Gibson "Distressed" Model

[frets1]

I would love to have the "distressed" look on my Sam Bush F5. How do they do it? What about cost? Maybe some help from Charlie or Big Joe?? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Get you some metal chains, Egg whites, a oven, a knife. or just send it to me.. I will do it for free http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[frets1]

Maverick, I can understand the oven and the other stuff, but what about the egg-whites? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[BigJoe]

The difference in price from a Master Model and a Distressed Master Model is only $3800.00. You send the mandolin and the money and we do the work. They have all been quite incredible! Very hard to tell from the original in both sound and look. Oh, I forgot. They smell old too. Can't beat that!

[John Rosett]

big joe-
i smell old too, but nobody around here thinks it's that great...
john

[goose 2]

Big Joe, Are you saying that you can distress my '02 Master Model for 3800? If so, would it change to tone because I would not be interested if it did. I like the way it sounds.

[Tom C]

Or can it be any mandolin? Does it have to be varnished? or will it work with laquore (sp?)

[Big Joe]

Lots of questions. First, it will change the sound. It will not change the tone, but it will give it a drier, woodier tone like the same mandolin only much older. We can distress any finish on any mandolin. You have to realize the process can take several months though. It is a very meticulous process and to make it look original it must be done with extreme care. If one is interested in the process youc an contact me and we can see what we can do. Thank you.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Are you saying that you can distress my '02 Master Model for 3800

Yep, I can do it for you. Just send it my way and in about 50 years I'll send it back. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I use the old fashion destressing technique. I play the heck out of it for a long long time. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

I understand that to get the super distressed model, a fireplace poker is involved.

My apologies, Charlie Derrington, that probably isn't even funny to you!

[blugrassboy]

I'm wondering how you could do it at home??? I mean I wouldnt want to spend that much if I can do it here!! lol but I guess that would be takin money outa gibsons pocket haha.....J/K!!!! Thanks!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

I've decided to distress mine at home. . .and on the road . . .and at festivals, etc. Shouldn't take more than 40 years or so . . .

[goose]

Big Joe, Thanks for the reply. That is an interesting point that Gibson can age the sound as well as the appearance. Other than cosmetic things done to the finish is there anything done to the top or back/side wood to make them age at an accelerated rate and produce a more mature sound? With that being said, what is your take on the maturation of a fine instrument? Does it continue to progress indefinitely or plateau at some point? Does the tone start to slowly die at some point in time on even the finest of instruments? The answer may not be known in the mandolin world due to the relative young age of the F-5 compared to the violin. Interesting stuff to me. I need to check these Distressed Models out.

[BigJoe]

Hey Bluegrass BOy...even if you could do this kind of work at home, it is not likely you would want to spend the time to do the project. You can build a Stew Mac kit in about the same amount of time it takes to do a distressed model correctly. In addition, the materials you would need are so extensive you would not want to spend the money to get the tools and solvents, etc to do a job like this. It is not just sandpaper and paint thinner. It is an exacting process that requires many many hours of hand work to do right. While our process is proprietary, I can assure you it would not be worth the effort if you knew all that went into it. In addition, few would have the skills to do the work and even if that were not a problem, even fewer would have actually seen enough Loars to have any idea what the instrument should look like. In reality it is half art and half intuition while being half knowledge as well.

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

#In reality it is half art and half intuition while being half knowledge as well.
Three halves? Sounds like time and a half. Now I know why it costs $3800. All that overtime!

[Big Joe]

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