Touching in scratches

[Peter Koyander]

I guess it means that when somebody has a Bohemian styled bass and a label that says "Made in ..." its perhaps easier to put a date on it by virtue of the political regime in power at the time.

Anyhow thanks for info - I have sourced some colouring-in pens!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Peter Koyander

I guess it means that when somebody has a Bohemian styled bass and a label that says "Made in ..." its perhaps easier to put a date on it by virtue of the political regime in power at the time.

Anyhow thanks for info - I have sourced some colouring-in pens!

These are the ones I use, introduced to them by Arnold Schnitzer, Luthier, Builder.

Also, yes, you can get in general a time period by the politics but not always. If the bass was made earlier and exported later new or used, the 'made in' period is just when it was shipped out. I have such a bass now, my Uebel (Oobal). It has some old German label(s) inside from a repair or two from the late 19th or early 20th century that post date the making of the bass. We believe this bass came over used and got a sticker in it for Customs Duty reasons. That's my opinion on it because the repair label is hard to make out as it's faded and torn. I don't have the bass here so I forget how many labels are in there.

[Matthew Tucker]

nowadays I just touch in scratches with tinted shellac. I make up a few different shades, and clear, really thick (let the alcohol evaporate off till it's soupy), and keep them in those yellow lidded wee sample jars from the chemist.

Then I layer them with a good quality fine filbert brush until i match the shade and opacity i need. it takes a while to get good at it. i'm getting better.

I find a black shade is really useful, to darken without adding colour, as is one mixed with an ochre earth pigment to give some opacity. You need to look really closely at the varnish (with a loupe) to work out how to match it. A sprayed varnish is often speckled, and no matter how much you try to match it with painted on shellac colours, it just doesn't work! Oh and tint the bare wood if necessary first with a texta or strong tea or whatnot.

[Peter Koyander]

Thanks matthew - makes perfect sense and some really useful tips. Hows that fantastic restoration project coming on? - what a great thread!

[Matthew Tucker]

its a slow project. i'm now having to concentrate my limited time on a new build.