I'm new to the forum so I apologize in advance if this has been addressed - I tried looking for it but couldn't find anything.

I've had my Strat for about 15+ years now and it still looks the same as the day I got it. I want it to have the worn look on the body of the guitar to give it more of that traditional beat up blues look. Outside of just sanding the finish down is there a preferred method to make it look like the Road Worn guitar?

Thanks a million!

Play it, if it still looks new after 15 years your guitar has a good finish. That worn look don`t make it play or sound any different nor does it make you play any better. Sanding down a perfectly good finish is crazy. They sell guitars that look old, I would consider that before taking your guitar to a belt sander. But thats just my opinion, theres plenty of members who like that beat up look and would tell you something different. It`s a matter of personal taste.
By the way, welcome to the forum, it can be a learning experience.

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You could drag it behind your car for a couple miles!!

Actually my 15 year old strat still looks pretty new. Only a couple MINOR dings, none on the front either. I think the modern finishes are much more bulletproof than the old ones.

getting the wear patterns the older strats have probably would take sandpaper, or something else drastic.



directly this is true. however I have heard several people speculate that these newer indestructible finishes are sealed so tight it prevents the wood from aging. many feel that these strats won't 'sound better with age' which is a common opinion of older models.

WOW..15 years and it still looks new……..All I can say on that is congratulation! Depending the finish that feat alone can be a task. I don’t believe I would take a sander to it…Like JPD said you may want to look at buying one of the road worn models…as far as how to wear the one you have; only thing I can say is lots of playing/ traveling to gigs and what not…. I can say a few of my guitars have got a bit of aging from what I believe is sun fading because the stands for those interments are close to a window (kind of gave the maple necks an aged / dark yellow looking tinge to them..)…..

Thanks everyone for responding.... I truly do play this guitar A LOT... several times a week and it's my primary gig guitar. Like Twelvebar, it has minor dings but no wear at all. Personally I like the look of a worn Blues Strat... it has character when you see it - it looks like it can almost tell you a story. I'm just looking for the same thing without having to go to a new Strat. Mine plays and feels perfect - I just didn't know if other people out there have felt the same way and wanted this look for their guitar.

I guess it's going behind the car tonight (ha).

Thanks for the advice.... I should just stick with what I have.

Carry it around in a gig bag.
That's why my bass looks the way it does.

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Theres only one way to get a worn finish on a guitar with a polyurethane or polyester finish, thats to wear it out. Treat it rough for a good couple of years. Your going to struggle to get the crazed lacquer look, and the paint wear just doesnt look real on aftermarket relic mods. for instance
http://www.caraguitars.com/relics.asp

This bloke seems to get good results.
http://www.stevesguitarsite.com/RELIC%20PART%201.html

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No no and no

Although his parts 4 and 5 are not accessible...

See, I hate that too. I don't want to put my blood, sweat and tears into so many gigs, parties, jam sessions, tours, life experiences, etc - only to look at my faithful companion and see nothing but a glistening guitar that just came off the shelf.

Those poly finishes are made to last forever. I believe that started that in 68. Good and bad. Personally, I'd rather have a guitar that looks like it's been loved and played over the years. Because of that, I stripped my 98 mia a few years back and refinished it in a wood stain. It was a whole new guitar, a better tone, and felt more like home. I have played hundreds of gigs with it, and tons of stories with it, and it looked like I had it in a case. Didn't like that.

I certainly don't want a beat up, broken and abused guitar, but I want it to look like it's been played, played a lot, and played hard. You look at it and think wow, that guy really loves playing that thing.

Road Worn and Relics. Fake? Yeah. But I like that look myself. If you can't do it yourself over the years, to me, it's a cool substitute. If Fender wasn't getting a TON of requests for it, they wouldn't have bothered in the first place.

It took my 72 Strat 36 years of me sweating and spilling beer on it just to get it a bit dull looking. It's the ton of polyurethane finish they put on them. Just play the snot out of and don't polish it.

Take the neck off of your Strat, open the dryer door, place neck and body inside, add rocks, cement chunks, a few beer bottles, a shovel scoop of road gravel, and a dryer sheet, turn the timer to one hour, and go watch TV. This will give you the aged worn look that you want, and the dryer will look and act prematurely old also.

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Fender Forum member # 152,101 and proud of it!

I have no friends here,,,-snif- snif-

Is that why relic's are $500 more expensive than NOS. Its to cover the cost of spin dryers

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No no and no

Cavities in the guitar that are unfinished don't let the wood age? I thought they would of....but I could be wrong...

How do I get that worn finish?????

Wear more abrasive clothing.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I always wondered how Fender made those "Relics" I think he may be wrong, cuz, really, who would beleive the whole dryer sheet thing. Really....does it make it come out softer and smelling April fresh??