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Bavarian Makeover II 1956 Historic Reissue by jaegerguitars

RocknRollShakeUp

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
Gorgeous so far, the whole process, including the color of course.

I would do only a closet Classic relic with checking and only a few light dings, and not something that looks like someone’s Weiner Dog used as a chew toy, but that’s just me!
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Meticulous work, very impressive ununtrium:2cool
Good to see Florian explaining the process in the videos.
 

Shokry

New member
Joined
Apr 3, 2017
Messages
9
Florian is currently applying multiple layers of the bronze powder procured from the very same company that supplied Gibson in the 1950s. They still produce the bronze powder following the formula unaltered. This application happens in multiple stages to achieve depth and lusciousness.

...the first layer...

XS2hgbz.jpg


...the second layer...

vx4mkVX.jpg


...the third layer...

fatZ8xp.jpg


...and the fourth layer; you can see how these different layers come together to form a warm, deep, and above all mesmerising gold top by themselves already.

SAdgYFR.jpg


The next step involves vintage-formula clear coating; here is the first one applied...

3q0caYD.jpg


The gold top you see now is still a work-in-progress.There is still some ambering to be done to get the tone of the finish just right. It is the first time that Florian shares the documentation of these individual steps with the public.

All the work during this project that went before showcases Florian's craftsmanship. The application of the finish of a Vintage Gold Top, however, is not so much the work of the craftsman, but rather of the artist.

Things are moving very nicely! It’s a beautiful looking top indeed... but the best is yet to come :salude
 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
Ambered clear coats have been applied...

...here...

q9RTW1O.jpg


...and then another one here...

DlRAuxf.jpg


...and then another one here...

3wrRsVO.jpg
 
Last edited:

fakejake

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Messages
1,274
Very interesting, what is the timeframe for that process? I thought that nitro finishes would take a lot more time (that is: several weeks) to apply, due to the repeated alternation between spraying, drying, and buffing. :hmm
 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
...the binding has been neatly scraped...

yA5nfyJ.jpg


EPUA6Cn.jpg


YZLj0U5.jpg


RI0Ggc1.jpg


FYI, the finishing process has only covered applying the gold to the maple cap, so far...
 

fred dons

Active member
Joined
Jul 20, 2001
Messages
318
first of all brilliant job what Florian is doing, that will be a specatular goldtop. I do have 1 question, why does he amber the gold before scraping the binding ? the amber should be the effect of the clearcoat yellowing all over the body, including the binding, if he will darken the binding by shooting another amber coat later on this will also darken the gold again but in a different intensity than the binding. Do you know what his rationale is by doing it in this way ?
 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
Based on the encyclopedic knowledge Florian possesses, I trust that there is a very good reason for doing the ambering of the different materials in separate stages. It would make sense since the different materials would react differently to the ambering process. I guess that Florian has figured out a way to do authentic ambering tailored to the respective material. Doing the ambering in a "once-all-over" method would not give us the control needed to get the results we want.

first of all brilliant job what Florian is doing, that will be a specatular goldtop. I do have 1 question, why does he amber the gold before scraping the binding ? the amber should be the effect of the clearcoat yellowing all over the body, including the binding, if he will darken the binding by shooting another amber coat later on this will also darken the gold again but in a different intensity than the binding. Do you know what his rationale is by doing it in this way ?
 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
Florian has done some additional ambering on...

...the headstock...

PWJHnjY.jpg


...the binding...

5IvDRYh.jpg


...and the entire instrument.

uHh28Rw.jpg


The bronze powder and the royalite react differently to the ambering process. The bronze powder, for example, oxidizes to a very quite strong warm ambered gold, whereas the royalite binding is ambers much less so. This also creates a very pleasing and authentic contrast to the gold top. If you did not amber them separately, you wouldn't end up with results that compare favourably to the originals.

It is all in the details...
 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
Here you can see Florian applying a clear coat. Now you know what the "magic chair" is all about :jim

 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
…orange peel after clearcoating...

bUfEmac.jpg


…further sanding; the deep pores of the mahogany become visible…

kJevIpS.jpg


….and disappear the more the surface is sanded…

el28tvm.jpg


…until the following clearcoat - just - closes the pores and gives a perfectly smooth surface….

rUzUev7.jpg
 

Minibucker

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2003
Messages
6,372
Maybe that's leaving his signature...as....a master sprayer....or something....
 

Shokry

New member
Joined
Apr 3, 2017
Messages
9
:laugh2:
Here you can see Florian applying a clear coat. Now you know what the "magic chair" is all about :jim


Wow! that’s a very rare glimpse into Florian’s painting booth! Very cool that he shares this :salude
 

djcmusician

Active member
Joined
Apr 29, 2015
Messages
263
Just FYI, on the first page of this thread, you posted a photo of the neck removed from the body that clearly shows the full serial number. You might want to delete if you are concerned about people knowing the full number.

...my instrument has got her serial number back...

umAO93m.jpg
 

ununtrium

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
150
You are absolutely right. So here is full disclosure of the un-altered serial number ;-)

KpBLLR2.jpg


Just FYI, on the first page of this thread, you posted a photo of the neck removed from the body that clearly shows the full serial number. You might want to delete if you are concerned about people knowing the full number.
 
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