Author Topic: aging pikups and tuners (Read 3617 times)

Ratrod · « **on:** March 30, 2007, 08:49:19 PM »

I'm currently restoring (well resto-modding, really) an old Hofner short scale bass. The neck looks a bit old and worn and I want to keep it that way. I'm re-using some of the old hardware too. Aging the newly painted body isn't the big problem.

The tuners and pickup, however are brand new, nicely chromed. What's the best way to age these parts?

I don't want to take the cover off the pickup and I don't want to damage the tuner mechanisms either.

I don't want to relic them, I just want to take some of shiny newiness off.

Any tips?

metal_god · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2007, 12:38:38 AM »

wire wool or extremely fine sandpaper.... used wisely

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2007, 12:54:50 PM »

In New York the air is so bad that you can leave them on a windowsill for a couple of weeks and they look like they are 20 years old!!

Sanding will take the shine off, weak tea will kill the whiteness if you have any plastic parts. Never really tried aging metal other than the window sill method. I would think vinegar might help (it is a weak acetic acid solution) or lemon juice (citric acid), if you leave it on overnight at least. Actually a bath of lemon and vinegar might work. Leave them in there a few days with something else that will rust too, like a cheap old nail.

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2007, 04:33:23 PM »

I'll try the mild acids.

I live in on the countryside so the air is too clean for the windowsill method.

Philly Q · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2007, 06:56:46 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

I live in on the countryside so the air is too clean for the windowsill method.

Lucky man! :D

PhilKing · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2007, 12:23:01 AM »

Just realised you said you didn't want to take the cover off the pickup - don't put the whole pickup in the mild acid - the copper windings will go green and the pickup will die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ratrod · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2007, 03:24:44 PM »

Thanks for the tip Phil.

But don't worry, I havent dipped the pickup in acid. I just sprinkled a little vinager on the cover, put it in a plastic bag for an hour and let the fumes and grease from my hands do the rest.

The pickup still works and it actually looks aged. The copper of the wire and windings look undamaged.

Strangely enough, anything that wasn't touched by my hands didn't get aged at all.