimes known as a fly-front shirt, but that isn't as common in the US.

[Den]

I'm not sure what to call this type of shirt when I go shopping though.

Isn't this known as a placket-front shirt?
Maybe someone here can confirm.

Placket is where the buttons are located. In the US, you want to search for a "hidden placket shirt" or "hidden button placket shirt". It is also sometimes known as a fly-front shirt, but that isn't as common in the US.

Thank you lagartija and Guitar-ded. Now I know what to ask for in the stores.

[Den]

Most people have some sort of cloth/chamois cloth/etc. they use on their left leg...I use a second one between my shirt buttons (when the shirt I wear has them) or belt buckle. An old sock is usually used on the right arm but I like the black sleeves sold by SBM.

"Between" the shirt buttons... Don't you mean on top of the buttons?

[Giovanni Il Rosso]

Yes, I too take steps to keep from scratching my guitar with buttons and buckles. In hot weather, I wear a log sleeve tee shirt or cotton turtle neck. In cooler weather, I don't worry about what kind of shirt I have on. I simply put a pullover sweater over it. However, I'm not so concerned about the belt buckle. I just position the guitar so it isn't near the buckle. It's much easier to do if you don't wear large belt buckles.

[HNLim]

Next time try wearing a huge tie.

[montana]

i never worried about buttons, until i noticed the back of my guitar was getting scratched.

[OldC1guy]

I never really thought about this much, but my Florida uniform of the day is usually a tee shirt and cargo shorts ( and flip flops). My only concern is my bare right arm, so I drape a folded small towel under it to protect the front and side of the guitar. I can't blame the scratches on either buttons or buckles.

[Kent]

These guys got it figured out. No buttons..