Purpose of flocking ?

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 12 Apr 2007 11:41 am

I have owned numerous guitars. Some were flocked and some were not. Was the flocking to deaden the sound of mechanical things or what ? Just curious...

Old Bud

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 12 Apr 2007 11:55 am

Willis, good question! I've often wondered that myself. My favorite guitars (from this angle) are the Sho-Buds where when you turn it over you're looking at natural-finished birdseye maple.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Apr 2007 12:29 pm

Bud, I was told by Ron Lashley, in 1972, that was the reason they flocked the Emnmons.

Who knows, maybe that contributed to the old PP sound???

Colby Tipton · Post by **Colby Tipton** » 12 Apr 2007 12:38 pm

Every Sho Bud I had was floked. It was like vinyl roofs on a car.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Apr 2007 12:47 pm

New flocking covers up cosmetic issues, like old screw holes.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 12 Apr 2007 4:20 pm

I got a brand new MCI Rangexpander in 1986 which had black flocking underneath ...it sounded brilliant - perhaps it helps ? or perhaps it's just cosmetic?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 12 Apr 2007 4:51 pm

I have two Sho-Bud Crossovers, two Harlin Multi-Kords and a Carter and none of them is flocked.

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 12 Apr 2007 5:13 pm

My LaGarritt is flocked. It was my understanding it is there to cut down on noise transfer from the undercarriage movements.

Either way it doesn't bother me. My flocking is like a black felt material. It looks real nice & I love my LaGarritt.

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 12 Apr 2007 5:46 pm

Leon filled all the old holes with dowels, and flocked the bottom, still sounds good as a shobud should. And looks good 2.

ernie

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 12 Apr 2007 7:13 pm

I don't know what the flock it's for.

(Well, sombody had to say it!)

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 12 Apr 2007 7:48 pm

Jim, make like a shepherd, and get the flock out of here!

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 12 Apr 2007 7:58 pm

The natural finish on the bottom looks good.Till it gets oily and dirty.I've had several high dollar guitars that had a painted bottom.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 12 Apr 2007 8:19 pm

So all of us flocking players can be distinguished from the ones that don't give (or get) a flock...

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 13 Apr 2007 2:02 am

I always though the "purpose of flocking" was to make blaybies, but I've been told that some pleople do it for flun....

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 13 Apr 2007 4:06 am

I apologize to the Forum for what I started.

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 13 Apr 2007 4:22 am

I think we can all get together & forgive Jim for what he started, right?

Ernie Pollock
http://www.hereitown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

PS: Jim one of your Buddies paid me a visit the other day!!

Allan Thompson · Post by **Allan Thompson** » 13 Apr 2007 10:56 am

To save the sheep getting lonely !!!!!!

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 14 Apr 2007 9:49 am

This is for the last eight pickers who posted on this thread....GO TO THE WOOD SHED FOR EIGHT HOURS! ! !

Old Bud

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 14 Apr 2007 11:11 am

I truly believe the flocking underneath helps to reduce undercarriage noise. Nick

Dennis Schell · Post by **Dennis Schell** » 14 Apr 2007 11:48 am

Michael Douchette wrote:So all of us flocking players can be distinguished from the ones that don't give (or get) a flock...

Michael, you're too much!

Dennis

(Who's axe has no "flocking flocking" underneath, just black paint....)

Danny Hullihen · Post by **Danny Hullihen** » 15 Apr 2007 4:37 am

Bud, to get back on track to your question here, the flocking you see under some guitars serves no purpose with regards to rods clanging, or other mechanical noises. If the guitar is making clanging noises, you will hear that just as much whether there is flocking material under the guitar or not. Flocking material is a very fine powder substance that is usually applied over wet paint. Emmons had a process where they used a vacum cleaner to apply the flocking which resulted in a very smooth finish, very similar to what you might see in jewlery boxes. It's real purpose is truly cosmetic, and has nothing to do with the guitars tone, or any ability to deaden rod noises. If rod noises are an issue, most builders will use a small piece of soft foam to separate the rods from contacting each other.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 15 Apr 2007 7:38 am

Stupid question - WHAT flocking? None of the steels I've owned had anything I would call flocking (which is to me the stuff they spray on Christmas trees).

Can anyone post a picture so I'll have a clue what this is about? Thanks -

Ward Skinner · Post by **Ward Skinner** » 15 Apr 2007 7:46 am

Willis, thanks for posting that question, I had been thinking of asking the same thing. And Danny, thanks for answering.

By definition, flocking is decorative and that's what I thought it was, but then, there could be another reason for all I know. Not unreasonable to think flocking could influence the resonance of the guitar.

Ward Skinner · Post by **Ward Skinner** » 15 Apr 2007 7:55 am

Jim, go to Duanes Music and look at the pictures of the MSA he had for sale, you will see the flocking on the one upskirt pic.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Apr 2007 9:06 am

JayDee Maness and Mike Cass both instructed me on the technique of home flocking. The secret is in the application of the paint.

Use a slow drying paint like Rustoleum, and get as even a coat as possible. Then, with newspaper under the guitar, apply the flocking material. Just sprinkle it on there, liberally and all over. Let it set for a few minutes, then carefully turn the guitar over the newspaper and the flocking powder not adhering to the paint will fall off, leaving a nice coating on the undercarriage of the guitar. The excess can be saved and used for future projects. After drying, carefully clean or ream out the holes that the crossbars fit in, and the screw holes that may have gotten covered or filled.

Three caveats: 1) do this job in the garage and not near the nice white carpeting on your living room floor, unless you're planning divorce in the near future; 2) have a vacuum cleaner or DustBuster handy; and 3) remove all the metal undercarriage parts from the guitar before attempting this project.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Purpose of flocking ?

Purpose of flocking ?

yes or no

Humm?