The present invention provides a unique ventilated fabric cover reinforced at selected portions for protecting finishes of stringed instruments. In a presently preferred embodiment, the inventive fabric cover is composed of interlaced, natural fibers woven or knitted in a prescribed ventilated pattern, and reinforced at selective portions which are more subject to wear as the instrument is played over time. The ventilated fabric is configured to protect and surround the outer rear peripheral portion of the stringed instrument, and may be custom sized for a wide variety of guitars, violins, violas, lutes, stringed basses, cellos, or the like. The unique cover further comprises elastic banding disposed in a central portion of the fabric to effect a tensioned form fit with the outer rear peripheral portion of the instrument to be protected. Accordingly, the inventive ventilated fabric cover protects the delicate finish of stringed instruments which are easily scratched or marred, but will not adversely interfere with the acoustic quality of the sound produced by the stringed instrument.