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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

3223.0. "Aging Plastic, How Does Fender Do It?" by PCBUOA::ANDERSON_R () Tue Jul 30 1996 15:46

    Anyone out there know how Fender "ages" their plastic
    knbs and pickup covers for that retro look?
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3223.1good to the last dropRICKS::CALCAGNIlike lightning giving birthTue Jul 30 1996 16:427
    I don't know how Fender does, but a homebrew method that's supposed to
    work well is to soak them in coffee.  You need to experiment on a
    couple of throwaway pieces to determine the best brewing time, but it's
    usually on the order of hours.
    
    /rick
    
3223.2Tried it. Disregard my SP mistakes :)PCBUOA::ANDERSON_RTue Jul 30 1996 17:189
    Rick,
    I've tried coffee, tea, tobacco (boiled, drained and alchohol added)
    and u v lights. Now, I've had some fun playing like a kid with a
    new chemistry set, but no go. I finally painted some with a yellowish
    translucent varnish, and although they did'nt come out to bad, I'd
    like to know how Fender creates thier vintage look.
    
    Rich
    
3223.3Another thing...PCBUOA::ANDERSON_RTue Jul 30 1996 17:313
    I forgot to mention that I bought a set of vintage pickup covers,
    and in performing some of my experiments...I managed to REMOVE
    the vintage look!
3223.4how about this one?RICKS::CALCAGNIlike lightning giving birthTue Jul 30 1996 17:5810
    No go on the coffee eh?  Okay, here's another tip direct from a friend
    of mine in the city.  Blow some cigarette smoke into an airtight
    container and seal the plastic part inside with the smoke.  This is
    totally serious.  You might want to use something like a glass jar so
    you can watch the progress; the smoke darkens things up rather quickly,
    on the order of minutes.  I haven't tried this one myself yet but have
    been told it works quite well.
    
    /rick
    
3223.5psRICKS::CALCAGNIlike lightning giving birthTue Jul 30 1996 18:004
    and of course, you get that authentic "rancid smokey bar" odor as well
    
    :-)
    
3223.6Pay me, I'll beat up your Strat!PCBUOA::ANDERSON_RTue Jul 30 1996 18:226
    I can't afford one of those brand new aged Fendor Custom Shop
    beat up guitars, but there is something "cool" to beat looking
    Strats. Yea I guess I'm going for the rancid smokey bar look.
    I don't want to pay $2k plus for someone to beat up a guitar
    for me!