Scalpel Blade Nitro RELIC Process | Cutting on a Les Paul Just to See What Happens

[@delsydsoftware]

My main issue with distressing a guitar (or anything for that matter) is that if you keep and use the guitar for a lifetime, it will look so ragged and nasty. I understand that a lot of people who buy these are looking for shelf queens more than instruments, though. I'm not against the idea. It's just not my thing.

[@chrisphobia]

Actually really helpful for anyone making short films or stage production and the like. photo shoots, there's a lot more value to this then just "I wanna look like I play an old guitar" but yeah. you're 100 percent correct. a guitar that's "aged" day 1 will look like a heap of shite after year 10

[@wilhelmtheconquerer6214]

The freezer/hot air-technique and a UV-light for fading the colour will always be my favourite techniques for relicing, after all, that's how it actually happens, only sped up

[@wilhelmtheconquerer6214]

Monty's guitar finishing wax is another favourite for staining exposed wood and fretboards, so it's a good old pack of cigarettes for putting burns on the body and Headstock.

[@jonathanarlesten337]

Exactly! It's the only way of making it look natural.

[@danielreed725]

I have been watching you work for a year or two and I just want to pay my respects to you, Patrick. I know an artist when I see one and you are it. Your patience is remarkable! Thanks for all you do!

[@THEDARKILLERS46]

Patrick ?

[@ianhunter2242]

I’m sorry but I can’t believe what your doing, of all the luthiers I subscribe with, you were the last one I thought I would see vandalising a perfectly good usable guitar!

[@rmee5165]

I got just past the 5min. mark, and I can't watch anymore,... SORRY,... but this is just plain W R O N G ! ! !

[@ryanferris7841]

it’s inspiring for a lot of people because most of us can’t afford to buy the guitars we are drawn to like an old aged 50s LP!! Therefore if you create something that looks the close to a degree it inspires the player to pick the thing up and create art!! I don’t have a problem with that whatsoever.

[@connorbuck4936]

At the end of the day, guitars are just objects. People love old instruments not just because of the stories they have, but also because they have that worn in feel like an old armchair. If you can fake that and give it that comfortable feeling, then by god go for it. Great video! Looking forward to part 2.

[@fepatton]

I acquired my only “real” LP last year, and I treat it like it’s made of glass - I can’t imagine cutting into it, but you clearly have a vision. 😄 Regarding aging wood, when making a box for my Stanley 45 last year, I found a recipe using vinegar and steel wool that instantly and convincingly aged the pine to look like it had been in a barn for a century!

[@lordimpaler3899]

I use this method on some kit guitars and such. It works fantastically! For the record, different types of vinegar yeild different results. Also, consider wiping the wood down with Tannic Acid beforehand 👍

[@alfsmith4936]

@@lordimpaler3899 or strong tea.

[@sagegracemusic5981]

That checking doesn’t looks natural at all because you’re removing material the same thickness as the blade. It’s too wide and obvious. When it happens naturally there’s a much smaller gap that’s a lot more convincing.

[@andytraverse]

Absolutely, microcracks is what they are I guess.

[@Joey_McElroy]

I bet you can feel it as well, I know because I tried this technique on a nitro finished les Paul, and yup, you could feel the lines, real cracking is much less intense, no always, but sometimes you can’t even see them, until the light hits it.

[@edisonkillingelephants]

That is your opinion i think it looks great

[@alpeterson]

I have an older SG that’s well checked from age, out of curiosity I used a scalpel to put one fake check line in it because I wanted to know how hard it might be and how it would look compared to the real ones all around it. So I’m my neck heal one of the lines is man made, and it’s very obvious that it’s not real. At a casual glance it’s fine but if you look at it it doesn’t look the same and to feel it the line has ridges from the scalpel. So watching Ben do this it looks very faked to me because the ways that Gibson’s nitro vertically crack don’t look like this, it’s very different, less wavy than what Ben did. That being said, I don’t want to critique it because I see it as a form of art, maybe it’s not to everyone’s taste but it doesn’t have to be. Besides that, how can I critique what I wouldn’t have the guts or cash to do?? I can’t afford nor would I have the courage to buy a Les Paul Standard just to take a blade to the finish.

