Treated guitars for Film/Video

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:17 pm

Used to work in the film business and worked on more than a fair share of music videos where guitars were sprayed down with dulling spray and sometimes even "Streaks & Tips" hair spray to make them look right to the camera.

99% of the time these guitars were rentals but still were the real deal and not cheap props.

Do you think there was any damage to the finishes by applying these types of sprays?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:27 pm

I used to work some in films, too, Jamie. The dulling sprays we used were a waxy substance in a quick-evaporating liquid. Probably ethyl alcohol, ether or Freon, neither of which would do much damage to a modern finish. But I'd think twice about spraying a priceless Martin or other varnish-finished or French-polished instrument with this stuff.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:15 am

I have an old 330 that was used in the 1972 movie Steel Yard Blues with Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. I lent them this as a new guitar (along with a Transonic amp) and when it was returned had been "aged". That consisted of dulling spray, rubbing dirt into the finish, and making the metal corrode. Let me tell you, that makes this guitar notable today only for its association with this movie!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:20 am

Bummer, John.... I hope they PAID you for the damage they did to your guitar!

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:38 am

We don't expect to be paid when we supply goods for this purpose but we would have been thankful if it had been a better and more acclaimed film. Besides, who else can say they have a guitar used by Hanoi Jane?

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:51 am

John: I am sure that this is only one of countless anecdotes, both humorous and serious, that I am hoping will be in your book Rickenbacker Sketches Of a Big Town.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:18 am

John, I assume you've seen the film. How would a shiny new Rick have looked amid all the rust and dust..not to mention lust?

Not defending the whole abuse thing, you understand...

I have had situations in the past when a show car returned from one show and had to be cosmetically overhauled in a couple of days before going out to the next. This would typically involve a repaint as well as at least a partial reupholster job.

Recently we sent out four handbuilt painted 1/5 scale clay models to use in a background shot for one of the so-called "reality" shows. They were carefully crated and shined to a fare-the-well.

We got 'em back a couple of weeks later, completely trashed. The production company did not bolt them back into their crates; just laid 'em in and as a result they rolled around like ball bearings in a shoebox. We filed a claim. Those things represented about 300 hours' of student work per model.

Movie and TV crews "get it" least of all.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:41 am

That's because they so rarely come into contact with "The Bricks and Mortar World"...

That's The Bottom Line, At The End Of The Day...IMHO...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:24 pm

Paul: You said "ball bearing".... I had an old guy virtually bash me around the ears earlier this week for using that term when what I was actually talking about were bearing balls!!

He made it clear in no uncertain terms that a 'ball bearing' is the entire package, not the balls that form part of it.

I'm still gonna call them 'ball bearings', though.......

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:25 pm

In the final analysis.........

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:34 pm

I don't see why they shouldn't just be referred to as 'balls'...and technically, Howard, 'ball bearings' would roll around in a box, too...as I'm sure Paul would point out if he were here at the moment.

Let me also just point out that the phrase "the entire package, not the balls that form part of it" could get you into trouble on this side of the Pacific, depending on the context...

ATEOTD...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:54 pm

Yep........ same on this side. I must read my intended posts more closely before I hit the button. That's twice recently where my posts are seriously up for interpretation!!

What? Paul's not here? Guess he's out the back 'curmudgeonin'...... or taking the good lady and daughter out for a well deserved 'night on the town'!

The ball bearings would more than likely end up on their sides and slide, Dane. Unless they were cone bearings, of course!! (smiley declined)

WAISAD...

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:05 pm

More will be S than D, that's for sure...

I need to get out back and do a bit of curmudgeoning as well...I'll never get beyond Apprentice standing if I don't put my hours in. Maybe next week for a night on the town for us...it's a case of not enough 'scratch', Aitch...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:34 pm

In my case it's more a motivation thing, Dane!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:45 pm

Ain't curmudgeoning, just in meetings all afternoon--a rare occurrence for me.

I stand by my balls.