My Antiqued '06 R7 Goldtop...

Hey all....

Been working on this puppy, and have hit a good stopping point....
For now... :wink:

It's a 2006 R7, with a top re-fin by RS Guitarworks...

It was lightly reliced when I got it, and I've spent the past couple years egging on the checking and greening...

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070186-1.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070136.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070155.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070151.jpg

A few more....

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070149.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070140.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/R7/P1070160.jpg

Nice work.
Me likey.

How did you crack it??

How did you crack it??

Hot and cold.....

Interesting... Care to elaborate on the process?

Amazing......hard to believe it's an '06 !!

you're right, you've hit a good stopping point. it's perfect just like that.
beautifully done.

Not many folks have the $$ or the guts to relic a Gibson. Nice work!

Interesting... Care to elaborate on the process?

Well, one night in the freezer, followed by the heat gun (avoid the bindings) did most of that checking....

But to green the checking near the armrest area, and widen the checking with greeny goodness, I used a paper towel soaked with a salt/vinegar solution for about a week or so:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/P1070107-1.jpg

The resulting "greening" is actually more turquoise-colored, but looks "right" when combined with the gold paint...

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/P1070101.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/P1070074.jpg

I then homogenized the whole look with a 400-grit rubdown, followed by rubbing compound...

It really needs some dirt and gunk rubbed into the finish, which I'll be doing here this week....