Members KATMAN Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 I had my MIM Fender Stratocaster now for three and a half years now,and the fretboard doesn't even look the least worn.In fact it still looks like it did when I brought it home.I like the looks of the older guitars,I have seen a really old Tele,or Esquire with a very worn fretboard. They look so cool. I guess I don't dig in enough when I play,or use heavy strings or something.I use Ernie Ball Hybrids .009-.046,they feel great and I really don't feel like changing gauges,not in this guitar anyways. Other than with age,how can you get a fretboard to have those worn marks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hondro Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Originally posted by KATMAN I had my MIM Fender Stratocaster now for three and a half years now,and the fretboard doesn't even look the least worn.In fact it still looks like it did when I brought it home.I like the looks of the older guitars,I have seen a really old Tele,or Esquire with a very worn fretboard. They look so cool. I guess I don't dig in enough when I play,or use heavy strings or something.I use Ernie Ball Hybrids .009-.046,they feel great and I really don't feel like changing gauges,not in this guitar anyways. Other than with age,how can you get a fretboard to have those worn marks? nitrocellulose laquer Fender uses this on their necks I could be wrong though, cuz its sort of illegal to use in its pure state, so since the 70's they've been mixing it in with Polyester laquer your guitar has a poly coat, so it wont relic, get worn, fade, or look cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faber Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Other than with age,how can you get a fretboard to have those worn marks? If you're talking about those grey/brown wear marks on the fingerboard, then I don't think there is another way. Gotta play it alot. Unless you want to use sandpaper to speed up the process. Doubt that would look as cool though. Just play the hell out of the thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Treborklow Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 The maple neck and fretboard on my 1979 strat still looks new and shiney bright. The frets are all worn down from years of playing but the neck still looks new. Only the headstock has yellowed pretty dark but the rest of the neck and board is still clean and bright and probably only slightly more yellowed than new. Even the white body hasn't yellowed much. The finish is all cracked up with checking, but still pretty white in color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kimber Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Originally posted by hondro your guitar has a poly coat, so it wont relic, get worn, fade, or look cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr.Mow Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Originally posted by Treborklow The maple neck and fretboard on my 1979 strat still looks new and shiney bright. The frets are all worn down from years of playing but the neck still looks new. Only the headstock has yellowed pretty dark but the rest of the neck and board is still clean and bright and probably only slightly more yellowed than new. Even the white body hasn't yellowed much. The finish is all cracked up with checking, but still pretty white in color. I think you will find the necks on 70s Strats were poly with the headstock face nitro. Easy way to chew up your fret board is to not keep your nails short! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sitamoia50 Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Ummm................................Play the hell out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PolyFmorf Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 I did a relic maple neck simulating some worn spots with amber "tobacco smoke in a bar" type staining using a 3# cut varnish wash. I then shot some clear poly over it while wet to simulate some checking. Do not try this at home. I used to refinish VERY high end furniture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oyaji Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 My 76 strat has reliced differently from the CBS strats. The poly has chipped all around the edges of the fingerboard, but where it hasn't chipped, it looks sorta new, except that it needs a fret job and a good cleaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alchemist Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 I've seen guys take sandpaper and screwdrivers to it in order to replicate the effects of your nails and the strings digging into the board:freak: Doing a relic body is one thing, but if you dont relic the neck properly it can effect your playability so dont go all crazy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cousin itt Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Just play it man. That's what it's all about. Personally I like them new looking. I'm not into the 'wornout' look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DdBob Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 play more, maybe play with dirty hands, get that sweat and dirt down in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Europa760 Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 you gotta play enough to wear through the finish. once you do that, the wear goes very quickly and the dirt sticks in the wood where you wore away the finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitar-fish Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Originally posted by cousin itt Just play it man. That's what it's all about. Personally I like them new looking. I'm not into the 'wornout' look. Amen brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crunchtime Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Perhaps you could get a Warmoth replacement. You could tung oil the whole thing. I bet the tung oiled board would relic much faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldFenderGuy Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Heavy strings, heavy hands, a lot of bending, and about 10 years of constant use.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robert Kortus Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Older Fenders had a thin coat of laquer on the necks. Those dark spots you see on old Fenders is where the laquer has been worn away down to the bare wood underneath. Since your strat doesn't have laquer on the neck, this effect can't be achieved. You can make it look real worn and dirty by just not cleaning it, but it's a different look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Splendor Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Nice avatar Robert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wizard of Ozz Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Originally posted by sitamoia50 Ummm................................Play the hell out of it. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walt0915 Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Originally posted by Robert Kortus Older Fenders had a thin coat of laquer on the necks. Those dark spots you see on old Fenders is where the laquer has been worn away down to the bare wood underneath. Since your strat doesn't have laquer on the neck, this effect can't be achieved. You can make it look real worn and dirty by just not cleaning it, but it's a different look. I don't know that that is entirely true - I don't see why you can't wear down the finish whatever it is until wood is showing. It may take a lot longer and be practically impossible, but not completely impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Futch Posted February 12, 2006 Members Share Posted February 12, 2006 Ive seen this kind of wear on a modern poly finished neck. So yes, it can be done. You just have to keep playing and playing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robert Kortus Posted February 13, 2006 Members Share Posted February 13, 2006 Originally posted by walt0915 I don't know that that is entirely true - I don't see why you can't wear down the finish whatever it is until wood is showing. It may take a lot longer and be practically impossible, but not completely impossible. He can still get a good worn-in look by playing the heck out of it, but the "look" that he's refering is becasue of the laquered neck. Newer Fenders don't have laquered necks (unless you get one of the Vintage series) thus why it will look different. Trust me on this, if you take a look at the neck of an old Fender you can clearly see the laquer around the frets, but inbetween it has been worn away and doesn't have that shiny look any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KATMAN Posted February 13, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 13, 2006 Thanks guys. I will not sand it nor take a screwdriver to get a worn look.If I can't get it done the old fashioned way,so be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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