P. Benson Parlor restoration - FRETS.NET2024-03-29T10:09:32Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/p-benson-parlor-restoration?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A168454&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI did find a P Benson Catalog…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-04-06:2177249:Comment:1684542017-04-06T03:10:12.401ZChris Vallillohttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChrisVallillo
<p>I did find a P Benson Catalog online, though and may have found the page you were referring to. </p>
<p>This was had modest damage, a cracked top brace that gave the face a warp, several modest cracks in the top, a cracked neck heel and it needed a neck re-set. When I pulled the neck, it turned out that it had been done once before quite poorly. There were 2 wooden shims on each side of the dovetail joint and the dovetail itself was damaged and out of shape. I ended up rebuilding the…</p>
<p>I did find a P Benson Catalog online, though and may have found the page you were referring to. </p>
<p>This was had modest damage, a cracked top brace that gave the face a warp, several modest cracks in the top, a cracked neck heel and it needed a neck re-set. When I pulled the neck, it turned out that it had been done once before quite poorly. There were 2 wooden shims on each side of the dovetail joint and the dovetail itself was damaged and out of shape. I ended up rebuilding the dovetail with new mahogany and reshaping it ti fit without the shims.</p>
<p>I just glued up the top splits and will re-set attach the neck next week, time permitting. </p>
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<p>Regarding a potential date, it's definitely a contemporary of early Washburns. One website mentioned Benson Building between 1890 and 1899. so somewhere in that general range is possible. I read that some Benson's were made by Washburn... I don't think this is one of them due to details of the construction.</p>
<p></p> Apparently I had to send you…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-04-06:2177249:Comment:1682262017-04-06T02:38:43.145ZChris Vallillohttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChrisVallillo
<p>Apparently I had to send you a friend request in order to DM you. If that doesn't do the trick, my contact info is on my web site, chrisvallillo.com.</p>
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<p>Also, the attachment didn't seem to come though on the message.</p>
<p>Apparently I had to send you a friend request in order to DM you. If that doesn't do the trick, my contact info is on my web site, chrisvallillo.com.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Also, the attachment didn't seem to come though on the message.</p> Chris,
Very nice guitar, Wha…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-04-06:2177249:Comment:1683552017-04-06T00:07:50.588ZWilliam Johansonhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/WilliamJohanson
<p>Chris,</p>
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<p>Very nice guitar, What all is needed for repair? Any idea on the year it was made? ive attached a photo of an old P Benson catalog that might match yours.</p>
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<p>Anyway, Thank you very much for the purfling offer. I would love to get some. I would be happy to cover your costs. Send me a DM and we can swap contact info. Thank you for your generosity,</p>
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<p>Bill</p>
<p>Chris,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Very nice guitar, What all is needed for repair? Any idea on the year it was made? ive attached a photo of an old P Benson catalog that might match yours.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Anyway, Thank you very much for the purfling offer. I would love to get some. I would be happy to cover your costs. Send me a DM and we can swap contact info. Thank you for your generosity,</p>
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<p>Bill</p> What colors are in the purlin…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-04-05:2177249:Comment:1684452017-04-05T03:55:19.490ZChris Vallillohttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChrisVallillo
<p>What colors are in the purling? It looks a lot like the material you see on a great deal of Washburn Regal and other Chicago builders of that era. I had Micheal Gurian cut a run of that material for me and if it's the right stuff, I'd be glad to send you what you need. </p>
<p>Here's what I have: </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167760266?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167760266?profile=original" width="640"></img></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>By coincidence, I've also got a P Benson guitar on…</p>
<p>What colors are in the purling? It looks a lot like the material you see on a great deal of Washburn Regal and other Chicago builders of that era. I had Micheal Gurian cut a run of that material for me and if it's the right stuff, I'd be glad to send you what you need. </p>
<p>Here's what I have: </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167760266?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167760266?profile=original" width="640" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>By coincidence, I've also got a P Benson guitar on the bench at the moment, though nowhere as fancy as yours.</p>
<p>I'm assuming the decals are an add on, but don't know for sure. Adds a nice touch, though! The binding pattern is similar on both my guitar and yours with a center section, pearl on your version, purling mine, surrounded by 2 layers of the checkered material. My guitar still has it's original binding which just looks like plain white binding.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167763041?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167763041?profile=original" width="640" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167763381?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167763381?profile=original" width="640" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167763831?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167763831?profile=original" width="640" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>I don't see the green layer in the purling on mine in these shots, though it's usually faded or bleached out. If need be, you could peel off the green layer with a razor and replace it with what ever color is needed.</p>
<p></p> I don't understand all of tha…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-03-12:2177249:Comment:1675802017-03-12T09:45:36.752ZRoger Häggströmhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>I don't understand all of that, looks like the missing bindings are a couple of short pieces. I'd take the time to make a copy of the bindings cutting up colored strips of maple or natural maple/rosewood/ebony. With a razor and some glue (and a magnifying glass) it will only take a couple of hours to piece the bindings together using the original as a template. Piece by piece :-)</p>
