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tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
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7,799
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Illinois
I was considering that - I was going to ask Does the wood age somehow? Does age change its tone? Almost like a "curing". Interesting. The violin people would know about that I guess.
Everything in the guitar needs to cure. Playing the instrument helps in the creation of the tone over time. Makers and players are well aware of this process.

This is called the aging process. It has been well researched in the Violin market.
 

KBlake

One Too Many
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1,866
Is Dena still taking alterations jobs? Anyone have contact info? I have a leather jacket I want to shorten.
 

Marc mndt

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7,444
Is Dena still taking alterations jobs? Anyone have contact info? I have a leather jacket I want to shorten.
Please take my advice and forget about shortening your jacket. It's going to cost you a lot of money, not only because of the alteration itself but also because you'll end up with a butchered jacket that you won't be able to sell. A total write off.

Shortening jackets is tricky because you're messing with the overall proportions. It may only yield positive results on long halfbelt or long cafe racer styles.

IMG_6927.jpeg
IMG_6928.jpeg
IMG_6929.jpeg
 

KBlake

One Too Many
Messages
1,866
Please take my advice and forget about shortening your jacket. It's going to cost you a lot of money, not only because of the alteration itself but also because you'll end up with a butchered jacket that you won't be able to sell. A total write off.

Shortening jackets is tricky because you're messing with the overall proportions. It may only yield positive results on long halfbelt or long cafe racer styles.

View attachment 650070 View attachment 650071 View attachment 650072
Ok, advice taken. Thank you. Although it seems to me the front just has 2 extra inches of material at the bottom and proportions won’t suffer.
IMG_3563.jpeg
 
Last edited:

torfjord

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,835
Location
Sweden
Curious, how would you guys suggest I tackle these water stains?!

This is a tan vegetable tanned leather from Double Helix, and for whatever reason it is super sensitive to liquids. Some water dripped down the lapel over the weekend and left a noticeable stain, so I tried wiping the area in hopes of blending it in. The result is what you see in the photos below.

Obviously it’s not the prettiest fix but I’m not sure where to go from here. Should I just wipe down the entire jacket hoping for a better blend or should I maybe apply a product to it to make it more waterproof?! If so, suggestions on what I should use?

Just wipe down the whole jacket with water.
 

Marc mndt

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,444
Although it seems to me the front just has 2 extra inches of material at the bottom and proportions won’t suffer.

You’ll ruin the proportions in the back since the half belt is already kind of low.

Exactly what Jeo said. The front is not the issue, 3" less front length would look much better imo. The back is the issue as the kidney panel (spacing between the halfbelt and the hem) needs to stay in proportion.

Theoretically you could remove a strip above the halfbelt and use the excess leather for side adjusters lol. But I really think it's too much trouble / too risky.

IMG_6984.jpeg
 

KBlake

One Too Many
Messages
1,866
Exactly what Jeo said. The front is not the issue, 3" less front length would look much better imo. The back is the issue as the kidney panel (spacing between the halfbelt and the hem) needs to stay in proportion.

Theoretically you could remove a strip above the halfbelt and use the excess leather for side adjusters lol. But I really think it's too much trouble / too risky.

View attachment 650168
But I wouldn’t have them touch the back.
 

KBlake

One Too Many
Messages
1,866
you can curve the kidney panel , and also don't cut the front flat, but rather curve the front drop also, so the zipper remains untouched, basically give it a shirt hemline style
Do you think the resulting shape would suit the jacket well or be a nightmare? lol
 

Canuck Panda

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Messages
4,817
The scope of the alteration work would include:
1) remove and shorten front zipper and re-install front zipper
2) shorten front panels
3) shorten back "middle" panel, keeping the bottom panels the same.
It depends on how the tailor wants to charge but it'll be between $250 to $400 (if he wants to charge the full zipper prices which can be $150 on its own, shortening torso and sleeves is usually under 250. You are only shortening the body, a step more than usual with the middle panel, but maybe your tailor can throw in the zipper labor for free.)
4) shorten lining accordingly.

The stock version doesn't look too bad to be honest. For untucked shirts I think it's just fine.

Image1.jpg
 

KBlake

One Too Many
Messages
1,866
The scope of the alteration work would include:
1) remove and shorten front zipper and re-install front zipper
2) shorten front panels
3) shorten back "middle" panel, keeping the bottom panels the same.
It depends on how the tailor wants to charge but it'll be between $250 to $400 (if he wants to charge the full zipper prices which can be $150 on its own, shortening torso and sleeves is usually under 250. You are only shortening the body, a step more than usual with the middle panel, but maybe your tailor can throw in the zipper labor for free.)
4) shorten lining accordingly.

The stock version doesn't look too bad to be honest. For untucked shirts I think it's just fine.

View attachment 650643
Thank you, the end result looks perfect but seems like a lot for an already expensive jacket. I'll see how it looks with untucked shirts first. I don't think curving it in front and back will achieve what I want. What you show above is ideal.
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,817
Thank you, the end result looks perfect but seems like a lot for an already expensive jacket. I'll see how it looks with untucked shirts first. I don't think curving it in front and back will achieve what I want. What you show above is ideal.
I think with untucked shirt it will be just fine. It has the double ended zipper and should function well when all zipped up too.
 
Messages
17,556
Location
Chicago
The scope of the alteration work would include:
1) remove and shorten front zipper and re-install front zipper
2) shorten front panels
3) shorten back "middle" panel, keeping the bottom panels the same.
It depends on how the tailor wants to charge but it'll be between $250 to $400 (if he wants to charge the full zipper prices which can be $150 on its own, shortening torso and sleeves is usually under 250. You are only shortening the body, a step more than usual with the middle panel, but maybe your tailor can throw in the zipper labor for free.)
4) shorten lining accordingly.

The stock version doesn't look too bad to be honest. For untucked shirts I think it's just fine.

View attachment 650643
Dena would charge at least double that. I have paid her north of $500 for smaller jobs. She ain't cheap. I also don't believe she would take on this orgasm of stupidity. I'm all for altering a jacket but this is a thoroughly bad idea in every concievable way. The proportions will be murdered. I kinda hope he does it TBH.
 

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