Aging/Relic-ing

Give Kim a call at Historic Makeovers. He has a few different packages for everyones price range. They are doing great work down in Fl.
Another is Dave Johnson (might be the best) but very long wait time.

For anyone in the UK, John Gill at JXG Guitars in Newcastle upon Tyne does an excellent job of aging guitars.

I had a maple strat neck aged. The Saga strat neck replacedment had tinted lacquer on it... and was just on too thick for my liking. So I paid to have it relic'd very lightly and I wanted the finish to be a bit thinner. It's easier to 'break in' now and it feels good. I told the guy the positions I play in most ( A and E pentatonics) and the regular chords... so you can see some wear spots where they would be if I had been playing the neck for 30 years.

I know it's kind of a fan boy thing, but I hate the way new guitars feel. and on a cheap strat kit that I built, it was worth a try and I like it for what it's worth. I don't think I'd ever pay to relic a Gibson.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

I've never been a fan of the artificial aging thing.  My now 10 year old Historic R8 has been played so often it feels broken in and comfortable.  I'm glad I "aged" this guitar the old fashioned way.  However, my rarely played Stratocaster neck still feels less inviting after 6 years now.  I played an off the rack Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster once that had an artificially aged neck and I was stunned how nice the neck felt when compared to my Strat.  I was so impressed that I now concede that artificially aging the neck of any guitar is a legitimate upgrade and I am now considering having the neck on my Strat aged...maybe I'll play it more.  I'm still not sold on the body and hardware aging though...I don't like the fake vibe.