Gibson A-Model Finish

[Darryl Wolfe]

As a continuation of the Staining Red Spruce thread...I acquired an air brush and mixed some shellac and color tones to even out the brown color on that brown '23 snakehead that I was finishing the top on. I cleaned the gun and applied more shellac, but clear. I touched up a few places on the back and sides too. After several coats and some light wet sanding the finish looks nearly identical to the original and the touched up spots on the back and sides blend/melt perfectly into the original finish. I'm of the opinion that the thing has no varnish on it....that it's simply shellac. Additionally, as easy as this went, I wouldn't even think of brush coating a refin using shellac. Any similar experiences.

dgw

[Chris Baird]

I think an airbrush is the way to go for spot refinishing. In fact I've never been able to do it any other way. There have be a few times where I've accidentaly sanded through the varnish and into the stain a little. Some careful airbrushing fixed it up with no sign of a retouch.

[sunburst]

I've done finish repair on old Gibson A mandos, and found no evident layers. It all appeared to be shellac, or at least a simple spirit varnish that new shellac will blend into nearly perfectly.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Thanks for the replies. I had never done much work with shellac, and am having great luck with it on these a-model restores

[mando andy]

Curious about how you make the decision to do a refinish on a vintage instrument versus sticking with the original finish.
Doesn't the refinish "devalue" a vintage instrument?

Andy Morton

[Luthier Vandross]

Hey D, I am with you... on some of them, it's varnish, but mostly I just thik shellac too.

Love to see the mandos sometime, and stop by sometime to say hi... if you have a few hours to blow traveling. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

... oh yeah... I always forget something.. varnish and shellac are not hard to tell apart on these old things, varnish solves in about twice the time shellac does.. ;)

ooops!

Miles

[Darryl Wolfe]

mando andy..yes refinish devalues the instrument. #But when you start with a messed up refin'd top like this....you actually add value and beauty

[Darryl Wolfe]

much better

[Luthier Vandross]

Hey now! Nice look.

So satisfying to see an instrument brought back.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


M

[Darryl Wolfe]

It's not quite so dark nor "purple" in real life..here's a shot before french polishing..

[GTison]

what stain did you use to get the brown color? I have an old AO that someday I will restain to the original color if possible

[Darryl Wolfe]

It's just a combo of the stuff from stewmac..colotone medium brown and tobacco brown..partially in the wood and partially mixed with the shellac and airbrushed

[Darryl Wolfe]

just before sealer and airbrush