AJ Bush Mandolin Restoration - FRETS.NET2024-03-29T01:01:46Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/aj-bush-mandolin-restoration?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A149650&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWell that definitely looks li…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2015-08-20:2177249:Comment:1496582015-08-20T00:36:19.572ZNed Knepphttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/NedKnepp
<p>Well that definitely looks like a "going concern" sort of label. I did some looking online and didn't find a thing either. If you contact one of the repair/shops in Pomona, they may have seen some of his work before. </p>
<p>Nitrocellulose is older than the '20s. I think it was first made into film in the 1890's or there about and it's base, gun cotton, has been around a lot longer than that. I'm not exactly sure how to identify a plastic as nitrocellulose or not. A lot of times it smells of…</p>
<p>Well that definitely looks like a "going concern" sort of label. I did some looking online and didn't find a thing either. If you contact one of the repair/shops in Pomona, they may have seen some of his work before. </p>
<p>Nitrocellulose is older than the '20s. I think it was first made into film in the 1890's or there about and it's base, gun cotton, has been around a lot longer than that. I'm not exactly sure how to identify a plastic as nitrocellulose or not. A lot of times it smells of camphor but I've come across some pickguards that appear to be breaking down like Nitro but don't smell like it. I suppose trying to burn it would make a positive ID but....</p> Yeah, I'll be steaming it off…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2015-08-19:2177249:Comment:1498062015-08-19T17:24:29.835ZBen Williamshttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/BenWilliams
<p>Yeah, I'll be steaming it off. It's got an arched top and back too. It's got a nice sticker in it, but I've come up with exactly zero information about the builders. AJ Bush of Pomona, CA. How long has nitrocellulose been in use anyway? My first experience with it was it's use as a keyboard covering (for the white keys) on old organs, going back probably to the 1920's. But this mandolin is supposed to be older than that.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'll be steaming it off. It's got an arched top and back too. It's got a nice sticker in it, but I've come up with exactly zero information about the builders. AJ Bush of Pomona, CA. How long has nitrocellulose been in use anyway? My first experience with it was it's use as a keyboard covering (for the white keys) on old organs, going back probably to the 1920's. But this mandolin is supposed to be older than that.</p> If the pick guard is nitrocel…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2015-08-19:2177249:Comment:1496972015-08-19T16:54:54.603ZNed Knepphttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/NedKnepp
<p>If the pick guard is nitrocellulose you might want to be careful about heating it too much.</p>
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<p>I'm wondering if this is the product of an amature builder. It looks like a decently made instrument but it's also such an odd design. </p>
<p>If the pick guard is nitrocellulose you might want to be careful about heating it too much.</p>
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<p>I'm wondering if this is the product of an amature builder. It looks like a decently made instrument but it's also such an odd design. </p> Lol! Oh yeah, but the pickgua…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2015-08-19:2177249:Comment:1496502015-08-19T16:11:49.205ZBen Williamshttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/BenWilliams
<p>Lol! Oh yeah, but the pickguard had been already coming off in warped little chunks before I got it, so there's no saving it at this point. The best I can hope is to lay the clear adhesive acrylic down and pick it all up "intact" enough to use as a pattern for cutting a new one.</p>
<p>Lol! Oh yeah, but the pickguard had been already coming off in warped little chunks before I got it, so there's no saving it at this point. The best I can hope is to lay the clear adhesive acrylic down and pick it all up "intact" enough to use as a pattern for cutting a new one.</p> The pickguard looks like it i…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2015-08-19:2177249:Comment:1496472015-08-19T08:53:36.962ZJoshua Levin-Epsteinhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/JoshuaLevinEpstein
<p>The pickguard looks like it is disintegrating. I'll guarantee that if you try to lift it you will end up with more pieces and powder than the bottom of a Shake' n Bake bag..</p>
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<p>My suggestion would be to repair the mandolin with all the parts intact. That will be plenty of work as you need to remove either the top or back, repair the damage and get everything back together.</p>
<p>In the end, you want Grandma to be able to recognize it.</p>
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<p>But that's just what I…</p>
<p>The pickguard looks like it is disintegrating. I'll guarantee that if you try to lift it you will end up with more pieces and powder than the bottom of a Shake' n Bake bag..</p>
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<p>My suggestion would be to repair the mandolin with all the parts intact. That will be plenty of work as you need to remove either the top or back, repair the damage and get everything back together.</p>
<p>In the end, you want Grandma to be able to recognize it.</p>
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<p>But that's just what I think.</p>