$45 for guitar, tutorial on how to relic, 2 days later = Pretty damn cool

[ibanezcollector]

Well I found a site a week or so ago, that had a tutorial from fender on how to relic a guitar. Cool read but never thought about doing it..

Went to GC yesterday to just see what was new and seen this Squier strat sitting there, well it was in bad shape setup wise, and they just got it in on trade. I asked how much as it sits, he told me $45..

So I took her home and it just needed a trussrod tweak and saddles adjusted. Much to my surprise its solid wood.. So then the light bulb went off.. "Remember that site on how to relic?"

And off I went..

This is about a day and a halfs worth of work.. Not the best relic but most first attempts at anything never are..

Tools used:
Screwdriver
Ring of Keys
Wrench
Driveway LOL
Heat Gun
Compressed air held upside down to freeze the paint
Ebony Stain mixed with alcohol
Grey Primer
0000 Steel Wool
FIRE
and lots of aggression..

[LonePhantom]

Now the question is, "How does she play"???

[Demogorgos]

cool axe dude, I like beat-up strats

[jim777]

Get a video camera, and give to a buddy. Go back to CG with the guitar, and tell them you've changed your mind. Then, post the video

But it certainly looks beat up! You need to dirty the plastic a bit, it's still pretty shiny white.

[andy7jem]

The shiney bits are too shiney, contradicts the effect, but nice work though
I'm just soooo glad you didn't do it on a jem

[pawel]

Nice job, now you just need to eliminate that squier sticker and put aged guard, knobs and pickup rings on it...

[ibanezcollector]

its not done by any means..

I ran out of cash.. LMAO

I just bought a aged kit from evilbay.. Its not just a color they actually age the parts..

The chrome parts will be handled as well, there is a process you do where you trap vapors in a bucket and it ages the hardware in almost 30 mins.. According to fender. but thats when I recoup some funds..

And believe it or not it plays like a dream.. and it doesnt sound bad for what im going to use it for which is clean stuff and bluesy stuff..

[elcid]

Any chance you can post the how to?
I've been considering relic'ing my SG

[ibanezcollector]

http://www.tdpri.com/resourceRELICING.htm

[elcid]

Thanks, my ninja.

[ibanezcollector]

Originally Posted by elcid

Thanks, my ninja.

welcome grasshoper

[elcid]

From what I hear if you put coffee in a cookie tray and soak the pickguard in it, it helps it looks aged. I want to do that, but I hate trying to put pickups back in with those little scews and springs...

[Ayrton]

Those solid wood Squires can be nice guitars.

You can take the knobs and pup covers, drop them in a cup of plain ol coffee and in 24 hours you will have aged parts. That is pretty much what you are getting when you buy "pre aged" plastic parts.

[fettouhi]

Nicejob!

Regards

André

[ibanezcollector]

ok here is some updates.. I did go a bit overboard but its to late to go back and change it sooo.. I had to try and make it more realistic...

Body: I smoothed down the areas where wood was exposed to make it look more like wear than just chuncks missing. I also took the paint to a flat look in areas of high traffic..

Pickguard: I aged this myself and tryed to keep under the strings cleaner and shiner since that area wont get as affected as the others.. I hate mint guards so I am going to have to try to perfect this more.

Accessories, I did the knobs in a super strong mixture of coffee and tea.. In a gatarade 32oz bottle I put enough coffee grounds to make about 4 pots. I put two bags of tea. Shake and let sit for 24 hrs.. Results are fantastic. I also dont like the look of all the parts being the same color.. So since im a smoker I have been putting my butts, in a seperate gatarade bottle filled with water, this is for the single coil covers. Its turning them a hell of alot faster.

Hardware: Nothing done at this moment

Neck: Took the logo off and tryed my best to make it look old as hell and beat to piss..

And finally I did some copper sheilding