How to relic a guitar

How to relic a guitar

Hi, I really like the relic guitars that are popular at the moment, but
because they cost a small fortune I thought I might have a go at doing one
myself. I was wondering if anyone has had a go and if they could give me
some tips. The guitar i am going to use is a cheap Telecaster.

The 2 main things I am interested in is firstly, how to get the worn marks
on the neck to simulate fretting notes for many years.

Secondly, how to make the body look generally old (not just battered). I did
read that you can put the body in a freezer to give the varnish a lot of
very fine hairline cracks. The article warned not to over do it, but then
did not say how long to leave it in there for.

Any info would be gratefully received.

Many thanks, James

Re: How to relic a guitar

On Apr 21, 1:11 pm, "SW" <jamesjo...@dialstart,net > wrote:
> Hi, I really like the relic guitars that are popular at the moment, but
> because they cost a small fortune I thought I might have a go at doing one
> myself. I was wondering if anyone has had a go and if they could give me
> some tips. The guitar i am going to use is a cheap Telecaster.
>
> The 2 main things I am interested in is firstly, how to get the worn marks
> on the neck to simulate fretting notes for many years.
>
> Secondly, how to make the body look generally old (not just battered). I did
> read that you can put the body in a freezer to give the varnish a lot of
> very fine hairline cracks. The article warned not to over do it, but then
> did not say how long to leave it in there for.
>
> Any info would be gratefully received.
>
> Many thanks, James

1) Belt sander to the fret board and smear axel grease on it
2) Drag it behind a Pick Up Truck on a gravel road

How badly does one need to Not take care of there equipment to get it
to look like that I have no idea. I have a 35 year old Rickenbacker
bass that was played 6 night a week for 10 years and while the finish
is near gone on the back or the neck and it has a few door knob digs
on the body it still looks pretty good. My 3/12 year old Strat
( bought new) needed a full fret replacement cause I wore them off
playing it so much-> But it still looks virtually new.
--- So why not just take care off it as best you can and wear it out
naturally - ( or just be a Pozzer and make believe you play it alot)--
ed s.

Re: How to relic a guitar

Here is a DIY site for relicing guitars. Good luck

http :// relicdeluxe,com /default.asp

Re: How to relic a guitar

ed s wrote:
> 1) Belt sander to the fret board and smear axel grease on it
> 2) Drag it behind a Pick Up Truck on a gravel road

And some of those relic guys do exactly that.
Brown shoe polish, coffee, soy sauce are
popular "stains".

Watch that SRV video at Macambo and do what
he did to that strat. That'll probably help
relic it pretty quick.

Play really loud Dylan music into a guitar
amp right in front of the guitar. That'll
likely blister the paint. I don't know if
it will look natural or not.


Lumpy

In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com

Re: How to relic a guitar


"Lumpy" <lumpy@digitalcartography,com > wrote in message
news:674ermF2n88d6U1@mid.individual,net ...
> ed s wrote:
>> 1) Belt sander to the fret board and smear axel grease on it
>> 2) Drag it behind a Pick Up Truck on a gravel road
>
> And some of those relic guys do exactly that.
> Brown shoe polish, coffee, soy sauce are
> popular "stains".
>
> Watch that SRV video at Macambo and do what
> he did to that strat. That'll probably help
> relic it pretty quick.
>
> Play really loud Dylan music into a guitar
> amp right in front of the guitar. That'll
> likely blister the paint. I don't know if
> it will look natural or not.
>
>
> Lumpy
>

Just leave your guitar outside over the spring and summer and it should be a
relic by the fall.

Re: How to relic a guitar

> SW <jamesjohns@dialstart,net > wrote:

> Hi, I really like the relic guitars that are popular at the moment, but
> because they cost a small fortune I thought I might have a go at doing one
> myself. I was wondering if anyone has had a go and if they could give me
> some tips. The guitar i am going to use is a cheap Telecaster.
>
> The 2 main things I am interested in is firstly, how to get the worn marks
> on the neck to simulate fretting notes for many years.
>
> Secondly, how to make the body look generally old (not just battered). I did
> read that you can put the body in a freezer to give the varnish a lot of
> very fine hairline cracks. The article warned not to over do it, but then
> did not say how long to leave it in there for.
>
> Any info would be gratefully received.
>
> Many thanks, James

just gig with it. and don't put it in a hard case.
in fact for quick natural relic job - don't even put it
into one of those thin cheapie gig bags. Just toss it in
the car. Also - don't use a guitar stand - just lean it up
against things so it can fall over a lot. A real relic always
has neck dings too (not just body wear). Also - don;t wash your
hands at all - let the grime and dirt get all over the fretboard
and worn in. Then take the body and instead of wiping it down
with a soft cloth - just wipe it down with some 00 fine grit sandpaper.
It will clean and relic at the same time. Make sure to pay attention
to the areas where your arm naturally rubs against the finish.
Sandpaper them really nice. You'll get maximum gig wear in the
least amount of time. And if the guitar plays well - you might
keep it around for a long time.

cyas.

