‘Aging’ a headstock

[Same]

i know this has been discussed,and I know time and use will help - I just want to push it forward a lil. but I just wanted to see about different finishes do with stain. I test have a nitro finished neck and I think it looks decent enough, but don’t have a newer neck I could try out without bein scared. I used fiebings medium brown leather dye for about 5/10 minutes then wiped it off, but The thicker finish probably helped it from coming out too dark. Just curious if anyone knows how a newer neck would do with a stain, or should I go a different rout, or just leave it alone?

Here’s the test

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Well, it broke. Dang... I wouldn't do that anymore.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

But seriously, I think the finish iooks cool!

 

[Jim C]

I've often thought that the aging of a Fender was purely due to air pollution (ciggy smoke) or the UV of the sun.
Wonder what it would take to set up a high level UV source (in a safe operation) to try and accelerate the "ambering" of lacquer or poly?

PS - The above work looks great.
Stew Mac and others make a aersol lacquer to emuate aged finishes
I saw a guy use saxaphone aerosol lacquer to age a Squier guitar neck and it looked great; not sure how well it held up though

 

[wvbass]

I think you may have gone a little overboard with the whole “aging” thing.

 

[bassbully]

Nice! Will make a great Mark Sandman model.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Problem is, if your maple headstock looks darker and aged, but your maple fretboard doesn't, it looks like you stained it, rather than it being natural. Don't overdo it.

 

[Same]

I think I might try it on something I’ve got and see how it goes. This stain is alcohol based and really soaks in quick, it leaves other bare woods like an orange/red which I wouldn’t really care for as much. Maybe I could do it really quick and see, it took a bit for this one to soak in though I could have done less time and got lighter but it also looks a lot different in person compared to low exposure photos or whatever

Also it would go on a rosewood neck

 

[micguy]

I did the leather dye once on a neck. Worked fine.

 

[MattZilla]

Yowch. That will kill the mood.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Mocassin Brown, Light Brown, Tan, British Tan, Russet, Buckskin, Medium Brown...

The fact that you were even able to choose a color is to be commended.

Tone looks about right.

 

[pellomoco14]

I've often thought that the aging of a Fender was purely due to air pollution (ciggy smoke) or the UV of the sun.
Wonder what it would take to set up a high level UV source (in a safe operation) to try and accelerate the "ambering" of lacquer or poly?

PS - The above work looks great.
Stew Mac and others make a aersol lacquer to emuate aged finishes
I saw a guy use saxaphone aerosol lacquer to age a Squier guitar neck and it looked great; not sure how well it held up though

I left a strat in the case for 11-12 years. It came out darker...

 

[Ric5]

i know this has been discussed,and I know time and use will help - I just want to push it forward a lil. but I just wanted to see about different finishes do with stain. I test have a nitro finished neck and I think it looks decent enough, but don’t have a newer neck I could try out without bein scared. I used fiebings medium brown leather dye for about 5/10 minutes then wiped it off, but The thicker finish probably helped it from coming out too dark. Just curious if anyone knows how a newer neck would do with a stain, or should I go a different rout, or just leave it alone?

Here’s the test
View attachment 3186605

Cool a 2 stringed bass

 

[gip111]

Relic?

 

[JGbassman]

Link Removed

This is the route I went. It works pretty well, and you can vary based on the passes you make.

 

[LUCE]

Problem is, if your maple headstock looks darker and aged, but your maple fretboard doesn't, it looks like you stained it, rather than it being natural. Don't overdo it.

Sometimes, it just does that on its own. My '69 earned it from smoky bars and sunlight exposure.

 

[Mark76]

British tan is a sort of inflamed pink

 

[Dwight Trash]

I tried to keep this one fresh and new looking but I think when smoking got banned, people started vaping and this one started to wither.

 

[Same]

Cool a 2 stringed bass

You could have two strings, though with the broken nut it might be a bit tough to play on. Got like one useable string tho

 

[bobdabilder]

That's some strong stain

i know this has been discussed,and I know time and use will help - I just want to push it forward a lil. but I just wanted to see about different finishes do with stain. I test have a nitro finished neck and I think it looks decent enough, but don’t have a newer neck I could try out without bein scared. I used fiebings medium brown leather dye for about 5/10 minutes then wiped it off, but The thicker finish probably helped it from coming out too dark. Just curious if anyone knows how a newer neck would do with a stain, or should I go a different rout, or just leave it alone?

Here’s the test
View attachment 3186605