Hi Everyone,
here's a post about guitars for a change!!
I've seen quite a few flood-damaged guitars - some are fixable and will be fine, and some won't.
But there is another issue with prolonged wet weather, and that is that some guitars will get moldy.
It's a weird thing - for example I have about 10 guitars stored in a wardrobe, all are in their cases, and some are covered in mold and others are totally clean. They are all old guitars that are finished in lacquer. I have no idea why some would get moldy and others wouldn't. I can only be something about previous handling or storage.
Most guitars these days are finished in either polyester or polyurethane, both of which are inert and will simply wipe clean.
Older, or higher quality, guitars are usually finished in lacquer (usually nitro-cellulose) and although it is a better finish in most respects it is also volatile and will react to most things that it come into contact with.
Mold is one of these things. If you have a lacquer finished-guitar (such as a Gibson, Martin , Guild etc.) and it is covered in mold, you will notice that the mold has marked the finish slightly. This won't wipe off, but can be cut-and-polished away.
The best gentle cutting compound that I've ever found for nitro-cellulose lacquer is, believe it or not, Brasso!!! I have used it for years (decades) to cut and polish the finish on guitars that I have made or restored using nitro-cellulose. It also cleans away mold discolouration (and it has a tiny bit of ammonia in the solution, which should kill the mold spores. It has NO negative affect on the lacquer.
So that's hopefully a decent tip for some of you!
If you have a guitar that HAS been flood-damaged then please call me about it. Some will be fixable, and there is no charge for assessment and quote.
Back soon!!!
Andrew
