R6 Jaeger Make Over

[Revolver1]

Lots of good information this morning as Florian starts on the Dark Back.

" Here I'm applying the dark brown oil based aniline dye grain filler. That's what they had back in the day. Aniline is the basis of the earliest synthetic dyes. It's hand mixed by me (I guess my formula resembles what Gibson used in the Fifties). It smells very natural and has linseed-oil in there too.

It's actually relatively close to what classical guitar builders still use to fill the pores of rosewood or mahogany, even if it's not completely the same.

It's concentrated in the deep pores of the mahogany and appears black in the pore, which leads to that old-fashioned look and beautiful appearance. I wipe it on with a brush and a cloth and wipe it off with a rag.
It's a special technique, you need to be a little experienced.

At the same time the light brown mahogany gets stained and the pores get filled. So you save lacquer and enable a super thin coating with the nitro cellulose later on.

The sources, books, the web and colleagues I asked are not 100 % sure how the dark backs were made. I've had the opportunity to touch-up, restore and even strip one and found out that the clear coats were tinted as well. This leads me to the conclusion that they filled the pores and stained the mahogany at the same time and probably painted over with a brown-tinted lacquer as well (if ordered from dealers for example).

The dark back could have resulted from the oil based filler which literally melts into the clear or the tinted clear coat. As well - if you strip or sand an original you have brown-ish dust on your sandpaper. "

 

[Leftybopper]

Again, thank you for sharing this information! Love his unbiased and empirical approach.

 

[Revolver1]

Here showing the Dark Back Aniline Dye pore filler application completed.

Really very happy with how this came out with tonnes of character.

I sent Florian a picture as a guide and it really is spot on. We had quite a bit of discussion about it because the image I had was a studio shot and the lighting was quite dark in places so it made the back look almost black in places but when it was lit up the colour would change to a deep brown.

Also another bit I love, on the photo near the top of the neck there was a lighter patch that looked like the grain hadn't taken the dye like the rest of the neck. I wasn't actually expecting it but as you can see Florian tried to capture this lighter patch.

I think it's turned out even better, it looks to me like a shard of Sun light has hit the back of the neck and faded it. I think it's great and looks really unique with bags of character.

 

[Shokry]

Here showing the Dark Back Aniline Dye pore filler application completed.

Really very happy with how this came out with tonnes of character.

I sent Florian a picture as a guide and it really is spot on. We had quite a bit of discussion about it because the image I had was a studio shot and the lighting was quite dark in places so it made the back look almost black in places but when it was lit up the colour would change to a deep brown.

Also another bit I love, on the photo near the top of the neck there was a lighter patch that looked like the grain hadn't taken the dye like the rest of the neck. I wasn't actually expecting it but as you can see Florian tried to capture this lighter patch.

I think it's turned out even better, it looks to me like a shard of Sun light has hit the back of the neck and faded it. I think it's great and looks really unique with bags of character.

Great choice! I love the dark backs - they turn out beautifully and contrast very nicely with the gold top! And that faded neck is a very nice touch - looks very authentic! Cheers ?

 

[metropolis]

Looks fantastic - the faded part looks almost like player wear.

 

[Leftybopper]

Here showing the Dark Back Aniline Dye pore filler application completed.

Really very happy with how this came out with tonnes of character.

I sent Florian a picture as a guide and it really is spot on. We had quite a bit of discussion about it because the image I had was a studio shot and the lighting was quite dark in places so it made the back look almost black in places but when it was lit up the colour would change to a deep brown.

Also another bit I love, on the photo near the top of the neck there was a lighter patch that looked like the grain hadn't taken the dye like the rest of the neck. I wasn't actually expecting it but as you can see Florian tried to capture this lighter patch.

I think it's turned out even better, it looks to me like a shard of Sun light has hit the back of the neck and faded it. I think it's great and looks really unique with bags of character.

What a sexy back! Congratulations on your guitar, that is something really special.

 

[Pekri 59]

Here showing the Dark Back Aniline Dye pore filler application completed.

Really very happy with how this came out with tonnes of character.

I sent Florian a picture as a guide and it really is spot on. We had quite a bit of discussion about it because the image I had was a studio shot and the lighting was quite dark in places so it made the back look almost black in places but when it was lit up the colour would change to a deep brown.

Also another bit I love, on the photo near the top of the neck there was a lighter patch that looked like the grain hadn't taken the dye like the rest of the neck. I wasn't actually expecting it but as you can see Florian tried to capture this lighter patch.

I think it's turned out even better, it looks to me like a shard of Sun light has hit the back of the neck and faded it. I think it's great and looks really unique with bags of character.

It's very tasteful how Florian implemented your suggestion.

 

[bursty]

@Revolver1 Things look like they are going along nicely. How much longer do you think before you get Argo back in your hands?

 

[Revolver1]

Ahhhh, I'm hoping not too much longer. We're definitely nearer the end than we are to the beginning.

So I guess the serial number needs to be applied and the ambering of the binding. Then the clear coats need to go on. Not sure if it has to cure for any period of time before the aging can begin, I guess we'll find out.

There may also be some other steps in there I'm not aware of. Then I guess all the hardware needs to be re-installed so there's still a bit to do.

 

[ourmaninthenorth]

The Argonaut has a 'Burst neck.

An unexpected and infinitely classy detail. It'll really pop with the clear coat.

I bloody love it.

Well played you two Lads.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Very nice. Are you doing the original serial number or one with number of significance to you?

 

[Revolver1]

I'd planned on keeping it original so the receipt would still be relevant.

 

[Revolver1]

I should probably add that this becomes more relevant now it has a Brazilian Board. Florian has applied for a CITS certificate but it's a touchy subject. So best to keep all things in line.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I should probably add that this becomes more relevant now it has a Brazilian Board. Florian has applied for a CITS certificate but it's a touchy subject. So best to keep all things in line.

Good point. I was going to ask how relevant a receipt could be any more with all the changes, but that would be one especially if you travel a lot.

 

[Revolver1]

Yeah, that's a very good point as well.

When I flew to Germany I dug out the original sales receipt because I wanted at least something to say the guitar is mine. I couldn't find the Customs declaration for import to the UK so I must have thrown it out which was a bad move in hindsight.

They don't give you an electronic copy just the papers, it's a bit different if you go through an import broker which I've done in the past for speaker cabs but it wasn't necessary for a guitar.

I can't imagine Gibson would or even could stand by anything now all the work has been done but I do have the receipts from Florian for the work done and there's also the certificate for the Braz Board.

I suppose there are original 50's guitars out there that have been refinished and it would be a similar situation there.

I guess all you can do is hang on to all the paper work relating to a guitar to build up a paper trail for what it's worth.

The thing with Customs is its completely at their discretion, they can be completely disinterested or make things very difficult just depends on the individual officer.

 

[Revolver1]

Here we have the Bindings neatly scraped back.

This is the first time I've seen the sides and the top together. I love the way it appears different under different lighting situations. Very cool..... ????

 

[NINFNM]

I like the neck fade touch. I did the same when I had to refin my own due to a fretboard replacement

 

[Revolver1]

Sounds like you beat me to it....

Yeah, I was over the Moon that I could have it refinished as a dark back but the fade just gives even more character to a back that already looks cool. Just love the way the colours change, all the shades. Like Ourmaninthenorth says it's almost like a Burst. And it looks different as the lighting changes, like a Chameleon.

 

[Revolver1]

sorry so late. Here's my 1956 logo with dot placement:

Click to expand...

Subliminal IanimilbuS said:

That is the Ozzy version dot. Silkscreen Les Paul Model position is nice. Sometimes those got a little too close to the Gibson logo and those look spatially odd to me.



Wilko, would you please do me a huge favour and measure the distance from the L in the word MODEL to the underside of the Gibson Logo?

If you could it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Revolver1]

I should probably explain myself a little better with the post above.

Florian was asking me if I had a preference to the placement of the " Les Paul MODEL " part of the logo on the Head Stock.

Although he has the 54 in the workshop to hand I thought it may be better to try and reference some pictures of original 56's.

But even better, it would be really, really cool if I could get a proper verified measurement from a real one. ?