Gibson and Nitro Lacquer..

[Joey Anchors]

I've been doing some digging around trying to find out when Gibson started using nitro lacquer on their mandolin.. All my searches have turned up nothing.

Does anyone know the answer?

[almeriastrings]

When they stopped using varnish

Just after the end of the 'Loar' period as the first Ferns appeared, circa 1925.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

Check this out: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...on-and-Varnish

[Joey Anchors]

Nice! I've always been a fan of nitro lacquer from playing vintage basses and guitars. After seeing all these holly grail early '20s Gisbon Loars and how they age beautifully I wasn't sure if they were lacquer or varnish.

I really like how Mr. Sam Bush's Fern has aged.

[barry]

Nice! I've always been a fan of nitro lacquer from playing vintage basses and guitars. After seeing all these holly grail early '20s Gisbon Loars and how they age beautifully I wasn't sure if they were lacquer or varnish.

I really like how Mr. Sam Bush's Fern has aged.

Sam Bush's primary mandolin has a flowerpot inlay. Being a 30's model, it was originally finished in lacquer. It was ,however, refinished in varnish decades ago.

[Stainless]

Gibson still uses varnish. The master models are French polished varnish so I suppose the believe it superior since the use it on their highest price of regular mandos.

[Stainless]

Gibson still uses varnish. The master models are French polished varnish so I suppose they believe it superior since the use it on their highest price of regular mandos.

[stevedenver]

well, if I might clarify for the OP,
generally speaking, for all but the top model, the Master Model. (FWIW most if not all F5s have a 'Master Model" label inside, but that alone does not make it a Master Model)

Nitro is used by Gibson, for all the other mandos. There have been a very few Ferns that got varnish, but that's unusual.

Nitro is used on the signature mandos, like Bush, Lawson,
the ferns (F5L), gold rush, jam masters F5G etc

easy way to know, imho, is typically a modern varnish Gibby will be about at least 10K+ or more, the exception being some 'collector mandos'.

I have been told that varnish is superior. I have two varnish mandos, one nitro, and one poly. One thing for sure, varnish is really thin, and Gibson nitro has not been thin.

I cant say I hear a difference that I can attribute to varnish, per se. In an interview with Derrington, he said a trained ear could, but it was subtle.

I can say, unconditionally, that nitro is a lot tougher and more forgiving of light abuse, protection from little dings, resists sweat and moisture much better and polishes out much much better than varnish.

[cayuga red]

well, if I might clarify for the OP,
generally speaking, for all but the top model, the Master Model. (FWIW most if not all F5s have a 'Master Model" label inside, but that alone does not make it a Master Model)

Nitro is used by Gibson, for all the other mandos. There have been a very few Ferns that got varnish, but that's unusual.

Nitro is used on the signature mandos, like Bush, Lawson,
the ferns (F5L), gold rush, jam masters F5G etc

easy way to know, imho, is typically a modern varnish Gibby will be about at least 10K+ or more, the exception being some 'collector mandos'.

I have been told that varnish is superior. I have two varnish mandos, one nitro, and one poly. One thing for sure, varnish is really thin, and Gibson nitro has not been thin.

I cant say I hear a difference that I can attribute to varnish, per se. In an interview with Derrington, he said a trained ear could, but it was subtle.

I can say, unconditionally, that nitro is a lot tougher and more forgiving of light abuse, protection from little dings, resists sweat and moisture much better and polishes out much much better than varnish.

In Dave Harvey's tenure, Gibson has constructed a small number of MM's with nitro instead of varnish. Dennis Vance at TMS knows more but I understood him to say that 4 such mandolins have been built.

[stevedenver]

thanks
there ya go!!!! Not even the 15K MM gets varnish in some cases!!!!

It is a much more time consuming process as drying time can be really really long. like months.

[Joey Anchors]

Some really good food for thought here!

[Hendrik Ahrend]

thanks
there ya go!!!! Not even the 15K MM gets varnish in some cases!!!!

It is a much more time consuming process as drying time can be really really long. like months.

If I remember correctly, the non-varnished MMs were cheaper than 15k.