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Patching up a dropped and cracked/dented drs1 and had to sand down to wood in some areas. What is the best way to go about matching Martin's matte finish? Like the d15 d15m series.

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

Matte/Satin finishes do not touch up very well. Due to no level and buff there will always be a line at the edge of the new material.It is best to refinish the entire panel if you are concerned about how it will look afterwards.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I'm not all that concerned about it looking new. I paid very little for it and wanted to be a personal "beater" guitar. Based on what you said, I guess my question should be revised... what kind of finish will be compatible with the Martin finish so that there is not bare wood exposed?

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

Some stain to match color if you can, and bit of lacquer with a light super fine steel wool rubdown - should be what you need here.

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Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
FRETS.NET

I find these to be one of the easiest finishes to get 'passable' touchup on ("passable" meaning appropriate invenstment/results for guitars in this price range). Glue, smooth and level, stain to match color. Spray on 3-4 moderate coats from a StewMac satin clear rattle can, wait a day or two, and scuff back with ScotchBrite or steel wool. Then mist with another 2-3 very light dustings of the satin clear, and you're done.

The viscosity and atomization from the StewMac satin clear cans yields a surface so close to the original if you mist lightly from a distance, that I rarely find it worth the time of setting up and cleaning my guns for something like this. If you can match the color well enough and smooth the surface before spraying, you can get close enough that no one will notice if they're not looking for it.

I glued up a Martin headstock on Monday that came in bouncing around loose in the case. Had probably an hour total labor in to repairing the headstock and touchup. Customer picked it up on Friday and couldn't even find the crack or the touchup when they were staring right at it.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Thanks to everyone. That seems easy enough. I'll give it a try!

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma