New twist (sorta) on ageing/relicing Strat parts

[lespaulreedsmith]

On one of my Strat's I needed to make the knobs match my Dimarzio Areas cream covers better and the shoe dye worked somewhat but this morning I stuck the knobs, switch tip, and trem tip in black coffee and......
Nuked them in the microwave. The coffee was a boilin' and out popped the coolest aged creme colored parts you ever saw... And they smell good (if you like coffee) to boot.
give it a try (don't nuke 'em 'too' long!)

 

[Doc W]

Will it work with instant coffee or do I need fair trade, organic?

 

[buddastrat]

Umm, not exactly new. that's what everyone's been doing since the 90's for aging the plastics. Tea supposedly works better.

 

[sleek]

Is there ever a point in relicing where you just go:"I am dipping guitar parts in coffee. Something is deeply wrong here."?

 

[buddastrat]

I do it for the smell.. It's better than nicotine!

 

[SgtThump]

Umm, not exactly new. that's what everyone's been doing since the 90's for aging the plastics. Tea supposedly works better.

Do they usually put it in the microwave too? I've soaked strat knobs in strong coffee for hours before and they came out looking the same as they did when I put them in. I was disappointed.

 

[travisvwright]

How about a new twist where you relic it by playing it everyday for 20 years? Anyone tried this?

 

[lespaulreedsmith]

Do they usually put it in the microwave too? I've soaked strat knobs in strong coffee for hours before and they came out looking the same as they did when I put them in. I was disappointed.

I had heard of boiling but no one ever mentioned if it were on the stove or in a microwave. I thought I'd try the microwave to see if it wouyld work without the hassle of the stove. It did.


sleekIs there ever a point in relicing where you just go:"I am dipping guitar parts in coffee. Something is deeply wrong here."?

Not when you are selling a guitar and the customer asks for reliced or aged parts....
This is one of my personal guitar's and it has sold a few others that I've built just by people playing it (and some of my other personal one's they've played)
So nope, I have no problem ageing or relicing guitar parts...

 

[lespaulreedsmith]

How about a new twist where you relic it by playing it everyday for 20 years? Anyone tried this?

never heard that one before

 

[Last]

How about a new twist where you relic it by playing it everyday for 20 years? Anyone tried this?

I think most people don't tend to hold onto a guitar long enough for that to happen.

I've got a couple of 1 owner guitars that look the part but to be honest ain't no one, no how gonna get their hands on them while I'm still breathing.

I do see a market for this though so I'm not knocking it.

 

[buddastrat]

Do they usually put it in the microwave too? I've soaked strat knobs in strong coffee for hours before and they came out looking the same as they did when I put them in. I was disappointed.

I've soaked and faded lots of parts in strong black, coffee. no need for microwave. some batches of plastic don't fade. Like Duncans covers for example, have never worked for me. But I have a '66 strat which has two original knobs and one I faded with coffee in 10 seconds. Matches perfectly. And looks way better than the bright white.

Pickguards are tough to fade anymore. They used to take the stain very easily. Now some of them are made of kryptonite or something. The best, natural look is time, but you can speed that up. Throw it up on the roof for a month in summer, a you'll have a great, natural looking fade!

 

[gulliver]

/\ Yeah, I have an '80s strat, pickguard is still white and knobs/PUs turned yellow.

Anyone have any luck with pearloid pickguards? I'm wondering if the roof trick would work for a more interesting look.

 

[buddastrat]

Pearloids yellow very easily. I have a naturally aged Fender pearl guard that looks great and very faded. You can have for cheap if you want it, Gulliver.

 

[redroos]

OK, I must just have all new parts because I have tried the coffee thing years ago with no change. But nuking it is something I never heard of - nor the stove top thing either. So I will try this...right now. If this thread is still around I'll report back. If it works, thanks for the tip!

 

[sleek]

Not when you are selling a guitar and the customer asks for reliced or aged parts....
This is one of my personal guitar's and it has sold a few others that I've built just by people playing it (and some of my other personal one's they've played)
So nope, I have no problem ageing or relicing guitar parts...

Yeah, but it just gets so silly after a while...

I wonder if this fad will pass, and in ten years everybody will be trying to make reliced guitars look new...

 

[lespaulreedsmith]

OK, I must just have all new parts because I have tried the coffee thing years ago with no change. But nuking it is something I never heard of - nor the stove top thing either. So I will try this...right now. If this thread is still around I'll report back. If it works, thanks for the tip!

I just did it this morning. Use about an inch or two of coffee (enough to cover the parts) in a microwave safe cup and let it boil but I'd check about every 30 seconds when it finally gets boiling as it might turn them dark brown... Mine came out coffee colored matching my Dimarzio pickup covers.... perfect

 

[pickaguitar]

Is there ever a point in relicing where you just go:"I am dipping guitar parts in coffee. Something is deeply wrong here."?

My relicing experience got a lot worse than that before I questioned myself

 

[lespaulreedsmith]

Yeah, but it just gets so silly after a while...

I wonder if this fad will pass, and in ten years everybody will be trying to make reliced guitars look new...

I agree. Never thought back in 1985 when I was blazin' on my hot pink Jackson soloist (yeah, I had one. seriously....) and worrying about every scratch and ding, that someday I would want a (gasp) reliced looking guitar... (and a bunch of other people wanting them as well...)
Times changed concerning the reliced, beat up, look on some brands and I guess I have gone with that trend somewhat as I like how they look also (when they're done well of course)...

 

[George Johnson]

How about a new twist where you relic it by playing it everyday for 20 years? Anyone tried this?

Hey, that is a new twist! Get back to us in 20 years and let us know how that went.

 

[GA20T]

How about a new twist where you relic it by playing it everyday for 20 years? Anyone tried this?

I have tried this and find it to be inferior to the fare trade organic route, except that my playing has vastly improved with the method you mention; not so much with the coffee.