How can I relic my strat pickguard?

[tehuk]

I tried one of the new "road worn" strats the other day and although it wasn't the best quality instrument it did look awesome. How can I relic my malmsteen strat's pickguard like that? Is there a store that sells pickguards already relic'd?

 

[Anonymous]

Usually on those period guitars, the pickguards tended to stay pretty white.

 

[steve_k]

I tried one of the new "road worn" strats the other day and although it wasn't the best quality instrument it did look awesome. How can I relic my malmsteen strat's pickguard like that? Is there a store that sells pickguards already relic'd?

Remove your pickguard and use from fine grit sandpaper or steel wool to get any gloss off of it and rough the surface a bit. Boil up a bunch of tea bags in water with enough volume to fill a pan large enough for the pickguard. Let the pickguard soak in the tea for a week or so or as long as it takes. You can then use steel wool to create any surface irregularities you want to impose on it. Do the same with the volume/tone knobs.

If you want to relic up the hardware, soak the pieces in a mild acetic solution (7.5% HCL) then use some steel wool to finish it off.


Steve

 

[Marshall Law]

Usually on those period guitars, the pickguards tended to stay pretty white.

or turn a little green

 

[tehuk]

I tried one of the new "road worn" strats the other day and although it wasn't the best quality instrument it did look awesome. How can I relic my malmsteen strat's pickguard like that? Is there a store that sells pickguards already relic'd?

Remove your pickguard and use from fine grit sandpaper or steel wool to get any gloss off of it and rough the surface a bit. Boil up a bunch of tea bags in water with enough volume to fill a pan large enough for the pickguard. Let the pickguard soak in the tea for a week or so or as long as it takes. You can then use steel wool to create any surface irregularities you want to impose on it. Do the same with the volume/tone knobs.

If you want to relic up the hardware, soak the pieces in a mild acetic solution (7.5% HCL) then use some steel wool to finish it off.


Steve

Great tip. I'm going to try camomile tea to get that yellow hue. Thanks man!

 

[fek]

Try letting it sit outside in the sun for a couple days. Maybe smoke some cigars and blow the smoke on it too. If you still live in an area where you can smoke in bars, ask the friendly bar maid at the local smoke filled dive if you can leave it there for couple weeks.