Relic'ing a 51 Southern Jumbo that has a brand new sunburst

[Kerry Krishna]

 After years of being sanded, my 51 Gibson is curing till Dec 10th in a spray booth.  The Luthier who did the work did an amazing job on it too. The problem that it looks wildly out of place on this ancient guitar.  I need some adult supervision on relic'ing it. I would love to see a start to finish video on this, but my search has turned up so little, as to be almost non existent.  I have only a slight idea how it is done properly.  The divots that were there before from playwear, I can take care of myself, but the heating freezing stress lacquer crack thing has me kind of puzzled.

     One of the YOUTUBE vids  I saw showed a guy using a blowtorch with a wide angle spray nozzle heating the guitar from quite a few inches away, then spraying it with  Nitrix out of a whip cream container.  I have a few ideas myself of what and how I would do, but do any of us know of a better video? Thanks Forum members!...

[Kerry Krishna]

here ya go.... 

[Kerry Krishna]

Is there no help for poor poor Kerry here?

[Paul Verticchio]

I think what you're experiencing Kerry, is a group reluctance to assist you in 'vandalizing' your instrument.

Here's my suggestion:  As winter approaches, leave it in your car for several hours (without the case) when the temps get to around 20dF & below.  Then, turn up the heat in your shop/home until it hits 75-80dF.  Bring the guitar in from the cold (again, without being in the case) and you should get some really 'authentic' weather checks.

I really haven't observed any sort of relic-love on this forum Kerry.  Personally, I 'don't get' relic-ing.  I've spent almost 5 decades learning how to treat my guitars nicely & maintain them so the stay looking good.

You may want to post the same question on the Les Paul Forum or the Fender Telecaster forum. Those folks are relic fanatics. I mean, $300 USD for a purposely rusted & goober'd-up ABR style bridge?  That's just insane!

Best of luck Kerry & we'd love to see pic's of your final decision,

Paul (-:

[Kerry Krishna]

 Well seems to me I've already made my decision.  The bran new top ( I saw it in the flesh earlier on this week)  looks like  pearls on a swine. I'm sure you get the idea. The top needs to be aged to look like it belongs.  I have done so much work to get it up and running, and this is only one more thing. I'll tell you Paul, you should have seen the horrid sunburst that has been on it for the last 10 years. I did it myself with spray bombs, without ant 'adult supervision'. Amazingly ugly to the point I would not even play out with it. So the top was scrapped and painted a third time in it's life.

 I really want it to look good is all, and NOW it's the new burst/lacquer looks as horrid as the old burst looks. 

You folks here are my brothers in arms. I know we don't always get along 100%, but I still love all of ya, AND when I need advice about building (or in my case wrecking) , who else would I trust?

 Thanks for your post too Paul. You are a good person to respond.  

[Kerry Krishna]

[Mike Kolb]

I think it might be a good idea to contact Guitar Reranch, down in Garland, Texas. They sell lots of guitar refinishing supplies, but the owner (Bill) is an encyclopedia of finishing techniques.  

Additionally, they host a refinishing and restoration forum with tons of info. It's definitely worth a peek...

http://www.reranch.com/reranch/ or the main page at  http://www.reranch.com/index.htm and navigate-around from there.

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

Kerry,

 

Just play it. Allow yourself an hour a day and let nature take its course.

 

But what do I know?

 

Joshua

[Magnus Hultin]

 

Ouch!

 

Thats downright ugly....

[William F.Eden]

I hope you didn't pay some one to do that sunburst for you???????????.

[Kerry Krishna]

 I did this horridness myself Paul, way before I knew anything. I wasnt even on line yet!

...

[FRANK]

Kerry if your going for a older vintage looking guitar do the finish and spray it after curing with propane .  then pull it away and give it a nice warm breath from your warm Breath to the top coat watch it spider up rub some finger Cheese into the cracks and polish up works like a Charm

[Kerry Krishna]

 This works Frank?  It totally sounds like it would too... Were did you hear about this?

  Great advice too!