Getting a Vintage look?

[Chef]

If it's highway one, it's nitro, right?
If that's the case, a large can of compressed air can actually kinda relic it. That stuff gets really cold coming out, and this can weather check the finish for you. I've done that before.

[Davo-London]

Is it polyurethane coated? If so, you will take for ever to relic it. You be better off removing the poly, refinishing the bass and use nitro-cellulose-based clear coating instead. Seems like a lot of effort though!

Davo

[matti777]

Perhaps steel wool would help. Somebody else can try that first I do have a real relic jazz. IMHO it would be very difficult to artificially replicate.

[Chef]

Steel wool comes in grades as well. Try 0000 first, if you go that route.

[rodl2005]

Cover the p.u's pole pieces 1st (tape) if using steel wool

[fuzzychaos]

I agree that time is a great way to naturally relic, but it's not really what the OP asked about. Plus, some types of finish won't relic for decades, if at all. Giving nature a little boost seems ok to me

Originally Posted by unclejane

Agreed, relic'ing is kind of becoming an art form and there's a lot of different approaches out there on it now.

But all "hating" and fighting aside, yes, the very best way, in my opinion, really _is_ to just drag it around to gigs, sessions and play it a bunch. Yes it takes a long time, but to me there's nothing like a "real" relic job done by simply throwing it around in normal use.

My L2K is over a decade old now and is showing some of those relic signs. I've actually tried to take care of it, so it's going slow. But I've now stopped that silliness, , and it usually sits on the floor now, etc. The headstock and bridge are starting to show signs of distress, etc. Mostly just dirt, but little dings and such are showing up in the finish....

Maybe in another 10 years, as the relic job avances, it will make it worth, like $100 instead of the like $50 it's worth now...

LS

[svt1233]

Using a belt sander with fine grain paper with give it a relic'd look. Ashtrays and tort guard with tugbar will give it a vintage look. good luck!

[taurus1]

thick poly basses do wear through, I have two 70's P's that are worn right through, took about 10+ years of playing though.

[the wako kid]

well, I know you don't want relic,but as far as an older look (old but well taken care of right?) going for some old hardware etc will help. buy a relic'd bridge and hardware, and see if you can find a replacement PG that's nicotine yellow. to be honest,not hing makes a bass look and feel older than playing the hell out of it and bringing it places for it to get wrecked( not literally). also,if you sweat a lot it it have bare skin touching your finish a lot,it may eventually create some wear,but on a modern bass with a poly finish,this could take decades.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by Chef

Steel wool comes in grades as well. Try 0000 first, if you go that route.

I went over the remnants of a sticker on an older bass and the 0000 wool and it took all of the shine away. This can get you a somewhat flat look but I wouldn't say it looks aged... It looks intentional. But, still cool to have a flat black Jazz and a tort guard.

I second the ashtrays and a new pickguard. Something like mint, tort, or parchment would be instant as far as looks. Maybe also add some block inlays a la inlaystickers.com

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by taurus1

thick poly basses do wear through, I have two 70's P's that are worn right through, took about 10+ years of playing though.

This might be a little misleading...You aren't counting the time between new purchase and when you got it, huh?

My 96 MIM Jazz's only sign of wear is the couple of dings on it and the finish is now flat. This bass survived my younger days when I used to go to my friends house everyday after school and jam on it for like 4-5 hours a day. Finish has no wear on it... and I have been playing that one personally for 17 years...

[Chef]

"aged hardware"
another good idea.

[matti777]

Originally Posted by taurus1

thick poly basses do wear through, I have two 70's P's that are worn right through, took about 10+ years of playing though.

My '69 is supposed to be poly and I know it wore through badly in its first 15 years.

[Road Bull]

lol. For every person that doesn't like this finish, it seems like there are at least two that do. I don't think it is vintage looking, but it is pretty cool.

Fender, get your acid bath ready...

[justinellison3]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

I wouldn't worry about it. That bass looks FANTASTIC!

Thank you

[rockinrayduke]

I was going to suggest a new pickguard, some covers, maybe a tugbar. He said he wanted it to look vintage not beat up.

[ma4rk]

Get a tort pickguard with the thumb rest holes - above the E for a 70's look or below the G for a 60's look. Replace the tuners with reverse winds as the modern tuners look bigger which is a giveaway.