[@RickMcCargar]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Classic that has the original weight relief..and would like a belly carve and arm rest. So, my question is about how to go about cutting/sanding the binding on the top when doing the arm rest. If I end up removing all the binding for some length, with the ends of the binding "pop up" at some point, or can I work around the binding as if it's just part of the wood..I'm doubting that is the case. Re the belly carve, I guess I just need to find out how deep the weight relief holes are, and that is my limit on carving the back... So anyway, what do you think about the arm-rest binding ends? Thanks for any input.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Should be fin, and if it pops up just superglue it down again. Ben

[@RickMcCargar]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Awesome, thank you!

[@1973retrorabbit]

Just in case I win this one... How much do you charge to refinish a Les Paul? 🤔 I'm very much of the opinion, when it comes to this kinda thing, "it's your guitar, do what you want to it". But also, if you want a guitar that looks heavily aged, you could buy one that's been knocking around (often literally) since the 60s or 70s... Late 50s will cost silly money. My first guitar was a 1973 (tear I was born) Hayman 2020, I bought it in 1989, I was 15. If I could find one, I'd buy it, not just nostalgia but a genuinely adaptable guitar... Anyhoo... The alternative to me, buy a guitar and use it, play it, take it wherever you go, it'll soon wear in and age. I spend a lot of time making sure my SG stays looking as close to new as possible but that's just me... It'll eventually wear in the usual places but only ever wearing joggies when I play it, means it'll stay buckle rash free, always cleaning it after playing and dressing the fretboard now and again and of course, polishing the frets, keeps it grot and tarnish free.

[@danbuckingham5077]

Relic guitars can look absolutely awesome... providing that damage has a story behind it. If it's faked its removing the whole point of displaying the wear. "Wow, your guitar is really beat up, you must have travelled with world with it and played it for years!" "Nah, I just hacked at it with a knife"

[@jessieward2964]

After watching both videos now I absolutely love the look, it may be deep and a little overdone in some parts but in my opinion that is part of the beauty! I absolutely think that in a couple years when the real aging of the nitro catches up that this is going to look freaking magnificent! I am so freaking happy that we have a chance to win this guitar, it is a relic LP that has Ben's personal touch. I entered the raffle, I am so freaking excited about this hehe!!!! What a dream 🤘😁 Ps lol.. I am now rewatching both videos so I can take it all in, I am so happy with how it has turned out and I have learned quite a bit of things from these two videos. Thanks guys!

[@TheRealXira]

When aging hardware, place the hardware and a open jar of white vinegar (not the hardware in the jar though) in a largish container. Seal up the container, leave for half a day, to possibly 3 days depending on how aged your after. You are essentially making an acidic atmosphere, which in turn ages far better than submerging hardware into acid. Much easier to control the aging process, and also easier to neutralize the hardware to stop the acidic aging.

[@ZZ-oo9uz]

I’ve built 2 guitars, 1 tele & 1 strat, both have problem’s in the finish (small areas or even small dings).One day it occurred to me that I can say I did a very light relic job!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

That's the way 😀

[@tacratt6091]

The canned air works great, you have to turn the can upside down and spray the propellant on the guitar, it will frost over and you can get good coverage! You can hear the laquer crackling. Probably take a can for the back and front.

[@paulcantrell1615]

I've seen checking on guitars achieved by using a can of air duster and hair dryer. Basically the cold blast from the air duster then immediately using hair dryer to naturally crack the nitro.

[@SunsetPunk]

What I like with relicing is that it makes the guitar feel more interesting. I think of it just as another finish option, it’s a way to make the finish more interesting, like a story you can dig into and fantasize about, which also hopefully inspires me to play a certain way on the instrument. Other than that it also makes the instrument feel way more soft and comfortable to play to me ☺️ I don’t think I would relic a Nic Huber tho because the beauty in that clean hi end look is equally inspiring but in a different way. Thanks for posting Ben 🥳

[@Pandamasque]

My Japanese Edwards LP Custom has yellow-tinted nitro over poly finish. The got the yellowing very wrong (too dark). Is it worth trying to polish through the yellow nitro where the the white binding is (underneath it) to make it look lighter/whiter in shade by making the tinted nitro layer thinner? Too risky?

[@jessieward2964]

I absolutely love this, watching you learn and grow as you start at point A and end at point B is pretty amazing and inspiring. Very interesting, and looks very similar to some of the cracked nitro finishes I've seen in person

[@squib2807]

What an art. Excellent video. Thank you

[@steveDC51]

The relic look is a personal choice - no caveat required.

