"POLY-MOJO".....LET'S SEE IT

[BurningSkies]

This is what relic jobs can't get, see the lower bass? Chunks of msb's crotch is on that bass.

Ew.

 

[Schlyder]

No offense taken arsie.... Yes those 70s real worns look really good guys. I know the relic will never have the same mojo as real wear... but it had to be done ... can't have a shiny mint 3 tone SB now. It just wouldn't be right. That and I don't have 40 years to wait til it naturally happens .... so the call to relic it was made.
I was really surprised how much the feel and character of the bass changed, going from shiny new to reliced. It sounds/plays the same, but it doesn't feel like the same instrument.
....Glossy and smooth, it felt cold and sterile. Now, it feels warmer, and has character. Some styles of basses just need to look old and worn. Fender Jazzes are the epitome of that. A shiny new Jazz bass looks like the loneliest thing in the world.

 

[mattiastomas]

My '84 Ibanez Roadstar II

 

[arsie]

First thing I noticed is that the exposed wood yellows quite a bit in old instruments. I wonder if there is a way to get your relic job's exposed wood to be a darker hue. Maybe just rubbing your hands over them repeatedly, or some kinda dye.

Haha, I kinda have an opposite view. I always considered the P bass to be the working class hero, and the J a bit more of a gentleman's instrument. Bright shiny J basses with immaculate chrome covers are fine by me, the P bass needs to look like you don't wanna mess with it.

 

[BurningSkies]

First thing I noticed is that the exposed wood yellows quite a bit in old instruments. I wonder if there is a way to get your relic job's exposed wood to be a darker hue. Maybe just rubbing your hands over them repeatedly, or some kinda dye.

Haha, I kinda have an opposite view. I always considered the P bass to be the working class hero, and the J a bit more of a gentleman's instrument. Bright shiny J basses with immaculate chrome covers are fine by me, the P bass needs to look like you don't wanna mess with it.

That yellow you're seeing isn't wood discoloration, its the undercoats/sanding sealer used on the bodies.

 

[Schlyder]

The flash made the exposed wood areas look lighter. They are darker in real light.
Yes, hahahaha skin oils/ nose grease/ sweat really works good, with some cigarette ash and lemon oil too. That is what I used to darken up the wood.

I think all Fenders need to look beat up. And I agree with Burningskies, it is the sealer that looks to be yellowing.... there is still some /finish/shine in those areas.

 

[arsie]

That yellow you're seeing isn't wood discoloration, its the undercoats/sanding sealer used on the bodies.

The flash made the exposed wood areas look lighter. They are darker in real light.
Yes, hahahaha skin oils/ nose grease/ sweat really works good, with some cigarette ash and lemon oil too. That is what I used to darken up the wood...

Yeah, I think you're right. Now that I think about it, it doesn't really make sense that the wood colour changes, it is probably just over 35 years of gunk on the sealer. Or on the above-mentioned bass, crotch gunk.

 

[MrRobert]

I really like a nicely worn urethane finish, but here's what freaks me out: fender's mim models are now finished in polyESTER, not polyURETHANE. I wonder if they will get worn as nicely as the urethane models? Of course some people think only nitro wears out in a cool way. But not me. I like 70s p basses the best.

 

[lowphatbass]

Nice to see an Ibanez in the mix, I'm hoping to see more! Thanks to everybody for all the great pics and discussion!!

This C.A.R. has some SERIOUS buckle rash. It's through the clear, paint, primer, sealer and two layers of wood. It came from the Mid West and I do believe the previous owner toured with a country band. I don't know if he/she was a former rodeo star or not but there must have been a serious belt buckle involved here at some point! Sometimes it just doesn't make a difference what type of finish a bass has!
This one is currently "under the knife" getting some heavy modification.

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[Spleenface92]

I need to take more pics of the wear on it, but my 1985 Squier Katana certainly has some poly mojo.
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[msb]

this is the back of the fretted 72 Pbass

 

[Tonegasm]

Love this thread. I'll have to post some photos of my Geddy Lee and my '71 Precision when I'm back in the states. Both have been loved.

 

[Schlyder]

I found the photo that I saw that had the wear all along that full edge of the belly carve. It was the back of the Fender Jaco BOD model. ( photo below)... and all the wear is copied from the BOD. So it is not impossible.
I need to feather that edge out a bit more, but not as worn as some of the others. It will wear on it own too... now the seal is broken.

 

[lowphatbass]

I decided to yank the Badass that's been on for at least 15 years and try the original threaded saddle Fender unit. The darker and lighter contrast under where the two different bridges have been is the opposite of what I would have expected. I figured the outer portions that were only covered by the Badass would be lighter than the finish that's never seen the light of day. Good old Poly!

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Thumb wear on my t45 , the person really rested there thumb there even the pickup ring got rounded down and the screws around it super rusted

 

[lowphatbass]

Thumb wear on my t45 , the person really rested there thumb there even the pickup ring got rounded down and the screws around it super rusted

Nice, I always keep an eye out for these. Unfortunately(for me) the Ebay market is really strong. My first bass was an early Fury which was a P-bass with a Super-Ferrite pickup. They don't come up too often these days.