Yet another "heavy relic" Esquire I'm working on

I've always dug heavily worn old guitars. I know many don't like them, but nothing gets me going like a guitar that looks like it's spent 5 nights a week for the past 40 years bashin' out tunes in a in a stinky old Honky Tonk !

Here's my latest project. The pickguard will be a one ply white Esquire guard, so this one is just on there to give an idea about what the final result might look like. Anyway, I'm still working on this, and the color is hard to capture, but here she is so far!


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/RELIC1sm.JPG


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/RELIC3sm.JPG


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/RELIC2sm.JPG

that looks mighty fine! i won't touch the "relic" issue but, could you share how you did it? i'm considering doing it to one of my strats. please keep us updated 62 inca. she looks great!

Very nice!

People who are "anti-relic" can surely keep to their day-um selves for this thread, I'd think.

Like the wise father told his son - "if we all liked the same things, everyone would be after your mother!"

I think it looks great - nice work!

that looks mighty fine! i won't touch the "relic" issue but, could you share how you did it? i'm considering doing it to one of my strats. please keep us updated 62 inca. she looks great!


Thanks. Basically I do things about the same way many others do it - nitro finish, let it set, go at it. It just takes patience. Collect photos of guitars you like and stare at them until you get a clear cut vision of what your guitar will look like when it's done and then make a plan to get from point A to point Z !
Keep in mind that real guitars won't get much wear in certain places - under pickguards, inside the horn, etc. Some will get the occasional bump, but for the most part leave that stuff alone. Another thing that people do a lot is "over relic" the hardware. Old guitars really don't get a lot of rust too often, and when they get any discoloration it doesn't look like the "liquid stains" that many people do with artificial relicing. When aging hardware, a little goes a LONG way ! When you think it might be aged close to enough, stop, rinse it off, and let it sit for a couple days. Chances are that it will be perfect.

Here are pictures of some hardware I've recently aged :

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/bridge.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/bassbridge.JPG

To me, these look more "true" to what a real vintage guitar bridge looks like. (I still need to age the pickup though) Sure, there are some out there with extreme wear and rust, and I like those too, but they don't seem to be the "norm", even on heavily played guitars.

Very nice!

People who are "anti-relic" can surely keep to their day-um selves for this thread, I'd think.

Like the wise father told his son - "if we all liked the same things, everyone would be after your mother!"

I think it looks great - nice work!

Thank you !

And you are 100% right about "not all of us like the same things !"

I dont know why but I like it ! :razz:

Nice looking guitar!

Nice relic

Thanks. Like I say, they're not for everyones taste, but I love old racked up Teles !

I took some photos out in the daylight today -



http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F2.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F3.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F4.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F5.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F6.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F7.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F8.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F9.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F10.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F11.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F12.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F13.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F14.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F15.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F16.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F17.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F18.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F19.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lonestarrelics/F20.jpg

There's just something special about an old, beat-up looking electric guitar that can still howl like a young pup... I can understand those who like relicing...

Jim

There's just something special about an old, beat-up looking electric guitar that can still howl like a young pup... I can understand those who like relicing...

Jim


Are you sure you're talking about "guitars" ?

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

all you need now is a few divots in that fingerboard !!!

Are you sure you're talking about "guitars" ?


Well... I am getting kinda old and beat-up myself...

:roll:

Jim

Well... I am getting kinda old and beat-up myself...

:roll:

Jim

Me too, my friend...me too.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/bassbridge.JPG
I think the bolts as bridge saddles is pretty cool.
Is that something you made? It's got serious gear head written all over it.
The brass wear looks pretty good as well.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1336107/bassbridge.JPG
I think the bolts as bridge saddles is pretty cool.
Is that something you made? It's got serious gear head written all over it.
The brass wear looks pretty good as well.


That's a standard Fender "vintage" bass bridge with threaded saddles. I love these bridges. You're right - they look bad@ss too ! :D

Sweet!
I will be finishing this one this weekend..

Allparts neck, Ron Kirn template.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk237/ramseypete/Tele9.jpghttp://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk237/ramseypete/Tele7.jpghttp://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk237/ramseypete/Tele3.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk237/ramseypete/Tele1.jpg