New Member, New Guitar, Ruined Lacquer

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mcspookster

Posts: 11
Joined: Dec. 22 2004

New Member, New Guitar, Ruined Lacquer

Hi.

I am new to these forums, so initially I'd like to say Hello!

Unfortunately I've been a bit stupid. I bought a Cashimira 105 which comes without Golpeadores, so obviously I needed to fit some. After applying, one of them had trapped air bubbles, and I had been told that a good way of removing these (wait for it) is to run a hair dryer over the problem area and rub...

It didn't work, and when I removed the plate I was pretty gutted to see grooves in the laquer underneath, where it had softened due to the heat and then rubbed with my nail. To be honest, you can only see it when the light catches it, and I am pretty sure the wood itself is ok, but as I've only had the guitar a month I'd like to sort it.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Mcspookster

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 9:23:27

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

Ouch.

Personally I would never dare try to to fit golpeadores myself for this reason.
Its fiddly, that adhesive is very strong and I always recommend getting a guitar tech/luthier to do it. Doesn't cost much and its worth it for peace of mind. Same thing happend to me several years ago, but the guitar only cost me 15 quid, not 800 quid!

Rather than risk making matters worse, my advice would be the same - take it to someone who can make a proper assessment of the damage and give you options.

Any chance you could upload some audio with that guitar? I've read some interesting things about it - built and signed by the luthier etc - sounds intriguing for a guitar in the intermediate price range.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 10:46:24

mcspookster

Posts: 11
Joined: Dec. 22 2004

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

Hi Jon - thanks for the advice. There is a shop called Sheehans near where I live - they don't do much in the way of Flamenco guitars but they have got a resident guitar repair bloke - I'll see what he thinks.

The Cashimira? Well, it's a beautiful guitar, no doubt. It's nicely put together, including the inside. The fingerboard is nice - very close-grained ebony - and the frets are finished well. It is a very light guitar. I have some Allesi machine heads on order (The Flamenco 3 model, with ebony buttons) as the original equipment is cheapish and doesn't do the guitar justice.

I also took the action down a bit - it was 5.0mm on both E strings at the 12th - this is probably an indication of the guitar's mid-rangeness...

Soundwise, it's hard to say at the moment as I'm still playing it in. I'm experimenting with strings - at the moment I'm on Savarez Alliance, which sound better than the Hannabachs I've just tried. Next it'll be La Bella. The sound has opened up nicely since I first got it, but you still have to dig in a lot to get it to shout. I'm sure the responsiveness will improve in the coming months. It really sings capoed at the 2nd fret, for some reason. The tone is even, and the top end is very nice - maybe a touch light on the bass, but again this could change over time.

All in all, I'm happy with it! I'll upload some audio when it has opened up a bit more - I have a pretty kick-ass recording set-up at home (and know how to use it) so I'm looking forward to recording this guitar.

All the best,

MCS

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 11:01:30

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

quote:

as I've only had the guitar a month I'd like to sort it.

Personally, I would live with it - it's all part of your story together and won't affect the sound. It will get dinged one way or another.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 15:14:18

mcspookster

Posts: 11
Joined: Dec. 22 2004

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

I know exactly what you're saying there, Escribano - I'm not overly precious about my guitars - I just wish that this particular blemish was due to something other than my own stupidity

Regular wear and tear forms part of a guitars character and history - but I would not describe this as "regular" and it still bugs me when I see those dents. Also, if I decided to sell the guitar it would probably devalue it.

I could get some of those thick white golpeadores...

MCS

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 15:20:51

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

quote:

it still bugs me when I see those dents

I know what you mean but one gets used to these blemishes, you even point them out to people who wouldn't normally notice them. Is it laquer or cellulose?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 15:27:16

mcspookster

Posts: 11
Joined: Dec. 22 2004

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

I believe it is lacquer - I've been trying to find out but failed. The finish doesn't look "dipped" though.

MCS

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 15:31:24

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

Cellulose is sprayed, I believe.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 15:33:34

mcspookster

Posts: 11
Joined: Dec. 22 2004

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

Yeah, but it usually ens up looking like the whole guitar has been dipped - sort of a sealed finish. The Cashimira doesn't look like that.

Could be cellulose though - I'm no expert!

MCS

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 15:35:39

Guest

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

If it was possible to take of the golpeador the way you described it, without completely ruining the guitar, Its cellulose or water based industrial laquer.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 16:06:49

mcspookster

Posts: 11
Joined: Dec. 22 2004

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to Guest)

OK, lets's assume it's either cellulose or water based lacquer - is this good news or bad news, in terms of a potential repair job?

MCS

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2005 16:25:40

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

quote:

could get some of those thick white golpeadores...

NEVER USE A THICK GOLPEADORE. Having said that I have to say that if you want to kill the sound of your guitar then by alll means use a thick golpeadore!

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Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 4 2005 23:46:18

duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

those thick ones are ugly.......HA!!!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 5 2005 5:56:46

Guest

RE: New Member, New Guitar, Ruined L... (in reply to mcspookster)

You can get white golpeadores (or fake pearl) which are not thick, and which are acoustically OK. I dont think they are ugly, just different. And they do give your look a nice gitano touch.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 5 2005 7:20:13