Aging my own parts for a project

Music&Chaos

Music&Chaos

Well-known member
Hello RT

I have a Tele-bird style guitar project I am working on that I have call The Beachcaster or Driftwood.

Talked about some design with my wife and she said it would be neat if all of the parts looked like they had been under the ocean for a long time.

I agreed.

This guitar will have a mixture of nickel and brass parts aged.

I got the nickel tailpiece in during the weekend. Pretty pleased with how it's going so far.

Pretty much the exact opposite of everything I could ever see myself doing as a youth, but here we are. Age is funny like that.

IMG_20250609_102915290.jpg
IMG_20250609_103033247.jpg
 
Music&Chaos said:
Hello RT

I have a Tele-bird style guitar project I am working on that I have call The Beachcaster or Driftwood.

Talked about some design with my wife and she said it would be neat if all of the parts looked like they had been under the ocean for a long time.

I agreed.

This guitar will have a mixture of nickel and brass parts aged.

I got the nickel tailpiece in during the weekend. Pretty pleased with how it's going so far.

Pretty much the exact opposite of everything I could ever see myself doing as a youth, but here we are. Age is funny like that.

View attachment 403317View attachment 403318
Click to expand...
looks like a quarter my brother swallowed and pooped out when he was 4 .....
 
BeZo said:
What'd you do?
Click to expand...
Put white vinegar and sea salt into a smal clontainer/cup/bowl. Put said container in a bag with the part (part is not submerged in the solution) and sealed it. Every now and then, I take a paper towel and lightly rub off what can come off easily and put it back in the bag.
 
BeZo said:
Beach Glass Knobs

Just an idea.
Click to expand...
I am actually trying to figure out what I want to do for the controls. Wanting as minimal as possible. May go with a single blend knob to go between 2 pickups with no selector switch. Maybe a rotary only.... have not decided but minimalist. I was thinking a single, aged brass knob, but some object, if done correctly, may work well. Thanks for the idea!
 
Music&Chaos said:
Hello RT

I have a Tele-bird style guitar project I am working on that I have call The Beachcaster or Driftwood.

Talked about some design with my wife and she said it would be neat if all of the parts looked like they had been under the ocean for a long time.

I agreed.

This guitar will have a mixture of nickel and brass parts aged.

I got the nickel tailpiece in during the weekend. Pretty pleased with how it's going so far.

Pretty much the exact opposite of everything I could ever see myself doing as a youth, but here we are. Age is funny like that.

View attachment 403317View attachment 403318
Click to expand...
Needs to be paired with a super heavy relic'ed taos turquoise or stained/trans blue/green/turq paint scheme and some knobs made from shells or something. Take it to bare wood where your right arm rests and saturate it with heavy rounds of saltwater so the grain gets raised and aged that way it looks like it was sweated on and in the ocean a long time. Can't wait to see your completed guitar!!!
 
VonBonfire said:
Needs to be paired with a super heavy relic'ed taos turquoise or stained/trans blue/green/turq paint scheme and some knobs made from shells or something. Take it to bare wood where your right arm rests and saturate it with heavy rounds of saltwater so the grain gets raised and aged that way it looks like it was sweated on and in the ocean a long time. Can't wait to see your completed guitar!!!
Click to expand...
I'll snap a picture of the guitar and neck and upload it for you to check out. *They aren't anything too crazy*
 
@VonBonfire

Here they are. Originally, it was only going to have a wraparound, but due to a mistake from the driller, this is converting to stop tail and tune. Different brass tuners on the way and will be heavily aged before install.

Body: North American Cherry with thin layers of epoxy resin. 4.5 lbs or less if I recall.

Neck: Short scale conversion. North American Cherry with Birds eye maple board and real abalone inlays.


IMG_20250609_142948831.jpg
IMG_20250609_142927055.jpg
IMG_20250609_142921332.jpg
IMG_20250609_142852308.jpg
IMG_20250609_150344955.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250609_142842665.jpg
    IMG_20250609_142842665.jpg
    849.6 KB · Views: 11
Last edited:
Music&Chaos said:
@VonBonfire

Here they are. Originally, it was only going to have a wraparound, but due to a mistake from the driller, this is converting to stop tail and tune. Different brass tuners on the way and will be heavily aged before install.

Body: North American Cherry with thin layers of epoxy resin. 4.5 lbs or less if I recall.

Neck: Short scale conversion. North American Cherry with Birds eye maple board and real abalone inlays.


View attachment 403334View attachment 403335View attachment 403336View attachment 403337View attachment 403342
Click to expand...
Neat! Is it going to have a tele controls scheme?
 
Music&Chaos said:
I think there is just going to be a single knob on the lower bout and nothing else.

The body was routed before I got it and it's nice to have the option to add/change if needed.
Click to expand...
I'd def want at least one vol one tone so you can alternate between high tide and low tide tones. You need shells with set screws in em that you can use for the control knobs. I think it'll make for better note surfing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top