Re: How to relic a guitar

When did this fad start????





--
--------------------------------- --- -- -
Posted with NewsLeecher v3.7 Final
Web @ http :// www .newsleecher,com /?usenet
------------------- ----- ---- -- -


Posted Via Usenet,com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
http :// www .usenet,com

Re: How to relic a guitar

On Jun 4, 6:40 am, Arlowe (Arl...@enough.grits,com ) wrote:
> When did this fad start????
>
> --
> --------------------------------- --- -- -
> Posted with NewsLeecher v3.7 Final
> Web @ http :// www .newsleecher,com /?usenet
> ------------------- ----- ---- -- -
>
> Posted Via Usenet,com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> http :// www .usenet,com

Willie Nelson !? hahhaa - ed s.

Re: How to relic a guitar

The big problem with trying to allow time and gigging to relic today's
guitar is polyurethane.

It doesn't age like nitro finishes. You basically have a guitar
encased in plastic. Good luck getting that thing to age gracefully.

I have a 10 year old strat that looks the same as it did the day I
bought it new. If it were finished in nitro it would have "aged" by
now, with as much as I have played it.

So the suggestion of leaving it outside is probably pretty right on.
I have seen a service that will take your poly finished neck and
refinish it in an amber nitro, instantly giving it more of an aged
look.

Re: How to relic a guitar

Derek expounded in news:5062529d-ab91-4e0e-b542-10ba371e3229
@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups,com :

> The big problem with trying to allow time and gigging to relic today's
> guitar is polyurethane.
>
> It doesn't age like nitro finishes. You basically have a guitar
> encased in plastic. Good luck getting that thing to age gracefully.

I've never understood this kind of thinking. I can sort of understand it
for jeans (at least for kids) because they don't want it to look new blah
blah... but guitars???

It would be like buying a new truck, but with the paint pre-faded and some
rust spots induced by salt or acid and a few dings included for good
measure. Then throw in some stone chips in the wind shield. Now would
anyone consider buying a $30,000 truck in that kind of condition?

I guess I just don't get it. It must be that geezer factor gaining on me
again.

Snark.
** Posted from http :// www .teranews,com **

Re: How to relic a guitar

I think it is all about the perception of that elusive quality refered
to as "mojo".

Re: How to relic a guitar

Derek expounded in news:a71717e3-ea70-43f9-b011-
3cdb981a482c@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups,com :

> I think it is all about the perception of that elusive quality refered
> to as "mojo".

Ya, I guess I just don't get that kind of mogo ;-)

Snark.
** Posted from http :// www .teranews,com **

Re: How to relic a guitar

Charmed Snark wrote:
> Derek expounded in news:a71717e3-ea70-43f9-b011-
> 3cdb981a482c@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups,com :
>
>> I think it is all about the perception of that elusive quality refered
>> to as "mojo".
>
> Ya, I guess I just don't get that kind of mogo ;-)
>
> Snark.


That makes two of us. When I first read that Fender's custom shop sold
"vintaged" guitars - that is guitars they use UV light techniques,
scuffing and hitting it with a dog chain for all I know - and they do or
did sell *well* for awhile, my jaw dropped and I just shook my head. I
will never understand that as long as I live. Every guitar I have ever
owned, and I play HARD frequently, has nevertheless been treated like a
newborn baby by me from the day I got it until the day I sold it, if I
did (I still have 2/3 of the guitars I've ever owned). I'm not knocking
the people who want a "vintaged" guitar, but talk about your different
strokes!!

The Old Guy

----== Posted via Newsfeeds,com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http :// www .newsfeeds,com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Re: How to relic a guitar

Tony Meloche wrote:

> That makes two of us. When I first read that Fender's custom shop sold
> "vintaged" guitars - that is guitars they use UV light techniques,
> scuffing and hitting it with a dog chain for all I know - and they do or
> did sell *well* for awhile, my jaw dropped and I just shook my head. I
> will never understand that as long as I live. Every guitar I have ever
> owned, and I play HARD frequently, has nevertheless been treated like a
> newborn baby by me from the day I got it until the day I sold it, if I
> did (I still have 2/3 of the guitars I've ever owned). I'm not knocking
> the people who want a "vintaged" guitar, but talk about your different
> strokes!!

I wouldn't knock them, either. It would be cruel to point out to idiot
losers that they are drooling morons. Best to eschew doing so.

Re: How to relic a guitar

On Jun 9, 8:05 pm, Sean <s...@fake.con> wrote:

>
> I wouldn't knock them, either. It would be cruel to point out to idiot
> losers that they are drooling morons. Best to eschew doing so.

It might be kind to ask them to eschew with their mouths closed,
though.

--Cliff (US)