Gibson Re-issue L00 headstock

[Eric Carswell]

 

[Eric Carswell]

Looking for some input on a fresh problem . A customer has brought me his prized L00 re-issue with the lacquer peeling from the headstock. At first ,I thought they had used a "reversed print" transparent overlay.....but it wasn't .The lacquer was just peeling off. Contacted Gibson service and they tried to be helpful but as the guitar is in Europe the Warranty doesn't exist......in fact the Gibson rep in Amsterdam said that there was NO warranty on finish at all which really shocked me....
...it is a $6000 guitar !!
When I removed the remnants of the finish it revealed a plastic headstock overlay.....not the normal "fibre" material I expected or even Ebony .First prep coats of lacquer ( 2 part catalyst lacquer ) went on successfully but didn't have any more success in adhesion than the original Gibson offereing ( nitro-cellulose they claim ! ).
So ...the question : Have any of you repair guys in the States seen this ? Frank ??
Hopefully .....Eric

[Frank Ford]

When I'm unsure about my new finish adhering to a substrate, I always turn to my best friend in the finishing business - shellac. It has the property of sticking to most any finish or surface, and it works to allow lacquer over polymer finishes.

Scuff sanding the plastic, wiping on a good solid layer of shellac, and spraying lacquer over it - that would be my first line of attack.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Wow... big problem. Here's what I do when I have a difficult time with adhesion on a repair : try to wipe some amoniac and then some acetic acid (rinse between each product), that should remove any material that could prevent adhesion. Then go for a coat of shellac, then nitro. No other ideas.
Or yes, maybe a thin coat of hide glue or epoxy before spraying?

[Eric Carswell]

Thanks Pierre,
I get the feeling that this material should not have been used....kind of feels like one of the Polymers with the lubrication in the cell structure. In truth , looking at the junction between the headsock overlay and the headstock face ,the bond dosn't look too clever there either.
Looks like the options are
(1) Re-finish as per schedule and return to customer with a request to have it returned in a few months for review

(2) Remove the plastic and replace with a traditional material where the outcome can be forecast.

....any thoughts ??

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Maybe you should explain the problem and let the customer choose. I think I would do that.

[Eric Carswell]

Hi Pierre,
Clearly.
I actually had a call from him just after I responded to you .He has agreed that this would be the preferable way to go. Still interested to find if any other Repair people have seen this.

Eric

[Steve Beckwith]

Pierre,
Where would you get the Gibson logo for the new material?

- Steve

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Well, that's the real problem. Since you're in the US and are a professional, a phone call to Gibson is an option. I don't know if you've got any chance in this, but it's worth the try. Here in France, I get copies from an english shop. Ebay and Google are your friends for that kind of thing. But it's always hard. Maybe experienced repairmen from your area would have an idea.

[Steve Beckwith]

Thanks, I've no need for one now but I know I'll need one in the future...

[Eric Carswell]

Gents ,Thanks for the input. The pre-coat of Shellac is also my preferred course of action ....sometimes ,I use West Systems epoxy if I'm really doubtfull and in most cases both will work. I'll feedback with my results tomorrow. As for rhe Logos......I just make them from MoP.....but only if I can confirm that the instrument is genuinely a Gibson.
Again ....thanks for the replies so far....E

[FRANK]

E BAY LOGOS

[Mike Kolb]

uh oh...