Hey, so I was talking to a friend the other day, and he was asking me if my guitar has a nitro finish.
He says that the new guitars now do not have that finish, and that is what is required to get that nice gigged look.
He says that he has friends trying very hard to get that look, but they can't, because they don't have that finish!
Does anyone know anything about this? I have a '62 reissue telecaster...will it have that finish? (not that I want to get that all scratched up). but I'm just wondering about other guitars I have..modern ones (squier).
Can they get a nice gigged up look?
And how do I get that look?
Nitro will yellow with age. Gigging has nothing to do with it, unless you're also talking about dings, gashes, etc. :)
The Fender American '62 Tele reissue does indeed have a nitro finish, according to the Fender website.
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
actually, it's a Japanese one, and it has a Polyurethane finish.
buuut I'm not wondering about that one.
I'm just thinking about something like the Andy Summers Tele.
How do you get that look? :P
Nitro is only on higher price guitars, these days - the finishing process is quite costly.
The reason that "well-gigged" guitars get that look is because of the fact that nitro is pretty sensitive to sweat and such like - it wears relatively easily.
Most people want a guitar that doesn't do that - hence polyeurathane, which is far more stable and resistant.
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
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The way to get that well gigged look is to play your guitar a lot.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Like this?
I built this one, lacquered it with nitro, and then decided to distress it. It's one of my favorites for gigging these days. I certainly never worry about it.
-=tension & release=-
yeah, something like that.
I want that look for my squier strat, to give it some character.
Will it ever get that look, or should I just give up trying?
Obviously, by using it a lot, there will be signs of wear and tear..but that look specifically, such as the one on the Andy Summers Tele.
Do what Eddie Van Halen did with his famous "Frankenstein" guitar. Pull out pickups and route with a chisel, saw the pickguard in half, paint it with spray paint and tape, nail a quarter to it......
And play guitar 12 hours a day every day too. :D
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Wes Inman said: Do what Eddie Van Halen did with his famous "Frankenstein" guitar. Pull out pickups and route with a chisel, saw the pickguard in half, paint it with spray paint and tape, nail a quarter to it......
'Course if that sounds like too much work you could just spring $25,000 for one someone else already did that to:
$25,000?????????????????? Are they off their rockers?? :shock: :shock:
This seems to be common for these kids of things .. here's another famous weathered guitar: Eric Claptons Blackie Re-Creation
Could have been yours for a measly $20K.
--vink
"Life is either an adventure or nothing" -- Helen Keller
I don't want to spend upwards of $20k!
all I want to do is get a nice weathered look for my own crappy squier! :P
I don't want to spend upwards of $20k!
all I want to do is get a nice weathered look for my own crappy squier! :P
I'm sure if you do some googling around you can find out how to make stuff look old. There's a trend for old look furniture too and before that trend there were those who made fake "antiques". Try searching for "distressing" and maybe add "diy" and/or "furniture". You'll find lots of info that will help with the wood parts.
Personally, I'll just play the thing and let it get worn that way though I do try to avoid banging it.
Pop music is about stealing pocket money from children. - Ian Anderson
Do what Eddie Van Halen did with his famous "Frankenstein" guitar. Pull out pickups and route with a chisel, saw the pickguard in half, paint it with spray paint and tape, nail a quarter to it......
And play guitar 12 hours a day every day too. :D
Eddie is an awsome guitarist but I don't think too much of him as a luthier! :P
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
The Fender H1 series has a finish that's a lot more 'scratchable' then their US-std counterparts.
And here I thought this thread was all about how the guitarist would get a well-gigged look, not the guitar!
Exhibit A:
Well we all shine on--like the moon and the stars and the sun.
-- John Lennon
