How to Relic a Poly finish????

[PDavyduck]

Hi all , I'm wanting to make a lil but if a closet classic or road worn out of my Reggie Hamilton J Bass and was just wondering if anyone has had success at lightly "relic'ing" a poly finish ? Mainly looking for not so shiny and possible checking/cracking

Thx in advance!

 

[PDavyduck]

*bit of a ....... posting from my phone

Heheheehe

 

[No Coast Rider]

Just trade it for my Lakland 44-02, it has plenty of cracking and scratches, it even has a chip in the finish!

 

[bass12]

Play it?

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Rub some light scotch-brite pads all over the finish and pick guard to take off the shine. Then just play the crap out of it. It'll eventually get the dings and scars from normal playing. (my schecter looks way older than 4 years old, I just play it really hard and put it up wet)

A light sand blast on the hardware will take the shine off. Or just neglect cleaning it for a couple years and it'll eventually corrode the hardware. (my 2 year old CV tele is doing this already)

No good way to get good looking checking with a poly finish, so don't even try haha.

 

[Grissle]

Do you want to relic it in the way that a poly body does or nitro body. Poly bodies don't check/crack. They will chip more than wear through, though I have seen wear through's its more rare (in fact I have one example). Also they will generally stay shiny everywhere except where you anchor a thumb.

This is mine. This body is over 20 years old and still looks good everywhere except the small area on the arm cut.

 

[Dave Oliver]

Just play the s--- out of it! Earn the wore out look.

 

[BurningSkies]

Do you want to relic it in the way that a poly body does or nitro body. Poly bodies don't check/crack. They will chip more than wear through, though I have seen wear through's its more rare (in fact I have one example). Also they will generally stay shiny everywhere except where you anchor a thumb.

This is mine. This body is over 20 years old and still looks good everywhere except the small area on the arm cut.

Not true. I had a 73 Precision for over a decade that was fully weather-checked, similar to what you see in nitro finished instruments. Take a look at poly finished Fenders of the late 60's and 70's and you'll see that there's way more to their wear than just 'chipping'. They do. I've also 'shattered' a thick poly finished Ibanez going from sub freezing van to hot stage lights.

 

[Gabeja15]

A poly finish will not check anything like a nitro finish. However, you can definitely get a more matte/worn finish.

Check this link for a pretty solid tutorial on buffing a poly les paul with scotch brite: Invalid Link Removed

 

[BurningSkies]

I'll leave this here, and if I remember, I'll upload pictures of my old well checked Precision once I get home from work.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/poly-finish-checking-its-possible-619243/

 

[mikeswals]

Not true. I had a 73 Precision for over a decade that was fully weather-checked, similar to what you see in nitro finished instruments.

While that part is true, Poly formula has advanced in 40 years. Modern poly doesn't wear like the early softer poly. The modern stuff is more nuke proof unless you chip it, then it looks like hell.

 

[PDavyduck]

Thx guys. and yes, I get the "play it" / "earn it" line..... I have been playing for a while and do "play" this is purely an aesthetic thing, as well as my tastes usually change ever few years when my ears go in a new direction so who knows how long this bass will be my #1 go to.

I'll experiment and if anything turns out as a success i'll pass it along here

cheers!