View Full Version : Paint remover
I have an older Gibson instrument that was (unfortunately) refinished many years ago. The refinisher did a rather sloppy job and managed to paint over the oval sticker inside the body. This sticker has the serial number information now painted over. Any ideas on safe paint removers that would avoid destroying the sticker itself? Thanks.
Well, this is looking pretty grim. I was going to try finger nail polish remover as a last resort. I'll fess up and admit it's not a mandolin. A Gibson ES 335 that by all other accounts appears to be a 64-65 before they but in the dreaded trapeze. I was going to use the funds towards a vintage F-4. How's that for mando content?
mandroid
Jan-25-2008, 4:23pm
Maybe you can get the label out, paint off the paper, probably not.
what do you mean dreaded trapeze? those tailpieces seem to be on a lot of Jazz archtops.
In 1965 Gibson went from a stud tailpiece to the trapeze. The difference in value from a collectors or players perspective dropped off quite a bit. The stud tailpiece being much more desirable. By 1970 the value of a 335 drops off the charts (as with most Gibson instruments during this time period). The serial number is important as quite a few players had their trapeze tailpiece replaced with the stud.
mandroid
Jan-26-2008, 9:15am
Oh,
I am out of the loop, I just think of function.
'stud' is the stop tailpiece that bolts thru the top
just behind the bridge, I'm thinking .
[: I just have one acoustic guitar in a case under the bed, un-played this year.
kudzuklunker
Jan-26-2008, 9:31am
If you can remove the label , you may try applying cold and then heat (ice pack or stick it in the freezer and hair dryer) several times. The goal is to cause expansion and contraction to either the paint or the paper causing cracks in the paint. If the paint cracks, you may be able to remove it slowly and very carefully with tweezers. I don't know if this will work or not but I don't believe it will damage anything. Good luck.
Mando Medic
Jan-27-2008, 12:47pm
I had to do the same thing about 10 years ago on a mandolin and didn't know what type the finish was so tested the paint droppings first with a drop of medium lacquer thinner and another area with a drop of water... Finally decided that it was a thinner that would do the job and put just a drop at a time on the finish spots on the label. By going slowly and using Q-tips to dab the spots, I was able to remove most of it the drippings and still leave the table mostly intact. I did have to touch up the label some with a small sharpie, but the client was very happy... Good luck and go very slow... Kenc