How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

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Michael Baresi
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How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Michael Baresi »

I've got this Victoria Parlor guitar. Estimate 1920's
When I bought it there was an oversize pickguard screwed to the top.
When I removed it I discovered the reason why.
Lots of tearout on the top from pick damage.
Lots of dirt too. I've already cleaned with naptha
Looking at the pictures I see that it looks much worse than it actually is. The damage is not as deep as it might appear.
To put it into perspective, hypothetically if I were to sand it down and refinish I could probably remove it all without thinning the top excessively.
Any suggestions on how to deal with this without refinishing?
thanks
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Peter Wilcox
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Peter Wilcox »

Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
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Mark Swanson
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Mark Swanson »

Don't try to sand it out. I would just clean it and do a little french polish over the top, done.
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Chuck Tweedy
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Chuck Tweedy »

Then cover the ugly with a new pick guard.
Likes to drink Rosewood Juice
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Michael Baresi
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Michael Baresi »

thanks guys
good one Peter
any suggestions for cleaning Mark?
Naptha didn't do much
and yes a pickguard will hide some ugly.
Joshua Levin-Epstein
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Joshua Levin-Epstein »

Frank Ford uses Deionized water for lifting off dirt. Check it at frets.com.
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Bryan Bear
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Bryan Bear »

I wouldn't sand that either. I'm with Mark on this one.
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Clay Schaeffer
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Some of those old parlors guitars had pretty thick tops. You might be able to lightly sand the dirt off the pick guard area (and slightly beyond it for blending) and then wipe a dilute solution of potassium permanganate over it to regain some of the patina (lost by sanding). It will likely be difficult to do so much sanding as to achieve a smooth flat top, and not sand thru the rosette or overly thin the top, but a light sanding to clear the dirt and eliminate the pick guard outline could work O.K.
Many of the better parlor guitars (Martin, etc.) had thin responsive tops and shouldn't have them sanded at all. Victoria, being a Regal product, might have a little extra wood. It would be good to measure the thickness of the top before deciding on a course of action.
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Mark Swanson
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Re: How Do I Repair Pick Damage to the Top?

Post by Mark Swanson »

I'd clean it with a little soapy water, and let it dry well. i have never tried Frank's Deionized water trick but he says it works well.
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