I've searched, and couldn't find what i was looking for.

Anyways, I have a Squier Pbass that I want to 'relic'. Not heavily. I want that worn in feel on the neck, and some wear-n-tear on the body.

I plan on refinishing the neck/headstock and THEN relicing it.

But, what's the most effective way to do this?

Hi.

It's good to know that a polyester finish is impossible to make it look like nicely worn nitro. Other thing is that removing poly from a squier body is really hard work and if everything is ok, you'll still end up with something like 3-piece not very nice agathis or basswood that is thinner than standard fender body.. so i would go for making new body. but if you want just few dings and scratches to match worn neck, it shouldn't be that bad.

about the neck.. definitely i suggest to remove existing coat with sandpaper to bare wood with highest attention not to remove wood because those squiers are already so thin.. then tint the neck tith some yellow amber. i'd use garnet shellac since i love to work with it and acts like a good sealer for the next step - spraying few thin coats of clear nitro. the center of the back should receive less spraying than the ends or the headstock. when everything is hardened and buffed, you should work very lightly with finest steel wool on the back and then just play it as much as possible with not clean and a bit greasy hands.. the more time and slower progress you choose, the better results ofcourse.

all the best,


mike

I know its not directly related, but this might be helpful for when you are refinishing the neck

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/vinneck.htm

easiest and cheapest way -

take a small chisel and take out some little "artistic" chunks of paint. Put a nice ding on the headstock. Half sand the neck and shellac it, leave the other half original. Stick your Bridge, tuners, and frets into an acidic solution to "age" them.

have fun.

Play three or four punk shows with it.

take your car keys and just lightly throw them at the bass, which give you dings that look spuratic, and unintentional.

Ship it to yourself via Canada Post.:D :scowl:

If you're feeling adventurous, you could try a technique used by wood finishers( I are wun...) called glazing: mix three parts penetrating oil(available at paint supply and art supply stores) with one part mineral spirits. Wipe on with a rag folded into a padover the body of the instrument, and use a brush to get some pooky into the crevices.(If it starts to dry out and drag, use mineral spirits on the rag to lube the material. Wipe off any excess, leaving some in the crans and nookies, and any dings that might be present. The beauty of this process is that if you don't like the result you can wipe it off with mineral spirits and have a do-over...
Let the stuff DRY!! When you get it the way you like it wait twenty-four hours and apply a wash-coat (sealer reduced 200% with the appropriate solvent. Then apply the final sealer and topcoats, sanding accordingly.Whew!
You can achieve an authentic aged, "antique" finish with this process, and it has a pretty gentle learning curve...

to achieve the color, use a UTC(universal tinting color) available at paint supply stores. Earth colors, like burnt or raw umber, or VanDyke brown, will work the best for ageing a finish...