wore the finish off my distressed mando

[picksnbits]

I have a distressed varnish finish mando. I have worn through the finish with the fingers of my picking hand and now have bare wood showing.

Should I attempt to do something about this or just consider that I'm adding to the distressing? I guess at some point I'm eventually going to wear a hole in the top, which can't be good.

Have I hurt the re-sale value already?

[mandopete]

Wow, this is a new twist. #You now have a "pre-owned, distressed" model.

Now if you just take out a pen knife and dig out the inlay on the peghead you can market it as "A pre-owned, Bill Monroe distressed model".

# http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[JEStanek]

I doubt you'll wear through the top. Look at Statman's mando on the cover of Andy's Ramble. He hasn't had it refinished. I doubt your hurting the mando. Resale is anyone's guess. Are you planning a re-sale? If someone is in the market for a used distressed mando, yours fits the bill.

Jamie

[Big Joe]

What kind of mandolin do you have? If you are wearing the finish off the instrument and worried about wearing a hole in the top you may want to address using a pickguard or altering technique so you don't damage your instrument. Just a thought.

[Blueglass]

is this going to be a problem with other distressed mandos? I mean by buying a already beat up mando are we not only asking for it to get even more beat up sooner?

[picksnbits]

It's a SilverAngel and the wear is definitely the result of my technique (or lack thereof). I've tried to be conscious of how much I let my fingers drag. That's the other debate I have with myself is how much to consider this a sign of bad technique. Seems like more than a few really good pickers wear the area below the strings pretty heavy. Maybe I should consider a pickquard.

By the way, Joe, I had thought about contacting you to see if you would like to hire me to distress some of your mando's. I seem to be quite good at it and I think you would find my rates quite reasonable.:D

Blueglass, I think I would have the same issue with any varnish finished instrument whether it was pre-distressed or not. If it weren't distressed to begin with I'd just be more upset with myself.

[sunburst]

How long will a distressed model stay looking new?
Sort of like asking; "how long will sour cream stay fresh?" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mandolooter]

my Givens has a spot where the finish is worn off, near the tailpiece...been that way since i got it and it causes no problem. Look at Bill M's, sam B's, etc and you'll see lots of finish missing. #The important thing is to keep it in a safe, moderate temperture with around the same relitive humidity when ever ya aren't pickin. #Avoid radical temperture changes like the plague and watch out for cats too!

As for the resale question...folks buying a distressed instrument obviously like that aspect tho I fine its way more "fun and stressfull" to gradually distress it as ya play it...lol! Get real good and famous and that little circle of missing finish will add to the value.
Jeff

[TeleMark]

How long will a distressed model stay looking new?
Sort of like asking; "how long will sour cream stay fresh?" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Too true. The other day my wife asked me what the pull-date was on some yogurt we had in the `fridge.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Uh, it's already spoiled, so I think it's OK! Heck, in many countries they don't refrigerate the yogurt.

On a Telecaster forum there were several lengthy debates over the rationale of keeping your distressed guitar "pristine." A bit of an oxymoron to me.

[johnM]

look at willie's guitar, its still in one piece!

[luckylarue]

Shouldn't we all strive for wearing the finish off our mandos? I look forward to naturally distressing my new mando the old-fashioned way. Ken's distressed mandos look awesome, by the way.

[jasona]

Sounds like the finish might not have been fully cured by the time you started "knuckle dragging" but I agree with the rest that it gives a mando character to be well worn and played in http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif