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anyone else hate the VOS finish ?

Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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I have 3 VOS CS LP's. What is said here ^ is what I use if I want to remove the VOS from the guitar.
Personally, I like the VOS on the face of the body as it hides fingerprints, and is no big deal.

However when I do need to clean my guitars, Virtuoso cleaner and polish is all I use and it removes the VOS nicely.

I just don't understand the complaints I read here about the finish. You have the option to remove it if you desire too. Why pay more for the full gloss finish when the polish will do the same thing?!

I don't mind it myself. I did have the "sticky neck" issue though and Virtuoso cleaner/polish took care of it.
 

Minibucker

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Jan 12, 2003
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Man...I would clean and polish and scrub and polish with virtuoso cleaner/polish until I considered it a workout for the day. It would seemingly get the guitar pretty clean and smooth, but it wouldn't take long for the stickiness to come back. Maybe my VOS's finish never fully cured even after three years and leaving it on a stand for most of that time...kinda' always felt a bit soft as if there was a very thin layer of FlexSeal spray, or something. Has anyone ever heard of a finish/lacquer taking that long to cure? Was living in NYC so normal Northeast climate conditions. Or maybe it was just my body chemistry.

The worst was gigging with it, where I was actually sweating a bit. Within half a set there'd be like this layer of gunk on the back of the neck and where my arm made contact on the body. Just a real unpleasant playing experience. Was considering just get the guitar stripped/refinished, but why if I never liked it anyway? Too bad, because it looked great....plaintop R8 in Iced Tea with some nice grain. That was my first Historic and wow what an awful introduction. Thankfully, it's gotten better. Had the gloss one in my avatar for six+ years now and love it.
 
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Trans-Am

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.............any before and after pictures?:hmm

Yes you can shine 'em alright and great point in true that the gloss is another 3-5 bills on top depending on the finish.
 

duaneflowers

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Aug 13, 2013
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I just don't understand the complaints I read here about the finish.

haters-gonna-hate.png
 

The Guitar Hunter

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Jun 22, 2016
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I haven't had many VOS guitars, but the ones I have had I didn't have any sticky residue or anything that bothered me about it.
The louder you play, the quicker the finish wears away. I'm sure that's true, right? :spabout
 

Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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1,703
Hi All, sorry to resurrect and old thread like this but I haven't been around for a while.

Is this VOS finish the same it's always been? Forgive me if this post is redundant, but I'm wondering if the VOS finish is still that super-tacky nasty 'goop' they used to apply. The last Historic I had with a VOS was an '08 (I think) R8, and for three years no matter what I did to clean, polish and even lightly sand the back of the neck, it always got tacky and nasty. Maybe because it just reacted to my skin chemistry or something.

Had an '11 R7 and now a '13 R8 both in gloss and never had that issue. So my question is the with all the changes and stuff going on at Gibson, different historic specs and construction etc, has their VOS 'formula' changed at all at a certain time so it has that semi faded look but with a different treatment, or is it just the same that it's always been. Asking because there are some VOS models that I'm interested in but don't want to go through the same aggravation as before or refinish. Over the years, every VOS I've tried in a store has felt the same, but it's been a good six years since I've tried one. I realize that it may just be my own body chemistry that's reacting differently than with others.

Thanks, and again sorry if it's redundant.

Before you decide whether or not to have it stripped and refinished, I'd try to get it machined buffed. Don't know if you have a place near you, but you could always send it to a place like "Historic Makeovers" (no affiliation).
 

Minibucker

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Before you decide whether or not to have it stripped and refinished, I'd try to get it machined buffed. Don't know if you have a place near you, but you could always send it to a place like "Historic Makeovers" (no affiliation).
Oh this guitar was from a while back and I sold it. I was considering that, but by then I'd had it with the guitar and just wanted it gone...stop spending time and money on it. And it wasn't like the buyer asked me why it's so sticky afterwards, so makes me suspect even moreso that it was particular to me. Been very happy with the gloss models I got, it's just that down there road if there's another one in VOS that I'm interested in for the right price, I'm wondering if I'll got through the same thing or if things have changed over the years.
 

rockabilly69

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Jul 29, 2001
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2,870
I have 3 VOS CS LP's. What is said here ^ is what I use if I want to remove the VOS from the guitar.
Personally, I like the VOS on the face of the body as it hides fingerprints, and is no big deal.

However when I do need to clean my guitars, Virtuoso cleaner and polish is all I use and it removes the VOS nicely.

I just don't understand the complaints I read here about the finish. You have the option to remove it if you desire too. Why pay more for the full gloss finish when the polish will do the same thing?!

The virtuoso works fine, I like this stuff made by Eterna Shine called Guitar Scratch Remover, but my big complaint is the aging of the hardware on two of my VOS guitars, it was a pain in the ass the get the hardware cleaned up. But as I said earlier I got all the VOS guitars at good prices so it was worth the work.

https://www.guitarscratchremover.co...ar-scratch-remover/products/guitar-polish-kit
 

Trans-Am

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Jul 15, 2001
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4,686
Well like it or not, not all VOS finish treatments are sticky. My 2007 R9 is smooth and fast all the up the neck and back. The body front and back just has that patina goin' on right now since the start. I believe that not all model finish will look great with VOS as well as vice versa. SO take it with a grain of salt as these models will age treated or not just depending on the time,exposure and play.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/64345569@N03/49956922731/in/photostream/" title="IMG_5523"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956922731_abe75e6ee4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5523"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/64345569@N03/49956920536/in/photostream/" title="IMG_5526"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956920536_a29be4aee7.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_5526"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Trans-Am

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Not all VOS will be sticky in all models across. It's inherent to develop a characteristic due to environment, age and playing time with wear tear.:dude:
Some VOS will match better with certain models and finish as well.:yah
 

Midnight Blues

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Oh this guitar was from a while back and I sold it. I was considering that, but by then I'd had it with the guitar and just wanted it gone...stop spending time and money on it. And it wasn't like the buyer asked me why it's so sticky afterwards, so makes me suspect even moreso that it was particular to me. Been very happy with the gloss models I got, it's just that down there road if there's another one in VOS that I'm interested in for the right price, I'm wondering if I'll got through the same thing or if things have changed over the years.

Ah. Sorry, I must've missed that.

If you find one you like at the right price, I wouldn't let that deter you. You've gotten some good suggestions from the members here, so go for it!


cheers.gif
 

Victory Pete

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Dec 2, 2009
Messages
254
My 2001 LP Classic now has a "VOS" finish I put on years ago. being someone who does not want scratches and dents on my guitars I periodically do finish touch ups. After a shiny new guitar gets a touch up I buff the whole thing down to a nice satin glow. It is now like an old leather shoe, without the smell. I still have many old guitars that are still shiny as I have not had to do any touch ups yet. When I got my first 2018 RO it was VOS and I wasn't sure if I liked it. I don't like the gunk they put on the metal, I buffed all that off but I do like the somewhat dull metal. I originally thought the pickup covers being slightly dented in was bogus but now realize that gives me extra picking clearance a I keep my pickups high. The nitro is not exactly satin but has a very slight orange peel to it, which is odd but does look good from a distance. I just bought my second 2018 RO 2 months ago and it is VOS also, I was glad it was so both ROs will match. The finish is not gummy at all. I did have one tuner that was way too corroded, they sent a new one. I am glad they are not Reliced, I dont understand that at all.
 

Minibucker

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Jan 12, 2003
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Well, here is what my '13 R8 in gloss looked like when I got it....


GCbyBgh.jpg



Ands this is it today. I changed the covers to moderately aged ones from I believe ThroBak, the plastics to I think MojoAxe just to have more correct hue, and the tuners to Gotohs that had the ambered tulips already, because I didn't like the rounded-top posts of the stock ones. Bridge and tailpiece stock, the tarnishing is just natural from me. The lighting is really bad and unflattering to the finish in this pic, but you can see it pretty much took on a VOS quality anyway. The finish will shine back up nice if I want it too, but not really concerned with it looking as showroom-glossy as it was when bought. But it has never gotten sticky or uncomfortable as the prior VOS R8's that I owned. So for me, and due to what I'm increasingly believing is my own body chemistry, I pretty much get the aesthetic qualities of a VOS without the discomfort. Same thing essentially with a gloss R7 I had.


WCDiSGg.jpg
 
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Minibucker

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Jan 12, 2003
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Ah. Sorry, I must've missed that.

If you find one you like at the right price, I wouldn't let that deter you. You've gotten some good suggestions from the members here, so go for it!


cheers.gif
Oh also, almost forgot that aside from the two VOS R-8's, I also had a Rusty Anderson model ES-335 which was VOS. Had it for maybe two days because I knew right away wasn't going to work for me with that feel again....nope, nope nope nope. Was luckily able to return to seller and just cover shipping. So...it's probably just me, and maybe that answers it once and for all.
 

somebodyelseuk

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Jun 10, 2020
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454
My only VOS experience. I've had possession of a new 60th R9 for about 6 hours. It feels like a guitar that has been played for 60 years by someone who never washes their hands and is a virgin. ;)
I've had to wash my hands everytime after I've had a noodle on it. A bit surreal for me, since a 5+grand guitar is a big deal to me - I would expect to wash them before I pick it up.
There's a difference between aged and neglected.
 

Bruce R

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Mar 2, 2007
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Has anyone had the experience to trying to "VOS" their own Custom Shop guitar? Not to gunk them up necessarily, but I'd like to knock the high gloss finish back a bit on a couple of my guitars.

I know a process with 1800 & 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper works fine but I don't even want to go there. I have aged new metal parts with success (on a Fender) and know that way, but would just as soon not buy any more acid and just get pre-aged parts for my Gibsons.

I owned two VOS guitars, an '06 R8 and an '07 TV Special, and had no problems with the gunk on either.
 

Victory Pete

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Dec 2, 2009
Messages
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Has anyone had the experience to trying to "VOS" their own Custom Shop guitar? Not to gunk them up necessarily, but I'd like to knock the high gloss finish back a bit on a couple of my guitars.

I know a process with 1800 & 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper works fine but I don't even want to go there. I have aged new metal parts with success (on a Fender) and know that way, but would just as soon not buy any more acid and just get pre-aged parts for my Gibsons.

I owned two VOS guitars, an '06 R8 and an '07 TV Special, and had no problems with the gunk on either.

I have been buffing my guitars "Down" for a nice warm glow for 20 years. I have tried many different ways. Lately I use Micro-Mesh pads and coarse buffing compound from StewMac. I usually do this when I am doing my first drop fill on a new guitar. I use the 1500 pad to make it a bit dull, then follow up with the coarse buffing compound. you could try just the coarse buffing compound and see what you get.
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...ishing-papers/micro-mesh-soft-touch-pads.html
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...-polishing/colortone-polishing-compounds.html
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
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I have been buffing my guitars "Down" for a nice warm glow for 20 years. I have tried many different ways. Lately I use Micro-Mesh pads and coarse buffing compound from StewMac. I usually do this when I am doing my first drop fill on a new guitar. I use the 1500 pad to make it a bit dull, then follow up with the coarse buffing compound. you could try just the coarse buffing compound and see what you get.
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...ishing-papers/micro-mesh-soft-touch-pads.html
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...-polishing/colortone-polishing-compounds.html

Can you please clarify what you mean by "my first drop fill on a new guitar " Do you do this regardless if it's a VOS finish ? or a gloss finish ?
 
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