How easy is it to fix a worn area?

[saznpins]

Greetings all you talented builders,
Today my new Flatiron Performer F5 arrived and I've been playing for the last couple of hours. It sounds great, plays great and I love it. The only thing that bugs me a little is that there is a quarter-sized worn area on the front since there is no pick guard.

Is it hard to fix that? Is it expensive? I've decided to keep this mando but I'd love to get that worn area repaired if it's not going to be cost prohibitive.

Many thanks for any advice you can give http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Cheers much,
Sarah

[Philip Halcomb]

One idea might be to put a pickguard on it. That would hide the spot... Depends on if you like having a pickguard. Depending on how bad it is will probably determine the cost of having it repaired...

[Dave Cohen]

Frank Ford has some interesting things to say about finish repair on vintage instruments. Check out his site, http://www.frets.com. You will find it enjoyable.

[Big Joe]

The repair would not be too much. If you want, we can fix it in our shop in Nashville. If the wood is bare it is a good idea to fix it even if you use a pickguard.

[saznpins]

Thanks for the responses http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I was thinking about adding a pick guard down the road perhaps. Here is a picture of the area that needs the repair, if that helps.

Big Joe, thanks for the offer http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif We've been seeing inexpensive flights down to Nashville and has been thinking about a spending a long weekend down there sometime. If we do I could drop it off http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[neal]

Whaaaa? Those are mojo marks.

[Luthier Vandross]

heh.. I thought you were talking about a hole.

I have guitars with as much finish left as your wear area.

M

[saznpins]

Awwww, come on fellas, can't I keep the mojo and lose the marks? ;)

[mandoJeremy]

Actually, I think Gibson could fix that quite well even though I suggested Weber in another thread. They did wonders with my Bush in a certain incident with the finish. You would never know what was repaired.

[grsnovi]

I think you've gotten yourself a very nice mando. What one person considers a terrible flaw, another might think of as "character".

I would humbly answer your original question with: Fixing that wear area should be a relatively easy and inexpensive task. While I'm sure that either Weber of Gibson would do a wonderous job, you'll need to get it scheduled into their shop - you may do just as well with somebody local.

It also depends on what you view as "fixed".

Do you need it to appear "as new" ? Completely color matched and undetectable when viewed from any angle? Or, are you only wanting to reseal the finish so there is no exposed wood? Both are questions you need to answer for yourself and clearly explain when you take refin estimates into account.

Were it mine, I'd touch it up myself (if I bothered at all). I've done some spot finish work on my old Vega but I've pretty much left my '20 'dola alone.

[sunburst]

Yep, that's through to the wood. It wouldn't be too hard to match that color pretty well. If the lacquer is to be touched up I think the color should be done too.
If it is lacquer, and I assume it is,(did somebody say it was?) It can be fixed, but a trained eye will probably be able to find it. If you don't expect it to look brand new, you should be happy with a good repair.

[Rob Grant]

"Today my new Flatiron Performer F5 arrived and I've been playing for the last couple of hours."

The repair is minor and no big deal(at this point). If your technique causes that much finish damage in two hours, you should definitely either change your style of picking or put a guard on that baby.

I don't build mandolins or mandolas without a guard. I once let a local bloke play one of my mandos without a guard. It took me a lot of lost time repairing the damage he did in around fifteen minutes of picking. Seems he liked to plant one finger on the top to stabalize his hand. Trouble is, that one finger had a rather long, hard nail!

[saznpins]

Thanks again for all the replies, I really appreciate the input http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I know it may seem like nitpicking to some, but I have been waiting to own a mando like this for a long time and I just want the total package.

Mandojeremy, I called several places about the repair including Gibson, Weber and Mandolin Brothers (Mando Bros is only about a half hour from me). I was really surprised at the response I got from Weber. I spoke to John, who first told me that they were concentrating on building new instruments and didn't really do the kind of work I was asking about. But he then had me hold while he consulted with Paula Jean and came back saying that they charged $50 per hour, but that they could not take on any new work and to call back in January http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Mando Bros. doesn't do "touch ups" as a general rule, but they were nice. They had me send them pictures anyway and I haven't heard back yet.

I called Gibson and spoke to Big Joe who was nothing but nice. I really liked the way he took the time to look at the picture, talk to me about what I wanted and I liked the way he treated me, like my little repair was important (and it is to me). He said that they could fix it and for a reasonable cost (under $100). So that's the route I'm going to go.

grsnovi and sunburst, I'd like to have the color matched along with the lacquer filled in. I would like it to look good but it doesn't have to be perfect. If you look hard enough you could see that someone did a competent repair is good enough for me!

Ha ha Rob http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif It was the previous owner's technique that caused the wear, and probably over the course of some years! I don't have a pickguard on my other mando and I've had that one for over two years and there isn't a pick mark on it. If anything I need to maybe be a little more agressive with MY pick attack...

Thanks again guys!

[grsnovi]

Boy, it sure sounds like Gibson is the way to go. It also sounds like Weber is trying to politely tell you they're not interested. Sending it to Nashville will require a good packaging job, travel time, insurance on the trip both ways and the actual time in Gibson's shop but will also ensure a great job!

[mando andy]

Yep---I would ditto that for Big Joe---he did the same for me when I was talking to him about preserving the finish on my 21 A-2. #Spent a lot of time explaining things and answering all of my questions. #I ended up ordering their "Harvey's" finish cleaner and preserver for vintage instruments--great stuff!!


Andy Morton
Madison, WI