[@marcusadams8067]

I love the relic look, but I’m damn sure I wouldn’t be brave enough to do it myself

[@jeffreyringenberger1690]

Hey Ben, I've finally pulled the cord on this and am starting to buy all of the tools I need to start in this business. I have to admit that you have been a great inspiration to get me moving on this. If you or anyone reading this who has already started could slap together a quick list of the minimum required luthier specific tools that I'll need I would greatly appreciate it. I have basic woodworking tools, I just need the specific stuff. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

[@jukeboxheros7021]

off topic, I purchased a 79 strat in a Morocco Red color from a lady today. it belonged to her brother since new. when I opened the case it was laying on some bubble wrap and yes the bubble wrap pattern transformed onto the lacquer, bummer. is this repairable or am I screwed?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I've not tried to fox this sort of thing before, probably a respray though it may well flatten out in time. Not my area of expertise just yet, though I'm sure it will happen to me too one day! Ben

[@claudevieaul1465]

I'm not much for relicing an instrument, I'd rather see natural traces of years of use - but having said that, I do have a *very* heavy relic'ed Tele! 🤣 It really looks like it's been in a swamp for 30 years and then dragged behind a car for a while - and I love it! My vintage instruments, mostly Japanese Matsumoku-era Aria Pro II's, all have natural distress due to being played for decades - and a lot of thát was actually done by me... The first scratch is always the worst, after that it just becomes part of that character. In short: Do as you please Ben 😉

[@idijai]

That genuinley looks amazing. Never been a relic guitar kinda guy.. But I could be!

[@anpunefru]

I have several gibsons and those checking go from not there up to lacquer jumping at you (not really) but on all of the the lines go the other way.

[@unitednihilists]

Well done! Looks awesome.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

It would be an idea to create a Jig for the Scalpel Blade set up like a reverse angled Plane, so that you could set the depth and ensure as light a cut as possible!

[@GunnarCreutz]

Interesting to experience my own reaction to this heresy! The result looks quite convincing!

[@martinclayton7260]

You could just give the Les Paul to me! Could you make a video about taking the finish off, and then refinishing with a different colour?

[@Damos720]

This ….all day long

[@garethtravis1786]

@CrimsonCustomGuitars what size scalpel blade do you prefer?

[@ianrose5505]

Really interesting thank you Ben

[@thahacksaw]

Ben, you're a legend. Thanks for bringing us fun vids. And thanks for not being afraid to show your process. I just love relic work on guitars. Never really seen someone do the finish checking with a razor and had it look real. But this looks fantastic. Cheers Sir!

[@TheMouldiwarp]

An aged guitar needs dents as well as checking. These dramatically impact how natural checking forms. One question I have which was elluded to in an early comment from Ben relates to the finish (a lot of plasticiser i think is what was said). In 2015 were gibson using Nitro still? I know they do for re-issue stuff but I would expect a 2015 standard to be poly?? Happy to be wrong on that.

[@ThroughFallenEyes]

I have 4 heavily checked Gibsons from the 80s and 90s. All happened naturally over time. Not one of them has finish flaking off the way you did it. All of mine are also fairly straight lines regarding the checking with only the occasional curve. All have heavy buckle rash. Two are toured guitars from 2 fairly big name 2000s era Canadian rock bands. Something about this just looks a bit off compared to mine. I also owned a used guitar shop for about 15 years and have seen hundreds of vintage guitars. I'm not saying this looks bad. I think it looks great. Just doesn't look quite right.

[@Ardanian]

Honestly not sure how I feel about relicing as an idea. If people want the look of an old guitar that's fine, but it feels dishonest, the guitar hasn't earned it's story. To each their own but relicing is not for me.

[@vanshankguitars]

I see a Gibson Les Paul refinishing video staring Badger in the spray booth in the next few months.

[@jonahguitarguy]

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but. You know how when we see or get a guitar in our shops, say 50s or 60s guitars. And they have been over sprayed or had a mod or repair of some sort. And we gasp as we realize what it could have worth or even just been a persevere original. I don’t know how old this guitar is now but let’s just look ahead 40 years and hear that gasp.

[@PaulCooksStuff]

Meh, Gibson churn out thousands of these every year. There's more than enough in mass production that a modern era LP isn't going to be rare. It's not like the 50s when they made a few handful, never sold well, and was withdrawn. Those remaining 50's examples are rare and valuable because of that scarcity and very limited production.

[@jonahguitarguy]

@@PaulCooksStuff, good point. But 100 years from now no one knows what will be rare.

