Restoring a Gibson peghead logo with a frisket

Somebody stripped the peghead of this 1957 Gibson J-50 to bare wood. Restoring it means replicating the original logo. Dan Erlewine’s got a neat tip for spraying a factory-quality logo.

Special thanks for the music by our friend Dakota Dave Hull!

Low Tack Protective Tape

ColorTone Metallic Aerosol Guitar Lacquer, Antique Gold

ColorTone Aerosol Finishing Kit

Zinsser Clear Aerosol Shellac

Razor Knife

Behlen Naphtha Solvent

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[Mr._Random]

This guy always does everything textbook perfect, by the book, with all the right tools

[johnanderson]

I was a signwriter for 30 years, have lettered and gilded most surfaces including guitars. In this instance you did everything correct except the stencil was cut from the wrong material. The vinyl mask softened from the cellulose content in the spray can, that is all that happened. In the future make sure you get a sign company to make the stencils from Applimask vinyl.

[Geratian]

1:49 " I'm gonna put the body in a garbage bag " :D

[JL-qmyk]

1:55 "Luthiers Garbage Bags 59.99"

[hugh-johnfleming]

Without having seen a moment of this presentation I confess I tuned in just to learn what a "frisket" is.

[mcopado]

I love watching you work, Dan... I could watch and all day live stream of you working on an instrument, and I'd be totally at peace. And learn a ton of tips along the way.

[jrsmoots]

Glad you kept filming, even with the residue. Fixing problems is one the reasons I like this channel so much. Cheers!

[jonmcconkey]

I'm starting my own repair company in southern Oregon thanks to your teachings and I want to say thanks for being an inspiration to me! I watch your videos more than anything else.

[cliberg]

This guy is TOO cool. Really dig the vids!

[davidnuckols]

That is very cool Dan. Thanks for the tip.

[J__C__]

Thank you for not editing that part out somehow and/or not scrapping the video entirely. That's just the type of random stuff that people run into, so it's nice to see it happen to a professional and also to see what their solution is. 👍🤙🤘

[thomasstogner]

Mr. Erlewine you're a living legend! I just bought your book and have been watching all of your videos. They've given me the confidence to tackle things I'd otherwise have brought into the guitar shop. Thank you immensely.

[openg]

Thank you so much for showing the mistake and the recovery. It's incredibly reassuring to see a guy like you go through that process.

[destroythehuman]

I really nice to see accidents like the residue happen on camera because it just goes to show anyone can make a mistake.. a lot of people doing creative and restorative jobs get really beat up over making a mistake, so to see someone I admire make mistakes is really reassuring. Thanks :)

[GIBKEL]

You may have thought this was dog of a video but what better lesson than showing us how repairs actually go-fraught with the unknown and unplanned for. We need more videos like these as failures are the greatest teachers we ever encounter.

[onpsxmember]

I'd love to have Dan as my neighbour. The kind where your wife calls his house to ask when you'll come home.
Nice work. If it was too shiny, it wouldn't fit to the 50ies Guitar.
White would've looked nice too.

[newriver]

I have airbrushed motorcycles for awhile, ya just need to ask for a low tack backing, trust me, been there, did it. Very nice save btw and beautiful work.

[VictorRochaGaming]

I could watch Dan all day long. Sometimes, I do. Thanks for the wonderful videos.

[alansauer]

Always a great lesson from Dan.I watch every one of your videos. Never disappointed.

[craigusselman]

I love the Gibson logo and once the residue came off that looked sooo good.