Does Anyone Sell/Make a “Faux”worn Finished Bass

S

Sean150

Jul 18, 2018
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#1
My thoughts are this. I have not seen a vintage instrument with a finish in a condition that I like and I don’t want to baby my guitars so I am not interested in a Nitro finish. But there are some patters of wear that I like, specifically the smooth wear patterns you get on the upper part of the body where your arm is; especially on those basses with a older layer of pain underneath.

There is no way that I am ever going to wear through my Poly finished basses in that way and would have to get it re-coated anyways if I did. So I am wondering if anyone makes a production instrument of this style; or am I going to have to find a custom shop.

This is more about a specific look artistically than looking old. I am not worried whether the wear patterns are realistic or not.
 
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#4
That's basically all Nash does. And everything they make is remarkable.
R&S Guitarworks
Ummm, uhh, it's on the tip of my tongue...ummm Fender road worn.
MJT Custom Aged Finishes.
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#5
Killing Floor said:
That's basically all Nash does. And everything they make is remarkable.
R&S Guitarworks
Ummm, uhh, it's on the tip of my tongue...ummm Fender road worn.
MJT Custom Aged Finishes.
View attachment 4067668View attachment 4067669
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Every Fender I have seen seems to have a Nitro finish; not that I trust Fender’s specs. I'll check out the others.

Part of my problem is that I live in Alberta Canada which is pretty much nowhere when it comes to the smaller American builders.

I have’s quite nailed down my ideal pickup or body shape which is why I am looking for ideas/GAS and not a specific model.

Also, to clarify, I am not looking for a vintage like guitar but one that has a “worn” finish.

The vision I have in my mind is a Urban Mural on a brick wall painted over by a newer mural with the old mural showing through just enough to add contex/character to the new. Modern vs. Old sort of thing. (Not a lot of help; I know)
 
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#8
Sean150 said:
My thoughts are this. I have not seen a vintage instrument with a finish in a condition that I like and I don’t want to baby my guitars so I am not interested in a Nitro finish. But there are some patters of wear that I like, specifically the smooth wear patterns you get on the upper part of the body where your arm is; especially on those basses with a older layer of pain underneath.

There is no way that I am ever going to wear through my Poly finished basses in that way and would have to get it re-coated anyways if I did. So I am wondering if anyone makes a production instrument of this style; or am I going to have to find a custom shop.

This is more about a specific look artistically than looking old. I am not worried whether the wear patterns are realistic or not.
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Any of the vast selections of "road worn" fenders
 
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#9
Sean150 said:
There is no way that I am ever going to wear through my Poly finished basses in that way
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Sean150 said:
not interested in a Nitro finish....I don’t want to baby my guitars.
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Maybe I’m not understanding. But if you know Poly won’t wear in that way, then don’t we know why they don’t make worn finishes with Poly? They use nitro because it looks authentic. I kinda thought one would buy a worn nitro bass so one doesn’t have to worry about babying it. It’s already beat up when you get it, your own bumps and bruises just blend right in

I guess a “best of both worlds” approach would be to find a worn nitro bass, then add a clear coat of Poly over top. Kind of a “frozen in time thing.”

Sean150 said:
painted over by a newer mural with the old mural showing through just enough to add contex/character
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Like this? Surf green, but you can tell it was burst in a former life:
91E6F828-8CC2-43CC-AF1E-E3D22873752A.jpeg


(Sorry for the six string, couldn't find a “proper” example. ;) :laugh: )
 
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#11
MJT is very good at what's referred to as a 'relic' finish. (artificial player wear/checking etc) They have categories of the degree of relic-ing you want and work with you as the process evolves. You will need to translate what you are wanting clearly to them as they are not mind readers - the clearer you are, the more successful your final product will be. They use lacquer as the vintage Fenders etc had and the result is convincing. Sending a stripped (to wood) body (unless you want the current body colour incorporated in the final look) will help keep your costs down.
 
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#13
Yes, these have been enormously popular for the last decade or so, starting with higher-end custom relic jobs, to the point where Fender do 'Road Worn' versions of their lower-tier instruments.

If you search for 'relic' or 'road worn' on TB you will find a lot of information on these and even more threads full of well-worn (geddit) arguments for or against the concept.
 
#14
Sean150 said:
But there are some patters of wear that I like, specifically the smooth wear patterns you get on the upper part of the body where your arm is; especially on those basses with a older layer of pain underneath.

There is no way that I am ever going to wear through my Poly finished basses in that way
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Strap some sandpaper to your wrist/forearm and play like that for a few days. You know how it goes, start with course paper and work your way up to your desired finish smoothness. It’ll probably cost you $20.

you’re welcome.
 
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#17
Sean150 said:
My thoughts are this. I have not seen a vintage instrument with a finish in a condition that I like and I don’t want to baby my guitars so I am not interested in a Nitro finish. But there are some patters of wear that I like, specifically the smooth wear patterns you get on the upper part of the body where your arm is; especially on those basses with a older layer of pain underneath.

There is no way that I am ever going to wear through my Poly finished basses in that way and would have to get it re-coated anyways if I did. So I am wondering if anyone makes a production instrument of this style; or am I going to have to find a custom shop.

This is more about a specific look artistically than looking old. I am not worried whether the wear patterns are realistic or not.
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I would dig up photographic examples from the internet, and then get in touch with MJT aged finishes and see if they'll create a finish based on those examples. I've seen MJT's work in person- they look absolutely great.

Another decent option is eBay user "jazzmanbass" Items for sale by jazzmanbass | eBay
 
#18
JIO said:
MJT is very good at what's referred to as a 'relic' finish. (artificial player wear/checking etc) They have categories of the degree of relic-ing you want and work with you as the process evolves. You will need to translate what you are wanting clearly to them as they are not mind readers - the clearer you are, the more successful your final product will be. They use lacquer as the vintage Fenders etc had and the result is convincing. Sending a stripped (to wood) body (unless you want the current body colour incorporated in the final look) will help keep your costs down.
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This x 3 [for me].
 
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#20
Sean150 said:
My thoughts are this. I have not seen a vintage instrument with a finish in a condition that I like and I don’t want to baby my guitars so I am not interested in a Nitro finish. But there are some patters of wear that I like, specifically the smooth wear patterns you get on the upper part of the body where your arm is; especially on those basses with a older layer of pain underneath.

There is no way that I am ever going to wear through my Poly finished basses in that way and would have to get it re-coated anyways if I did. So I am wondering if anyone makes a production instrument of this style; or am I going to have to find a custom shop.

This is more about a specific look artistically than looking old. I am not worried whether the wear patterns are realistic or not.
Click to expand...

I think you do want Nitro if you want any wear on the finish. That finish getting rubbed off on the upper part of the body happens because the finish is a very thin Nitro finish.

I would talk to MJT. I've actually been talking to a guy named Matt there for a project (which I just canceled), and he has been great. They do the paint under paint thing. They have bodies, you can direct ship them a Warmoth, or send them your body for stripping and re-painting.

Nash makes great basses, but I think you kind of get what you get with them..
Fender road worn stuff is nice.
 
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