Aging your Hardware: Telecasters, Stratocasters, Les Pauls and SGs

Aging hardware can be a hassle if you don't really know what you are doing. I'm here to teach you how. When a guitar's hardware ages, the metal pieces loose there shine and luster.

Notice how the tailpeice has almost completely lost its shine on this 1956 Gibson Les Paul TV Special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why does this happen? Hardware ages because of the wearing down of layers on the hardware.

Aged 1959 Gibson Les Paul

This 1952 Fender Telecaster has suffered from heavy aging and abuse on every bit of it, just notice how the bridge plate, control plate, bridge screws and regular screws have rusted and oxidized.

I'm going to give you a few methods for aging hardware like this, maybe not as bad as the Tele, but more like the two Les Pauls up top. There are  a lot of ways for aging hardware but the TWO best ways to age hardware are with chemicals and a little abuse for nicks and scratches. What needs to be done with chemicals is easy but dangerous, so take the right precautions.

You need two tupper wear( Glad or Rubbermaid containers, one large and the other small. You also need Muriatic acid (a concrete cleaner sold in hardware stores).

 Only pour very little of the acid in the large container, there doesn't need to be much poured, only 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch should be poured in.

Take your bridge plate, tail piece, ABR & Tune O Matic bridges, ashtray bridge covers, tuners, metal knobs, pots, etc.. in the smaller container and place it inside of the large container.

Seal up the large container and wait 20 minutes, *monitor what is going on* (also depends on the material of the hardware. Nickle ages nice and short, while chrome rakes more time to age during the chemical action)

Take out the hardware you placed in and inspect it to check if it's up to YOUR standards

Next take your hardware (except bridge plates, tailpieces, ABR & Tune O Matic bridges) and place them in a bag and seal that bag

Place that bag in a bog and close the box and shake it, SHAKE THE HELL OUT OF IT but don't over do it.

Check to see if your shaking made your hardware up to your standards.

Place hardware back in your guitar

** For added effect use steel wool and rub those spots that you hit the most to make it age even more**

That should be it, the methods you don't want to use for aging is using. Do not use pcb etching agent because that will striptoo much of the plating on your hardware unless you want your hardware to look like that of the Trussart Steelcaster

Good Luck and leave a comment if your have questions and suggestions or to seek further help.