Current project: scratched/brush finish on Yamaha 354
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:15 pm
A guy was offloading a bundle of horns for $50 - a Yamaha 354 with a pretty dented slide but otherwise decent condition, and 2 Bundys (one with a horrible mangled bell but a GREAT slide, maybe one of the best I've owned, lol, and the other in okay condition with a fairly scratchy slide and some leaks somewhere.)
I've been looking for a 354 to do this mod to as I'm playing a 200AD right now (obviously a compatible model), and financially it's not in the cards to splurge on a sweet horn, so I'm bridging the gap by taking a horn that I already love and making it a little more "custom".
Gotta polish up this edge before lacquer though It holds up pretty well under scrutiny if I do say so! There's an upper limit to what's realistic, what's necessary, and how far I'm willing to go. I think most of the defects won't go noticed by the casual onlooker.
I spent a long time trying to pull the lacquer with both Klean Strip and Citri-Strip. Many hours of hand-sanding with a Scortch-Brite and some 400 grit later, and I think I finally got the brushed look I want. No pics of the tuning slide here, but the look carries through. I wonder if it will stay as bright under lacquer or if it will eventually darken.
Some before shots Gonna be doing Minwax gloss lacquer tomorrow. Hopefully my experience finishing guitars and furniture will be advantageous.... we'll see. Jury's still out on what I'll do with the Bundys, but next time I come across a cheap 354, I think I want to do something that looks like the Schagerl Kissbone in black and gold (kinda like what Burgerbob did)
I've been looking for a 354 to do this mod to as I'm playing a 200AD right now (obviously a compatible model), and financially it's not in the cards to splurge on a sweet horn, so I'm bridging the gap by taking a horn that I already love and making it a little more "custom".
Gotta polish up this edge before lacquer though It holds up pretty well under scrutiny if I do say so! There's an upper limit to what's realistic, what's necessary, and how far I'm willing to go. I think most of the defects won't go noticed by the casual onlooker.
I spent a long time trying to pull the lacquer with both Klean Strip and Citri-Strip. Many hours of hand-sanding with a Scortch-Brite and some 400 grit later, and I think I finally got the brushed look I want. No pics of the tuning slide here, but the look carries through. I wonder if it will stay as bright under lacquer or if it will eventually darken.
Some before shots Gonna be doing Minwax gloss lacquer tomorrow. Hopefully my experience finishing guitars and furniture will be advantageous.... we'll see. Jury's still out on what I'll do with the Bundys, but next time I come across a cheap 354, I think I want to do something that looks like the Schagerl Kissbone in black and gold (kinda like what Burgerbob did)