How to Age Fender Neck

[BG76]

I am in the process of making a Strat style guitar for a friend of mine.

 

He has asked me for it to be aged slightly so I figured I would share.

 

For instructions on how to age a maple fretboard see my Broadcaster build thread.

 

First thing after you make your neck - this one is 60 year old maple with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard - is to make sure that what will be under the tuners and bolted into the body stays light.

 

When someone takes this apart you want it to look real.

 

Shoot some nitro on it and install the tuners then let it sit in a sunny window for a few weeks.

 

 

Next, start planning out the realistic pattern for the back of your neck. These planning stages are what will give the guitar a realistic look.

 

You don't want to be some jackass with a guitar that looks stupid so study some pics and mark out where it should be darker/lighter.

 

 

Anywhere you want to have some wear where a palm would be, etc... darken them up a little bit.

 

 

Do the top and bottom sides of the neck so all the coloring will be even.

 

 

Next, use the aging juice to get a consistent color across the neck. I do 8 - 12 coats wiping it on/off.

 

DO NOT USE DIRT, BELLY BUTTON LINT, ETC... as it will ruin your neck over time. Why people do that is beyond me. You should theoretically be able to sand down and refinish this neck and have it be perfect - just like you could an original neck.

 

 

Next, Darken things up a little to get some texture.

 

 

 

Make sure everything is consistent. Also - make sure the light parts are staying that way.

 

 

Next, do a Bob Ross and put a lot of dark aging juice on your happy little neck:

 

 

Now it looks stupid and bleached out but this is what we want.

 

[BG76]

Use a rag and some woolite in water - not paint thinner - to smooth the color out.

 

 

Next, use a little or your tinting solution to start adding some color. Again, make sure what it not supposed to be tinted stays as it should.

 

 

Now you should be getting there - but not quite - notice the slight finish differences?

 

 

 

Next, use a base coat to even things out a little:

 

 

Now, you'll notice your wear patterns look correct (in shape) but wrong in color - this is ok:

 

 

Adding a little denatured alcohol starts to smooth everything out:

 

[BG76]

Make sure the light stays light (sing the Mc Lean Deluxe song if you have to).

 

 

Now we're almost done!

 

 

 

 

[FoonkySteve]

Looking good BG!

 

What happened to the starcaster build? Did i miss it?

[BG76]

Starcaster is done - I don't post any builds of specific guitars here anymore. I made 4 of them.

[jelloman]

as usual, BG, I sit here envious of your talent and knowledge...

[poolshark]

The attention to detail here is as good as I've come to expect from BG, which is to say it's pretty much unmatched. Good stuff.

 

ps. Just for kicks, any chance we can get some info on those Starcasters?

[BG76]

thanks!

[clay sails]

Cool thread.

 

I'm impressed by the amount of work it takes to do the job right.

[BG76]

It actually took about 30 minutes - it's all about planing.

 

I always think things out a few times before I start.

 

Aging is something that is easy to do - if you really know what you want before you start - best advice I can give is not to go into it blind.

[FoonkySteve]

Starcaster is done - I don't post any builds of specific guitars here anymore. I made 4 of them.

 

I need to see me some Starcaster-ness! 4! How did they go then?

 

Go-on, do an NGD starcaster thread, i'll defend your honour til the death! UNTIL THE DEATH!

 

Go-on, i'll be your bestest pal:cry:

[BG76]

I did a show over the summer (benefit) for a friend of mine who passed away. J Mascais played it as well and he bought the one I had on the spot and I built another for him.

 

One went to King Ed and one went to a friend of mine in LA.

 

I'll try to dig out a few pics and PM them to you.

[FoonkySteve]

I did a show over the summer (benefit) for a friend of mine who passed away. J Mascais played it as well and he bought the one I had on the spot and I built another for him. One went to King Ed and one went to a friend of mine in LA. I'll try to dig out a few pics and PM them to you.

 

That would be spot on BG!

[BG76]

No probs - I can build you one for $3000.00 +/- if you're interested. I'm doing Bass VI and Electric XIIs over the next few months.

 

I had to make/have made a bunch of parts, to do it right.

[FoonkySteve]

Sounds VERY tempting. Its $$ i don't have right now, but could do by the summer. Looking forward to seeing your builds:thu: