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Thread: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

  1. #26
    Ursus Mandolinus Fretbear's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    I forget who the quote was by, but a musician was on the same bill as Elvis in the 50's and had a brand new guitar. Elvis asked to borrow it for his performance, played it and returned to him all scratched up with 3 strings broken...
    When Charlie Derrington was piecing back together the splinters of Monroe's Pokered Loar, Charlie kindly offered Bill his own Pristine Loar to play in the meantime.
    Monroe gave it back with a coffee-mug sized chunk of finish ground off of the back from one of his spiky "Bluegrass Boys" belt buckles...
    But Amsterdam was always good for grieving
    And London never fails to leave me blue
    And Paris never was my kinda town
    So I walked around with the Ft. Worth Blues

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  3. #27
    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Yehudi Menuhin suggested that you never grab your Strad at the body, but only at the neck. I like that.

  4. #28
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Speaking of violins there is a centuries old tradition of relic-ing. I have a friend who is one of the top violin makers in the world and he originally made his reputation from copying famous instruments as close to the original as possible. He has built “beach violins” for famous players down to practically the molecular level copying wood grain and various wear patterns from the original.

    And there are thousands of factory fiddles out there built to look older.
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  6. #29
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    To start I'll say to each their own. It's your instrument, so if having it look distressed is to your liking, and you are willing to pay for it, so be it.
    Long ago I got in the habit of returning my instruments to their cases when not being played. Always, no matter if at home or at a festival or after playing on stage. I have a 30 year old Taylor 810 that is my go to guitar and its been played a lot! But still in almost new condition. That's the way I like my toys to look.
    In buying a new instrument I would much prefer the maker spend his time and skill (and my final cost) building as good an instrument as possible. And that means, to me, a great sound and great finished product. A new instrument that is made to look used, at an additional cost, just doesn't make sense to me.
    But again, to each their own.

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  8. #30
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by CES View Post
    My tele is missing a chunk of lacquer from a strap failure once when I had music in one hand and a drink in another...caught it on the first bounce and didn't spill the drink
    Teles don’t count in this discussion. Teles don’t even SOUND RIGHT until the have a few chips, dings, scrapes, and scratches.

    Strats, and good God Les Pauls & 335s, you cherish and protect them with your life. Teles? They’re like Diniro in Raging Bull. They can take it and keep on coming.

  9. #31
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Speaking of violins there is a centuries old tradition of relic-ing. I have a friend who is one of the top violin makers in the world and he originally made his reputation from copying famous instruments as close to the original as possible. He has built “beach violins” for famous players down to practically the molecular level copying wood grain and various wear patterns from the original.

    And there are thousands of factory fiddles out there built to look older.
    Jim, that would be "bench copies" not beach violins.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  10. #32
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    An example of over the top distressing (IMO) just hit the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/193065#193065

    NFI... in fact no interest what so ever.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  11. #33
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Hendrik Ahrend View Post
    Yehudi Menuhin suggested that you never grab your Strad at the body, but only at the neck. I like that.
    If you mean at the base of the neck where it connects to the body, I agree, as I was taught that. And I handle all fiddles, mandolins, and guitars, mine or yours, the same way.
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  12. #34
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    An example of over the top distressing (IMO) just hit the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/193065#193065

    .
    Over the top, but not, unfortunately, unrealistic.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  13. #35
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    My main mando gets played every day and gigged once or twice a week - for going on 15 years now - last month someone commented on how lovely and shiny and new looking it was - the finish BTW is just good old shellac, nothing super-hard. When you look close there is in point of fact some scuffing of the finish on the top (under my arm), and on the back (where it rubs against me), but nothing to worry about. I do keep it in it's case when not in use, and yes look after it, but hardly obsessively so. And yes, if I ever wear through the finish I'll be reaching straight for some fresh shellac and polish it over and make good again.

    On the other hand, I recently repaired a 50's Supro guitar that was super-distressed, all from use. It did actually look way cool, but I don't think I could ever force myself to make a new instrument look that way!

  14. #36
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    Over the top, but not, unfortunately, unrealistic.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Pickguard anyone?

  15. #37
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    "Whole lotta' nuthin'...."
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  16. #38
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Tavy View Post
    Pickguard anyone?
    The story is that someone early on told Andy Statman to remove the pickguard, but years later in conversation with Andy, denied it. Something like that. In some versions of this story it is David Grisman told him. The truth is likely a whole lot less interesting than the story.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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    funny....

