The gibson distressing process

**mort** · Jan-31-2008, 2:23pm

Does anyone have info on how gibson distresses the DMM? Seems like a lot of turn over for Gibson lately. Anyone talking about that secret aging process?

**Hans** · Jan-31-2008, 2:32pm

Here we go again...

Shhh! It's a secret. #

Don't tell anyone...it's eggwhites.

**sachmo** · Jan-31-2008, 3:10pm

I think the destressing process includes a set of key's, a hair dryer some empty cans of Bud and a guy named Zeke..........???

**John Hill** · Jan-31-2008, 4:02pm

It's a mystery, covered by a secret sauce, wrapped in an enigma.

**mrmando** · Jan-31-2008, 4:35pm

It involves an angry girlfriend with a poker, a parrot decal, a Dumpster, a flooded basement, an oven at about 225 degrees Fahrenheit, and John Monteleone with a scraper and a jar.

**mrmando** · Jan-31-2008, 4:37pm

As opposed to the "Gibson de-stressing process," which involves a deck chair, a Margarita, and Taj Mahal's greatest hits.

**John Hill** · Jan-31-2008, 4:39pm

Originally Posted by (mrmando @ Jan. 31 2008, 17:37)

As opposed to the "Gibson de-stressing process," which involves a deck chair, a Margarita, and Taj Mahal's greatest hits.

**Cullowheekid** · Jan-31-2008, 4:52pm

I visited Nashville for the first time about a year ago.Walked around downtown,went to Gruhns,saw a show at the Station Inn.I also visited Gibsons OAI as I was looking for a pickguard.It was on a Sat. afternoon and the store was open but the shop was closed.I was pretty astonished that the mandolins are being made in a mall.I struck up a conversation with one of the guys who worked in the shop during the week but was helping out on the retail floor that weekend.I asked him if Gibson did anything other than cosmetic distressing to make the DMM sound any different from the MM.All he said was "no".

**JEStanek** · Jan-31-2008, 5:14pm

Big Joe Vest may know more about it. Regarding proprietary secrets, (i.e., Gibson's distressing process)the disclosure of those processes is an offense that can be prosecuted regardless of your employment status. I rather doubt, knowing his reputation on the board, Joe would risk so much to give away the secrets of a company he parted with in a friendly manner.

Here are some Search results.
Note the last thread has Charlie Derrington and Big Joe weighing in on it here.

Hopefully, reading some of the older threads will clear things up, but I doubt it.

Jamie

**f5loar** · Jan-31-2008, 7:39pm

I never thought it was a big secret. I've been there and seen this process done. They have a closed room in the back with some 95 degree heat in it. They get Sam Bush to come in(on his off days)and hand him an MM and a set of headphones and after about 5 to 8 hours(depending on the degree of distress they seek)of Sam beating out on a few New Grass tunes you have a DMM. Pretty simple. Sam get's $1000 for each one, Gibson gets another $6000 for doing it and everybody is happy. *I heard they asked Chris Thile to do it but he wanted $1200 per mandolin and they said no deal since Chris don't sweat as bad as Sam in 95 degree heat. There is an art to slamming a mandolin that hard and it not fall apart.

**woodwizard** · Jan-31-2008, 8:05pm

**Ivan Kelsall** · Feb-01-2008, 2:07am

I would NEVER in a million years want to 'distress' my Mandolin re.appearance.However,i do like the look of such instruments. If i owned one from new i would know that it WAS new & would keep it in 'as new' distressed condition for as long as i could,i wouldn't want to add any of my own 'distressing' to it.Heck !,if i had a Mandolin as 'distressed' as Bill Monroe's Loar,if i put a ding in it i'd be mortified,
Saska

**Santiago** · Feb-01-2008, 7:50pm

They tell it it's going to become an Eastman.

**MikeEdgerton** · Feb-01-2008, 8:11pm

Originally Posted by (f5loar @ Jan. 31 2008, 20:39)

...There is an art to slamming a mandolin that hard and it not fall apart...

I can see that

**G. Fisher** · Feb-01-2008, 8:45pm

Originally Posted by (JEStanek @ Jan. 31 2008, 18:14)

Regarding proprietary secrets, (i.e., Gibson's distressing process)the disclosure of those processes is an offense that can be prosecuted regardless of your employment status.

I believe that would only be true if a non-disclosure agreement was signed when a employee left the company.