[@PaulCooksStuff]

@@jonahguitarguy a hundred years from now they'll all be naturally relic'd, so again, this is no loss to guitar history.

[@michaelpeake626]

how about dulling the lacquer with a worn scochbrite pad ??

[@ianwelburn7514]

It would be amusing if the winner sent it in for restoration...

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I would absolutely LOVE that 😆

[@allenwilliams630]

After watching this i took a scalpel to my epi 335. Just the back for now. Still can't wrap my mind around doing it intentionally but im gonna cause i absolutely love the look and im too old for my guitar to achieve this naturally. Plus its an Epi. It will never be worth more than it is right now.

[@smbrumbaugh]

For me it loses what I like about the aging of old stuff if you artificially age something. I feel that way with furniture and such too. The reason I like the aging is because it carries a story, not just because it looks a certain way. The dings and cracks carry a story. Some stuff done in a shop to copy the look doesn't do it for me. That being said, nice job emulating it!

[@jeroen9637]

Fake relic on a guitar is like buying jeans with holes in it. People do that but I don’t understand why.

[@ericl6460]

Personally I like unique things. If my guitar looks the same as 1000 others it doesn't feel as special

[@opiate_warrior1474]

It looks good, that's why

[@0001111000220]

If you’ve played your main guitar until it’s heavily worn/broken in you want your other ones to have that feel too. It’s a comfort thing.

[@Damos720]

Jeans AOK - guitar Vandalism

[@brocktechnology]

So far it looks nothing like the reference piece. Which is what I'd expect. it's the reflective surface of the finish curling next to the crack that defines the look, the crack itself is nearly invisible.

[@stephenjarrett9066]

It's a strange thing. It could now be taken right back and refinished. The story could go on and on. I'm interested what it feels like to play because that's the main thing. Most of us don't have time to wait for our guitar to crack. I might try and win it. Haha.

[@geoffdillon6013]

Like that you are doing this and not me. Makes me cringe sometimes watching what you are doing. Like you, I came from humble beginnings and couldn’t afford a Les Paul until probably around 30 years old. Didn’t buy purely because I thought “I’m not paying that for a guitar” but have always loved their tone. I relented last year when I turned 50 and bought it as a bucket list guitar. Also own an SG and both Tele and strat so have the holy quad of rock guitars now, but absolutely love my LP and couldn’t do that to it if I wanted to. So thank you for showing us how to ruin a LP but at the same time make it look great. I will never do it.

[@philwild5279]

The relic look is a personal choice (and one that's not for me) but if you love guitars that have history & soul than aren't you faking that soul?

[@martinbrockley6585]

I agree

[@oldmantwofour5561]

Yes, you are. I knew a man once that said "The good ones get played and the bad ones get polished." While I don't 100% agree with that, owning several great guitars that also "get polished", there is something to be said about the natural progression of wear and how it changes a guitar. Just let it age on its own. It'll be the better for it.

[@Damos720]

I found that uncomfortable to watch - it’s destroying the soul of the guitar

[@TJJJJJJJJJJJ]

@5:10 😬 mate don’t gauge into the finish so deep, lacquer checking is (predominantly) much lighter. Use a finer scalpel or just don’t be so heavy handed with it. Keep in mind nitro never truly stops deteriorating so ass it gasses off those deep lines will,begin to flake real bad

[@MagicMusicAdam]

Really can't get behind this - even old guitars which have aged naturally don't look appealing to me. and if a guitar is covered in dings and scratches, to me it just means you didn't look after it. I still have my first "bought from new" guitar, a Peavey, that I bought in 1995, it's been played and gigged, and it only has one tiny ding on the back and some light swirl marks.

[@edkovac8978]

When are we going to see your new workbench build?

[@ianthomson9363]

I love the look of a crackled nitro finish, scratches and dings on an old guitar but I lean towards disapproving of relicing a newish guitar to make it have the look of an old one. Having said that, it does look good and I can appreciate what you've achieved. Would I want to own this guitar? Most probably not, but that comes down to personal choice and I don't think anyone can say it's right or wrong- it's a case of either liking it or not. I've seen a lot worse things done to a guitar, the Saved and Remade Workshop on Quest took an early 60s guitar which was in reasonable condition and could have been made playable, but they cut the body in half to make two doors for a cabinet and made the neck into a table lamp. I thought that was far worse than this.

