Yellowing The Pickguard

MammaryVest · #1 04-30-2007, 01:00 PM

I couldn't think of a better forum for this, sorry. I recently put a stock white pick guard on my P-Bass, but I think it stands out just a little brighter than I'd like it to. I'd like to reduce the "sheen" by giving it that yellow fade that they get when they're old, and I was wondering if anyone knew how I could do that, or speed the process up. THANKS

PilbaraBass · #2 04-30-2007, 06:29 PM

Take two tea bags...soak them in mixture of
2 tpsns of white vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 cup of warm water.

let the tea bags sit for about 10-15 minutes...

using a cloth, wipe the mixture onto the pickguard and let it dry...

repeat as often as you like...

this should stain your pickguard nicely and give it an old, worn look...

for a better stain, you may try soaking the tea bags in alcohol instead...but remove the pickguard for this, and keep the alcohol AWAY from your bass...

MammaryVest · #3 04-30-2007, 10:35 PM

Wow...thanks a ton

EDIT: I regret to say, that this method had no effect on my pick guard beyond making it smell horrible...so I hope I wasn't just on the receiving end of a bad practical joke.

EDIT: I retract my first edit, and I'm sorry. After substituting alcohol in the mixture, I found that if you ever want to see the brightest, shinyest, least yellow pick guard you've ever seen in your life, follow the above process.

Stanley Design · #4 04-30-2007, 11:22 PM

If you want to make your bass look like you've played in smoke filled bars for 30 years you could set up a contraption like a giant balloon around your bass and fill it with cigarette smoke, leaving it there for a week before releasing it.

enderwaves · #5 04-30-2007, 11:34 PM

those are some awfully smelly ideas. unfortunately, my best advice is to buy an 'aged' pickguard. if your up for experimenting, you might let the pickguard soak in coffee for a while. tattoo artist paint with coffee a lot because it makes their canvas or paper look antiqued and parchment-like. also they use this method in those amazing denture cleaning commercials.

Vandelay · #6 05-01-2007, 12:09 AM

Check out this thread for how to "relic" a guitar -- it contains many photos of the process, including how to yellow the pickguard.

HOW TO DO A RELIC: NOW IN A 70 Page PDF :)

EDIT: actually, it starts with an "aged white" pickguard, so perhaps never mind.

PilbaraBass · #7 05-01-2007, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MammaryVest

Wow...thanks a ton

EDIT: I regret to say, that this method had no effect on my pick guard beyond making it smell horrible...so I hope I wasn't just on the receiving end of a bad practical joke.

EDIT: I retract my first edit, and I'm sorry. After substituting alcohol in the mixture, I found that if you ever want to see the brightest, shinyest, least yellow pick guard you've ever seen in your life, follow the above process.

did you use green tea? you did didn't you?

sorry, thought that might work...the relic dude uses wood stain...I was trying to test products found around the home...thanks for trying them out for me...

MammaryVest · #8 05-01-2007, 01:45 PM

Well, no I didn't use green tea, but thanks anyway...for being a dick.

Jimbob Jones · #9 05-02-2007, 10:35 AM

joking aside, use mahogany wood stain (the hardwood variety, not the softwood one). Paint it on with a brush and then wipe off the excess with a cotton rag (an old, but clean t-shirt will do).

Also, prepare the PG by rubbing it down with some steel wool, this will take the gloss off and rough up the surface, so it will accept the dye.

Finally, have you definately taken the protective cover off the PG? Most new ones have a thin layer of clear plastic that stops it getting scratched until its actually on the bass.