1922 snakehead restoration

[Gail Hester]

This mandolin was discussed awhile ago on this thread as possibly being the very first known Gibson snakehead.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....hl=1922 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=27;t=41609;hl=1922)

Here is a summary of the before pictures with restoration and final pictures to follow.

[Gail Hester]

The owner wanted the mandolin repaired and restored to a more traditional look. The first step was to check graduations to ensure it would hold up to finish sanding and then strip off the Les Paul finish.

[Gail Hester]

Next there were a few repairs needed. First I plugged the poorly done retrofit Kluson tuner holes.

[Gail Hester]

I then added a cleat inside and in front of the tailblock to stabilize the start of a small surface split.

[Gail Hester]

I installed a headstock overlay since the original was crumbling away and a MOP logo.

[Gail Hester]

Here are some finished pictures starting with the top sporting a new bridge.

[Gail Hester]

The headstocks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Gail Hester]

The back with some "new" old tuners.

[james condino]

Gail:

Nicely done. Can you tell me if the 12th fret cross grain binding at the neck was always dark? Did it take some of the stain from the earlier finish? My understanding was that they usually matched the body binding color. Thanks.
___

j.
www.condino.com

[Gail Hester]

Lastly, the full front. This 1922 mandolin sounds great and is nearly indistinguishable from our 1924 snakehead however the 1922 has notably thicker graduations. It seems a shame to break up the pair but this one is heading home tomorrow to its anxious owner.

[Knot-Head]

Excellent work, I really like the new finish, nice color.

[Gail Hester]

"Can you tell me if the 12th fret cross grain binding at the neck was always dark?"

Yes, the crosspiece and the binding are original.

[Gail Hester]

One more picture of the back.

[jasona]

Is it my imagination or is there some top sinkage?

Looks great btw!

[Gail Hester]

Your imagination. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
This mandolin is very solid and carved relatively thick. It is very shinny though which may cause some illusions in the pictures. Can you find the Taylor logo from my shop apron?

[Michael Lewis]

Gail, nicely done. Sometimes it is difficult to keep them from being too shiny. Hard to hold back when they will go that way.

[Gail Hester]

Thanks Michael. I could have distressed it a little but the owner opted to wear it naturally. The finish is very thin and should sink into the grain and start looking old within a six months or so.

[carleshicks]

Very nice work

[danb]

wow, great work Gail!

[Stephanie Reiser]

Nice job, Gail. Yup, I believe I see the reflection of your apron. I love the color. Did you french polish shellac, or varnish?

[bradeinhorn]

beaut!

[Lane Pryce]

Those old Snakeheads are my favorites. Extremely nice Gail. I'm sure its tough to let it go. Lp

[sunburst]

Whew! That mandolin looks like it is much more comfortable now than it was under that "Les Paul" finish!

Is that a four piece top or is there just a sudden change in the spruce here?

[Paul Hostetter]

Good work! It's good for another century or more now, as long as it's treated well.

I notice the finish on the headstock, if I'm reading your photo right, seems to be aged somehow:

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/uploads/post-7-67064-finished_headstock.JPG

Did it just happen or did you put some sort of whammy on it?

[Gail Hester]

Thanks everyone.

John, It is a four piece top but not where your line is although there is a dramatic grain change where your line is. There are actually little wings of about a quarter of an inch on the edge.

Paul, There is a little whammy on the headstock. I left a little texture in the underlying varnish.

Stephanie, The finish is thin oil varnish with shellac French polish.

[buddyellis]

Gail,

How many coats of oil do you typically put down (I presume this is some sort of violin varnish sort of thing), and how long do you wait before the Shellac FP?

[BlueMountain]

If I ever need this sort of work done, I'm sending it to you, Gail.

[Gail Hester]

Buddy, I don't count coats but put on as many as I need to get a level finish, usually 5-8, but not much of that stays on the instrument. Depending on the weather I can apply up to two coats a day and then I wait after the final sanding until it is hard enough to French polish. Depending on the varnish you are using it can be days to months. If there is a trick or suggestion it would be to keep the varnish layer as thin as possible.

[buddyellis]

Gail,

Thanks, approximation is fine, and 'aim of application' as you explained is better. I am finishing my mandos in a similar manner, but have not really gotten down to a hard & fast method yet so I like to inquire, especially to you folk that are doing the 2 part varnish stuff. The stuff I'm currently using dries pretty fast, to non-tack in 24 hours, sandable in maybe 48, if you are thin with the coat and careful -- especially if you expose to sunlight. I like thin, and I don't mind the grain even showing through a little bit -- especially on the top.

Would you say your finish is 60/40 oil/ShellacFP, or what? I presume you are trying to emulate the old gibby finishes.

Thanks!

[Gail Hester]

The shellac FP is a micro layer so thin that you probably can't make the ratio comparison.

[MML]

Outstanding! you are a gifted artist!

[Darryl Wolfe]

Very very nice Gail

[testore]

Gail,
Great job. I just posted, on my blog, a few shots of a refinish I recently did. It's a ton of work. Congratulations, it great. Check out my blog.
Gary

[Mario Proulx]

Tres cool! What's the color made up of?

[n106nc]

A WORD TO ALL,I'm the owner of Gibson #70336 that GAIL HESTER has restored.In everyway this restoration has exceeded all my expectations!!When I sent it to Gail I asked her to restore it as if had just rolled off the factory floor in 1922,she has accomplished this goal, only better!!I took it to a jam last night and this mando attracted a crowd!!Not only has Gail made this instrument incredibly beautiful,but the playability has been improved immeasurably.Her CRAFTSMANSHIP(or is it CRAFTSWOMANSHIP?)and Her attention to detail is a real joy in this world of CNC mass produced "Jewels of the Orient" that we now live in.GAIL HESTER TRULY IS THE "GODDESS OF ALL THINGS MANDO"
Anyone considering any Luthier would be well advised to call GAIL HESTER for all your mando needs.
THANKS,
MIKE BISETTI-n106nc
PS-Gail builds incredible new Mandolins as well
as Mandolas and Octave mandolins in the Tradition of good old Lloyd Loar-please check them out!!

[steve V. johnson]

Congratulations to Gail and Mike B.! That is some splendid work, Gail, thanks for sharing the pix and process!

What a beautiful result!

stv

[Gail Hester]

Thanks again everyone.

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

[Kirk Pickering]

Marvelous. A Phoenix risen from the ashes!