... (in my opinion) but how!?
I recently picked up a Laguna Blue, Vintage Icon V6 and whilst it is very nice (very playable, fantastic neck) the way the relicing is done it leaves a hard edge and obviously done by pulling a sort of stensil off before the paint has fully dried. Looks fairly good from a short distance but I can't help feeling that it could be improved with a little extra wear.
It appears that there guitar body has a clear lacquer then the laguna blue is painted over the top and decal/stencil is pulled off to create the distressed worn look.
The actual laguna blue paint looks to have been done to replicate an amatuer paint finish (think orange peel/matt/satin finish). My feeling is that I need to feather down the edges to create a more worn look. My worry is that I'll also wear through the clear lacquer coat.
I have two thoughts. 1) to use very high grit sanding paper. 2) Use a buffing tool with very fine rubbing compound.
Any advice is welcome as 'if' I do this I want to achieve a realistic effect and not f it up: )
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If it’s polyurethane, it’s plastic. Hence the harsh edges. You could try feathering it down with wet and dry paper then buffing it to get rid of the scratches.
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When you say, "given what the body is finished with", what do you think it is finished in?
To me I'm just thinking about creating a softer look. Ironically I think Vintage used to do a better lookin road worn affect. The guitar is very playable though. I love the silky smooth neck.
To do any sort of work here you’ll need wet and dry paper from 800-2000 and a buffer with various compounds.
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On thing about is I won't be upset if it gets a little dink here or there!
Thanks for your thoughts.
Not sure what the paint is but doubt it is polyurethane!? It was reasonably soft paint and nice to work with.
Instantly that area of the guitar feels better not having the hard edges. In my opinion it looks less artificial but then again it will never look like a naturally distressed finish. There are places on that section which still show a little of the original stencilled shape.
I will order some ultra fine sanding paper though before continuing.
Glad you’re getting the results you’re after.
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Thanks. I've done a bit more and to me (others may not agree) but it does look and feel so much better.
Off to Reidys at Blackburn to look at some proper ones tomorrow: )
All hard edges gone but mentally now trying to think about where would be worn and where would be chipped.
I now need to wear a few of the wife's belts for the back: )
I must say I don't agree with a fair bit of where Vintage have placed the areas of wear: ( but just working with what is there.
I'd love to do one properly as you suggest one day but I suspect I'd spend more in materials than what it has cost me.
Part of me says that any reliced (other than natural) is cheesy and has to be just seen as tongue in cheek: )
https://www.crguitars.com/site/items/tyler-classic-ocean-teal
Just have fun with it !
The more I read, look at the finish and compare with past experience of stripping an old Squier (which was definitely polyurethane) I'd say the finish on this is nitrocellulose.
There appears to be 3 layers a clear base coat, the blue coat and then another coat which has a slight yellow tint (can clearly make it out on the photo of the back) which I guess is otherwise clear. All 3 coats are thin and appear to respond quickly to buffing. Also (not that I have done much... hardly any) but it appears to scrape easily.
As Dr Bob has suggested... just having fun: )
i think you are starting to get it on the right track. It needs some subtle chips and discolouration to bring it all together.
there are 3 pics about half way down this article showing the difference between worn through, worn through and chipped slightly and finally worn through, chipped and tinted
https://www.theguitarmagazine.com/diy/relic-nitro-finish/
It won't be nitro, and that would look better... but I think from where you are you will still be able to get a more pleasing result.
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Thanks for the encouragement and the link to the article, it will be of great help.
Just looked at the Rory Gallagher Custom Shop.... in my opinion that looks awful for the money!