  17. #39

    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    It always seems to me that everyone who likes distressed mandos simply likes the look, but that there is a vocal contingent of folks who hate it so much, for some reason, that they always make it known how stupid they think it is.

  18. #40
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    It always seems to me that everyone who likes distressed mandos simply likes the look, but that there is a vocal contingent of folks who hate it so much, for some reason, that they always make it known how stupid they think it is.
    I think that we can say that (surprise!) different people have different opinions.

    Now, back to the OP question:

    My question is, is the distressed look what most people's instruments look like?
    Different people will distress instruments in different ways. Even the extreme examples - Andy Statman and Bill Monroe - did not distress their instruments in the same way. Meanwhile, many instruments of the same vintage look way less distressed. So, it depends...

    Kirk

  19. #41

    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by NotACreativeName View Post
    It always seems to me that everyone who likes distressed mandos simply likes the look, but that there is a vocal contingent of folks who hate it so much, for some reason, that they always make it known how stupid they think it is.
    Yep, it's a forum! It's cheaper than therapy and I already know all the answers cause we've discussed all these topics to death....

    Did that come out right? Like I say, therapy...

  20. #42
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Intentional "distressing" is a silly affectation.
    Just my opinion.

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  22. #43
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Aurora View Post
    Trigger has been repaired, reinforced and worn through again.
    … and again, and again …

    I suppose some could say Willie neglects his guitar, and some would disagree and say it’s a case of honest wear from a man who has worn his tool pretty much to a nub, but loves it and flat refuses to switch to a new tool. Like so many things in life, it’s probably a matter of perspective … and someone else’s business and personal choice IMO
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  24. #44
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    An example of over the top distressing (IMO) just hit the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/193065#193065

    NFI... in fact no interest what so ever.
    " $9000 plus the up charge for distressment." hahahahahahahaha
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  25. #45
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    This whole conversation distresses me!
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  27. #46
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Wrinkles, bald spots, gray hair.....happens to a lot of us.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  28. #47
    Registered User Denis Kearns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    My playing style is such that I don’t scratch the face of my instruments, but years of fingerpicking on my Guild D55 guitar has worn the finish off the back of the neck in spots. The only other major damage is a t-shaped scratch on the back, early in its life, when a girlfriend accidentally hit it on the edge of the couch. She was mortified, but it was not deliberate, so not a big deal. I always think fondly of her when I see it.

    When I look at the scars on some of my older mandolins, it does make me wonder about previous owners’ picking styles. To generate similar scratches, I’d have to be really wailing on the instrument, maybe drunk, or both! Also makes me wonder what kind of music the mandolin had been a part of.

    I had one guitar that looked like it had been in a bar fight, but played and sounded great. Ended up giving it to a friend who had lost his. Still play it when I visit.

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  30. #48
    Registered User haggardphunk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    I clean my D-18 regularly but the finish is getting 'uncleanable' in two spots. On the back where my belly contacts it and on the top where my arm hangs over it. From ten feet away it looks amazing still but if you get up close it's definitely getting worn.
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  31. #49
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    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Mike Marshall's Loar looks like he dragged a belt sander over it, but that box had seen a lot of stages and a lot of tunes played out of it. as Keith Rogers stated is is mostly gigging that "injures" instruments, hence I tend to keep a "stage" mandolin with the expectation that it will probably incur some cosmetic damage, but at the same time the tone should mature over all that "vibration". I do enough damage to my instruments that distressing comes cheap. There is the story of Frank Wakefield baking his Loar in the oven and then forgetting that he did that and "over distressing it".
    We know distressing changes the "look" of an instrument, and I fully understand that the "look" genuine or not is very important to some performers. My question is Does distressing an instrument improve tone and play ability? I honestly don't know.
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  32. #50

    Default Re: Distressed Mandolin and Regular Playing

    Quote Originally Posted by tmsweeney View Post
    My question is Does distressing an instrument improve tone and play ability? I honestly don't know.
    It can be concluded that only "honestly" acquired distressing through years of vibrating (mileage) on the box can improve the tone and playability(?) of the instrument. "Artificially" distressing a new instrument doesn't quite cut it on the "odometer" of the mandolin imho.

    Len B.
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