SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

[Kirk Bryant]

Here's my "road worn" Strat. With mint guard and vintage headstock decal and neck plate, lacquer finish and real player wear. I have no idea what exactly this is. I was just going to change the strings and thought, it's interesting but I know nothing about it. One of my better scores on CL for $200. I'd put the build on par with Fender RWs. Just took the neck off and both neck and body have no identifying marks, nothing. Sounds great plays great, therefore it is great.

 

[ICM]

View attachment 2840476 View attachment 2840477 View attachment 2840479 View attachment 2840480 Here's my "road worn" Strat. With mint guard and vintage headstock decal and neck plate, lacquer finish and real player wear. I have no idea what exactly this is. I was just going to change the strings and thought, it's interesting but I know nothing about it. One of my better scores on CL for $200. I'd put the build on par with Fender RWs. Just took the neck off and both neck and body have no identifying marks, nothing. Sounds great plays great, therefore it is great.

That checking on the headstock is great, and the burst really captures the more opaque yellow look of the originals. Strats are the best electric guitar IMO. What a score for 200 dollars! How's it play?

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Plays and sounds very good, just like a good Strat should. The PU selector switch is an old 3 position instead of the newer 5 position but you can get the "in between" sounds too.

 

[ICM]

Plays and sounds very good, just like a good Strat should. The PU selector switch is an old 3 position instead of the newer 5 position but you can get the "in between" sounds too.

Nice, neck and middle (position 4) is my favorite. I also love the fact that it has a tele circle string tree. I have one of those on my strat and it just looks great!

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Here is one sweet '63 Strat. Not a relic. Mostly original.
Played a lot as it should be. The condition is typical of an old instrument in the Pacific North West. The mild weather is kind to old wood.

Not mine, available locally in a shop, big $.
Saw it when I went in to buy a Larrivee acoustic.
The strat was used for 30 years in a SRV tribute band.

So nice seems worth sharing.

 

[BurningSkies]

Over 1000 shows on this 1993 Dingwall Voodoo Prima and the pickup thumb anchor places are not only through the finish but starting to wear away the softer grain in the wood:

The weather checking on the back of the 1973 Precision I played on stage for a number of years:

 

[ICM]

I'm always happy to see this thread bumped. As a small contribution, I offer my beloved Hofner, the bracelets on my right arm are starting to eat through the finish.

 

[lowphatbass]

Here’s another Dingwall in distress...this right after a busy summer and before bath time.

Over 1000 shows on this 1993 Dingwall Voodoo Prima and the pickup thumb anchor places are not only through the finish but starting to wear away the softer grain in the wood:
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[JIO]

Since we're talkin' player gouging...

 

[BurningSkies]

Here’s another Dingwall in distress...this right after a busy summer and before bath time.

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You've sculpted out quite a divot in that pickup cover...and even that is a replacement.

 

[BearCave]

Here's my '66 Precision that I've had the pleasure of being the second owner for the last 2 years now.

 

[lowphatbass]

You've sculpted out quite a divot in that pickup cover...and even that is a replacement.

Yea, it’s funny. When I slap the B string my thumb is basically striking over the last fret. I figure it must be digging from resting my thumb on it or something but I’m never consciously making contact....hmmm.

 

[BurningSkies]

Yea, it’s funny. When I slap the B string my thumb is basically striking over the last fret. I figure it must be digging from resting my thumb on it or something but I’m never consciously making contact....hmmm.

I've always dropped my pickups across the board by about a turn. Gives me the extra clearance, especially given the rarified finished pickup covers on the Rastaburst. The new addition to the flock will stay put where they're 'shop dialed' I think, but that's intended to be a no-stress work bass.

The Voodoo-Prima is currently splattered in blood across the pickups, strings & wood between the pickups. I had a bleeder the other day and didn't even notice until the strings got really sticky. Not usual for me to lose some plasma while playing, but this time it was full on.

 

[lowphatbass]

This makes me a little nervous..25 years of that good Levys leather has worn more that just the finish off.

 

[JIO]

Here's my '66 Precision that I've had the pleasure of being the second owner for the last 2 years now.

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Awesome - what date is stamped on the neck? My '66 (I'm the second owner also) is dated Sept 5th.

 

[BurningSkies]

This makes me a little nervous..25 years of that good Levys leather has worn more that just the finish off.

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Mine look like that too. Still seem sturdy to me. The only thing I hate is that I prefer to use my strap lock straps and don't want to remove the originals to put 'em in place.

 

[lowphatbass]

One thing that’s interesting: the darker areas of wood are harder than the lighter so the wear mimics the quilting. Because the wood is figured on both axes the wear is varied both front to back and top to bottom...it’s difficult to capture in photos, particularly with my lack of ability.

 

[JIO]

Mine look like that too. Still seem sturdy to me. The only thing I hate is that I prefer to use my strap lock straps and don't want to remove the originals to put 'em in place.

Only a couple of my basses don't get Dunlop Strap-Loks - this one gets a less invasive strap restraint.

 

[SJLee]

Only a couple of my basses don't get Dunlop Strap-Loks - this one gets a less invasive strap restraint.

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Free 6 pack of Grolsch beer for any purchase of 3 sets of guitar strap restraints.

 

[BurningSkies]

Only a couple of my basses don't get Dunlop Strap-Loks - this one gets a less invasive strap restraint.

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Good call, any worries about stripping the strap button holes, etc, you should definitely go this route.