The Secrets behind relicing....

Now I know some people don't like the whole relic guitar thing,and thats cool,some people don't like sushi :D But I like both sushi and reliced guitars,and I find some of them to be pure art in the way they check,crack,and fade away.

I have noticed that most boutique Strat and Tele Clone builders who do ageing or relicing are not very open about their methods...and especially Fender Custom Shop,they keep their relic secrets air tight. Does anybody actually know the methods that some of these builders actually use? Anybody want to share their secrets and methods?

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/71ad16ad2c4d81f348082ff6c4b20768/2344_p35675.jpg

by the way I hope this is the right place to post this thread? I didn't know.
If not,I am very sorry,and please feel free to move it

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/71ad16ad2c4d81f348082ff6c4b20768/2344_p35675.jpg


haha,tried that once,it doesnt work at all. im talking about relicing in the sense of the art form. Have you ever seen those guys who do refinish jobs on Real Vintage Fenders?

Yeah. Mark Jenny is an artist. Did my '65 Strat:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/8329_1107971391093_3106085_n.jpg

Pic is crappy, but the checking is perfect, so are the mild bumps and bruises, forearm wear etc.

Mark Jenny is a true artist,thats what I am talking about. what are his secret methods tho? hmmm its like a secret recipe or trying to expose a magician's tricks .

I think the key is to mimic real wear, not SRV or Rory wear. It's an easy thing to over do.

by the way I hope this is the right place to post this thread? I didn't know.
If not,I am very sorry,and please feel free to move it

Doesn't matter where you put it. It will still end up in a big fight.

Thats because people choose to argue instead of just choosing to be mature about it. Its simple...if relicing isn't your cup of kibble n bits then move on...don't barge in and blow the house down. :P

I think the key is to mimic real wear, not SRV or Rory wear. It's an easy thing to over do.



I totally agree. I would like to also add that you strat by Mark Jenny is a sweet slab O' wood bro. I love it!

I have noticed that most boutique Strat and Tele Clone builders who do ageing or relicing are not very open about their methods...and especially Fender Custom Shop,they keep their relic secrets air tight. Does anybody actually know the methods that some of these builders actually use? Anybody want to share their secrets and methods?

Air tight secrets? Whoa. I must be missing something here.

Go to the "Resources" part of this forum, and click "How to Relic Your Guitar." In Part One, there's a detailed, thorough step-by-step explanation of a relciing job by a Fender Custom shop employee. It even identifies the materials and chemicals that he used.

Part Two gives a detailed "how to do it" explanation broken down by category like Hardware Aging, Lacquer Checking, etc., and even lists the stuff you need.

Here it is:

http://www.tdpri.com/resources/how-to-relic-your-guitar/

Air tight secrets? Whoa. I must be missing something here.

Go to the "Resources" part of this forum, and click "How to Relic Your Guitar." In Part One, there's a detailed, thorough step-by-step explanation of a relciing job by a Fender Custom shop employee. It even identifies the materials and chemicals that he used.

Part Two gives a detailed "how to do it" explanation broken down by category like Hardware Aging, Lacquer Checking, etc., and even lists the stuff you need.

Here it is:

http://www.tdpri.com/resources/how-to-relic-your-guitar/


I've read that a few times,but I still think theres something somebody isn't telling us.

I give you one of mine: Star washers. Discuss.:lol:

I give you one of mine: Star washers. Discuss.:lol:


Sorry,but you lost me.. :P what?

For realistic belt buckle wear. Sit in front of the TV, guitar face down in your lap. Place finger on star washer. Rub back and forth while enjoying your favorite program.:cool:

http://www.randyray.com/TMC/images/RFShield/StarWasher.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n380/kizzie_015/701957461_2509529974_0.jpg
I'll give you one of mine -- #2 pencil and shellac, this used to be a pale white hwy one neck 3 yrs ago.

For realistic belt buckle wear. Sit in front of the TV, guitar face down in your lap. Place finger on star washer. Rub back and forth while enjoying your favorite program.:cool:

http://www.randyray.com/TMC/images/RFShield/StarWasher.jpg


Do you use the star washer grooves up facing you? or Grooves down digging into the guitar?

Neat trick too! Thanks

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n380/kizzie_015/701957461_2509529974_0.jpg
I'll give you one of mine -- #2 pencil and shellac, this used to be a pale white hwy one neck 3 yrs ago.


That looks incredible bro! great tip. Thanks :)

mark jenny's "process" involves ovens and freezers because temperature extremes are what happened to many old american guitars in the trunks of cars between towns....they'd get very hot and very cold, and the finish would "check"...there's also a bit of elbow grease involved in rubbing a rag with a TRACE amount of lacquer thinner on spots where a belly or forearm would create wear....i don't know what he does with the hardware, and chrome is much harder to work with than nickel when it comes to creating a "patina"

mark jenny's "process" involves ovens and freezers because temperature extremes are what happened to many old american guitars in the trunks of cars between towns....they'd get very hot and very cold, and the finish would "check"...there's also a bit of elbow grease involved in rubbing a rag with a TRACE amount of lacquer thinner on spots where a belly or forearm would create wear....i don't know what he does with the hardware, and chrome is much harder to work with than nickel when it comes to creating a "patina"


Sweet! Jenny is a true artist! Thanks for the tip! This is starting to get good!

Grooves down digging into the guitar.

Neat trick too! Thanks

This^^^^

Thanks bro! Great Tip!

I mix up some powdered lacquer dye in lacquer thinner and some paint thinner (enough so out won't melt things) and out works great for dirtying up pick guards and even spots on the body and neck. Its tricky to get it so that it won't melt the finish completely. Its just subtle enough to be realistic.