<p>I don't understand all of that, looks like the missing bindings are a couple of short pieces. I'd take the time to make a copy of the bindings cutting up colored strips of maple or natural maple/rosewood/ebony. With a razor and some glue (and a magnifying glass) it will only take a couple of hours to piece the bindings together using the original as a template. Piece by piece :-)</p> Hello, Looking for some idea…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-03-10:2177249:Comment:1676552017-03-10T23:21:47.248ZWilliam Johansonhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/WilliamJohanson
<p></p>
<p>Hello, Looking for some ideas on binding for this restoration project. I have an existing ledge of just under 4.5mm with no samples of what was original to the guitar. All I seem to be able to find is 1.5mm thick binding. </p>
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<p>I was thinking of just using 3 pieces in a BWB or WBW configuration but I am concerned that the ledge is a bit inconsistent and when I scrape level with the side it may be noticeably thin in some areas. I was hoping to find a thicker binding so the…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hello, Looking for some ideas on binding for this restoration project. I have an existing ledge of just under 4.5mm with no samples of what was original to the guitar. All I seem to be able to find is 1.5mm thick binding. </p>
<p></p>
<p>I was thinking of just using 3 pieces in a BWB or WBW configuration but I am concerned that the ledge is a bit inconsistent and when I scrape level with the side it may be noticeably thin in some areas. I was hoping to find a thicker binding so the ledge width inconsistency would not be as noticeable but I have had no luck. I can't rerout the ledge as it would cut into the purfling in some areas. </p>
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<p>I was thinking of using ABS binding and welding together 2 of the sam color and ussing a WWB configuration with acetone but in the testing I have done I can still still see the seem even though it seems to be welded together well.</p>
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<p>I am also missing about 8" of purfling which is a more standard width of .080" but a non standard pattern.</p>
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<p>Any of you restoration people have any advice? </p>
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<p>Thanks in advance, Bill</p> Thank you all for taking the…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-02-23:2177249:Comment:1676082017-02-23T04:32:16.441ZWilliam Johansonhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/WilliamJohanson
<p>Thank you all for taking the time to comment and give advice. I am still debating on the carbon fiber insert but I am glad to have solved the clouding in the finish. Now there are a several other challenges ahead like how to replace one inlaid bone button, bridge design, finding matching purfling/binding, how far to take the finish repair, etc.. </p>
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<p>thanks again,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Bill</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thank you all for taking the time to comment and give advice. I am still debating on the carbon fiber insert but I am glad to have solved the clouding in the finish. Now there are a several other challenges ahead like how to replace one inlaid bone button, bridge design, finding matching purfling/binding, how far to take the finish repair, etc.. </p>
<p></p>
<p>thanks again,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Bill</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Wow... The heat gun worked gr…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-02-23:2177249:Comment:1676052017-02-23T03:56:16.396ZChristopher Parkerhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChristopherParker
<p>Wow... The heat gun worked great. I don't think I would've thought to try that. Beautiful guitar, by the way.</p>
<p>I can't imagine any good reason to add modern material (carbon fiber) to an antique guitar, especially since in my experience, old guitar necks are invariably very stable. The neck wood is done warping. If you can get it so it has the proper relief under string tension (without forcing it with heat) it will stay that way long after we're dead and gone. </p>
<p>Wow... The heat gun worked great. I don't think I would've thought to try that. Beautiful guitar, by the way.</p>
<p>I can't imagine any good reason to add modern material (carbon fiber) to an antique guitar, especially since in my experience, old guitar necks are invariably very stable. The neck wood is done warping. If you can get it so it has the proper relief under string tension (without forcing it with heat) it will stay that way long after we're dead and gone. </p> Well, I'd try the heat gun fi…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-02-22:2177249:Comment:1676022017-02-22T19:11:21.624ZRoger Häggströmhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>Well, I'd try the heat gun first - if it's in fact a spirit or shellac varnish. I took a big risk when doing the cotton swab thing on an expensive old Gibson mandolin, sometimes I do things like that. I have only done that once and it was on a solid black shellac varnish. The one in the picture.…<br></br><br></br><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167762048?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167762048?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>Well, I'd try the heat gun first - if it's in fact a spirit or shellac varnish. I took a big risk when doing the cotton swab thing on an expensive old Gibson mandolin, sometimes I do things like that. I have only done that once and it was on a solid black shellac varnish. The one in the picture.<br/><br/><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167762048?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167762048?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167762382?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167762382?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="721"/></a>My only advice on this one is to try it out on the least visible place first and see how the varnish reacts. If the varnish dissolves when poking with a spirit dipped swab and stays in the same place when drying keeping the same color, you could do it to the whole bottom point by point. Will take some time to do, the mandolin took several hours!</p> Hello Roger, do you think thi…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2017-02-22:2177249:Comment:1677012017-02-22T17:23:14.097ZLee Gendvilashttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/leegendvilas
<p>Hello Roger, do you think this guitar would benefit with using your cotton swab technique?</p>
<p>Looking forward to your reply.</p>
<p>Lee</p>
<p>Hello Roger, do you think this guitar would benefit with using your cotton swab technique?</p>
<p>Looking forward to your reply.</p>
<p>Lee</p>