Guitar players only - can I get an opinion?

[WolfeMacleod]

Many of us, as we know, like to relic and aged thier guitars. Why, I'll never know for sure. But people pay big bucks for it...

I've been experimenting with a new aging technique since I get a lot of requests for it.. For those that have crusty vintage intruments or like "aged" guitars, what do you guys think of these? Aged to "crusty" level...

[schnellfahrer]

Thatīs actually a good idea. How do you do that?
Maybe I should consider new pickups for my Hofner 176.

[nostatic]

i'd have to see it in context. I'm a strat guy so I don't have much experience with crusty hubucker covers.

I did have a relic strat for awhile that I really liked. But it wasn't as nice as my "real" '65 or '58/'62 frankstrat. Then again, my '65 would cost me well north of $10K these days...

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by schnellfahrer

Thatīs actually a good idea. How do you do that?
Maybe I should consider new pickups for my Hofner 176.

Aging techniques in the guitar industryare a highly guarded secret. Took me years to figure out my first method using Muriadic acid, and months to perfect it.
This particular effect was requested of me a little over a month ago, and when I wasn't building, I was experimenting. Took a lot of experiment and parts destroying to get it right.

I am comfortable saying that it requires a lot of heat. Enough to cause second degree burns.

[MOMO3.2]

Dang Todd. Sometimes I feel like you are living my life--a 65 Strat!!!

I would have no business owning such a valuable instrument anyway.

I have settled on MIJ/CIJ Fenders. I have a current production CIJ Strat and a 1986 MIJ JD Telecaster that I really love. You know what they say, once you go MIJ...

Sorry about the hijack WolfeMacleod.

Mike

[Shuie]

I've never seen an old PAF cover that looked like that. Are those the DMC covers or RS? I've seen the RS turn black when exposed to moisture (sitting outside on a roof for several months), almost like they were carbon steel and had been dropped in a gun blueing tank. I kept a set of DMC's next my exercise bike for a few months wiping sweat on them every day, and while the oxidation came out great, I wasn't able to get the areas under the strings or the wear around the edges right without them being installed on a playable guitar. Sweat, grime, and time make old guitar parts look old. I have seen very few on hardware or finish relic jobs that were even halfway convincing in person. I know its not an option for a lot of people who either want the relic stuff or need to replace parts on old guitars, but the best way to age guitar parts is to play them for years

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Shuie

I've never seen an old PAF cover that looked like that. Sweat and grime make old guitar parts look old. I have seen very few on hardware or finish relic jobs that were even halfway convincing in person.

Shuie, I know what you mean. It's diffcult to get soemthing that looks spot on, although one of my dealers tells me my chem-free technique is pretty dang close without the "grime"
Ya know those DMC v.2 covers that people on the LPF are raging about?
This is nearly identical. In fact, here's one...top cover...
Bottom cover was my first attempt at this style...

I've seen them like this, but they're heavily abused...

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

Dang Todd. Sometimes I feel like you are living my life--a 65 Strat!!!

oh, the '65 is long gone. I traded it plus some cash for a frankenstrat...'58 neck on a '62 body. Amazing guitar until a guitar tech ruined the spine of the neck with a staple that was sticking up in his neck rest stand.

The relic I had was a "60's" made in around '97. Was a medium aging and after I put Lindy Fralins in it and got a setup it was a sweet guitar. Can't find any pics of it at the moment. These days I have a Warmouth parts guitar that I built using the Fralins I took out of the Fender before I sold it.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by nostatic

These days I have a Warmouth parts guitar.

Worked there back in '96/97. Good place, though most of the knowlegable people there started up a place called USA Custom. Great place...