[@fepatton]

😢

[@JamesMinchew]

Beat up guitars are cool. I'm glad you started on a guitar with wear as cutting into a pristine one might have made me feel queasy. The results are fabulous, though.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you. I couldn't have done it to one without a good deal of wear already, queasy doesn't even come close lol

[@rauschguitars]

I'd love to see the like vs dislike ratio on this one! 🤣

[@Damos720]

Defo … I can’t watch it … it’s so painful on a good looking guitar … I want this guitar returned to A1 and hung in his museum

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

The PRS one I did (badly) a decade ago had about 50/50 likes dislikes for the longest time

[@OldeDog_NewTricks]

I've been relic'ing my Gibson LP for a few years now. I should be done by 2032.

[@V.Drouin]

My head : Relicing is a really weird concept when you think about it. I mean, deliberately breaking something very expensive. Play and use the damn thing and it will relic naturally over time... My heart : OOOOUH FINISH CHECKING AND OXIDIZED HARDWARE. NICE. LET'S PUT MY GUITARS IN THE FREEZER RIGHT NOW.

[@lordimpaler3899]

Why do I feel like the only one who kinda digs how this looks?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you thank-you thank you! 😆

[@lordimpaler3899]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Im usually buying more budget friendly guitars, so it wouldn't make sense to do this to a poly coated instrument...but ur work on that Les Paul looks dope af from where im sitting

[@themusicstudy3669]

I love relic guitars, this looks like you scratched the shit out of a great guitar, just brutal

[@jamescrisafulli2140]

Why would you want to ruin the finish on a beautiful Gibson?

[@lolipoable]

Ithanks Ben, I would probably first hit 85% of the guitar with super fine sandpaper just to give most the guitar stain finish. It does look little odd.... But you haven't finished yet, so let's see end result

[@DrInorganick]

I feel like any relic job on a Les Paul should start with snapping off the headstock for the "true" experience of playing authentic

[@Paul-D]

So then whats tougher, the more technical/practical minded skill of using tools & set up. OR The more artisan/creative minded skill of being able to accurately and tastefully relic a guitar 🤔🤔

[@TheStobb50]

This modern world, vandalism becomes relicing and rust becomes Patina

[@johnyoung2828]

Ben please burn it and forget to put the flames out

[@bigthewig9624]

Ben I think this might be a bad idea, I do like worn in guitars and patina hardware, but umm that was a really nice original les Paul with its on story that now means nothing 😏

[@gerardocancino6161]

Hi i am your fan .......why you not make one doble guitar just like jimmy page please

[@philiphurdwell3443]

The wonderful thing is that really , anything goes and opinions vary..... artificial relicing is not for me, it's a little like trying to create a false "mojo".but that's just me. I have a strat that is well reliced simply by being played and surviving my long lost period of youthful exuberance!!!!

[@emm_arr]

It's funny how few other things get "relicked". Imagine paying for a new car then getting someone to relic it. Or a watch. Or a putting cute friendly dents in laptop.

[@jankalinski5789]

I couldn’t do it ! I thought I could, but I can’t!!! I got to 3:28-ish and had to stop watching!!!! It’s like someone drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa with a felt pen!! I need to go lie down for a while!!!! - Jan

[@Damos720]

Please restore this to A1 and I will buy 10 raffle tickets … maybe 11, pretty please

[@nigel4425]

First time I have ever done this with a Crimson video - watched the first 5 minutes then dragged the slider all the way to the end. Sorry, not for me.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Fair enough. I'm not planning on doing too much like this

[@Damos720]

Please restore it or give the option to the winner

[@m4d_mark_xtr3me79]

@ben crowe you can finish cheque by heating and rapidly cooling nitro finish... No need to scalpel it. Literally a bag of peas and a hair dryer or a heat gun.

[@johnwhitaker545]

There must be a great deal of remorse the day after doing that. I don’t know where I’d draw the line(no pun intended). I mean, it doesn’t look bad. You’ve done a good job at it. I just feel like the checking is something that could be felt when touching it and I’ve only had that once on w late 60’s fender mustang that had some different clear coat over the nitro and they didn’t agree with one another. It almost had a texture like lizard skin. Anyway, I think you’re doing good. It’s your guitar, and I was entertained. If anything it’s one helluva way to generate views lol.

[@jonkerr2050]

I don’t like heavy relic jobs. Honest, real wear, great. I have my Grandpas 59 Gibson LG2. It’s beat to hell. He bought it brand new in 1959 and played the hell out of it. And I love it. New guitars with a little aging, ok. I built a LP Jr kit with a satin red finish. When I put bright shiny nickel parts on, it looked like crap. A little aging on the nickel parts, the tuner buttons, and the pickup cover, and it looks great. But when I see 80% of the finish “worn” off and it looks like it was drug behind a truck, it just looks silly to me.

[@benharwood7417]

You should check out Dr Nitro at 8ball customs if you haven't already, he's sublime.

[@dougiedrever7168]

i thought the binding wasnt lacquered/scraped back so wouldnt have cracks on it

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

The binding has the stain scraped off before a layer of lacquer is applied.. I'm not sure it would have gone all the way around like I did it on this though..

[@jefferywarburton2116]

I wonder how sticky the finish on the back of the neck is.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Not sticky at all, feels pretty cool tbh

[@alfsmith4936]

I did this by accident.. All you need to do is keep it in a warm attic a while, then take it out to your mate's cold shed for a jam.. :S

[@TarnishedViking.]

WTF Did he just do? RELIC the Finish? What for? To destroy beauty for deception? 🤔🧐

[@maloneguitars]

I thought you'd got over this when you murdered that poor PRS... Bad Bun! You've been very naughty!🙄

[@jeffkellogg76]

Relicing to make a guitar look like a guitar hero’s over played baby is one thing. I can tolerate making a limited run of COPY units that resemble a guitar god’s favorite guitar that has tons of wear in the finish. BUT to ruin a perfectly good finish with a dual action sander just rubs me the wrong way. And even freezing and guitar to crackle the nitro finish is like getting a massage with a happy ending, which is cheating on your spouse, cheating is cheating.

[@ScottDreyfus]

This is hitting me watching it but I can’t look away. It’s a 17 car pileup.

[@SBZ5809]

Would you deliberately add dents and rust to a six year old car?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I have considered stripping my 2 year old van back to bare metal.. the plastic bumpers put me off the project..

[@Damos720]

Tragedy… please spend 4 more videos repairing this to A1 condition😢

[@lenwhatever4187]

Part of the story of a guitar is how it is.... the relicing won't add to the story very much unless someone worthwhile buys it and adds to that story.

[@fungusv375]

i'm sorry i cant watch this , it's making me cry that you're doing this. sorry

[@therockdemon]

normally i love the details and finishes ben does to guitars but this is really not good, i understand people like reliced guitars but i think it should happen naturally and doing this all over a guitar that had such a nice and clean finish (other than the buckle rash that i liked) is horrible

[@robfive2555]

Each to their own.. but this made me wince..lol It's just my shitty opinion but I feel that guitar wear has to be earned through playing it..

[@scottiecasey9312]

Ben drag it down the driveway to really checker the finish

[@savethedandelions]

it's not for me, and that's okay.

[@stephenkeen6044]

Not my thing. I feel that the dents, dings and scrapes should be earned as part of the history of the guitar. That's where the character comes from for me. It's a bit like tattooing scars onto your body. Similar to pre-torn jeans, I guess. It's an aesthetic, but it feels "deceptive", presenting a display of a "fake" history. I suppose it comes down to whether you like the look because of the feeling of history it provides or just like the look for the look itself. I know you love vintage tools... Would you relic a new tool? Would you sell relic'd tools? ;)

[@macgibbon]

For anyone who likes watching guys who know what they're doing (not saying Ben doesn't, he obviously does), check out 8Bomb Customs' channel if you don't know it. He makes his guitars look amazing. Special reference: Pearly Gates

[@pocketchange3543]

Sorry Ben. Fake weathering/aging just isn't my thing. It seems so pointless. You can't fake years of sweat, dirt, dust, grim and general abuse. You can't fake love.

[@dennislydon-dt4mq]

It’s your guitar, you can paint it, scrape it, or smash it. Who cares what people say.

[@felderup]

glenn fricker has a new shirt you might partner with him to sell.

[@pritchettdan]

Don't try this at home, kids.

[@rodjones117]

I can't explain this, but whilst I think Fenders look good when they're all worn and dented (Rory Gallagher's the ultimate), I really don't like it when it's a Gibson. A little natural wear from the players hands is fine, but not heavy damage. Just me...

[@monkeybrains]

Looks like a guitar someones mangled with a scalpel. You havent done yourself any favours showing your skills there.