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I got tired of shopping for a truly old-looking guitar that didn't exist and decided to create my own. So I took some sandpaper and stain to my cheap classical to create this.

I think the headstock came out exactly like I envisioned, but the soundboard came out a little too mottled and contrasty. What do you think?





how it looked before:

I wouldn't have gone down that road but I do have some questions for you. How does it sound now? Was it a good guitar to begin with? Also, what's going on with your nut?

The horror............ Me either in terms of going down this road but since you did and presumably you wanted to do so I think that you did a great job of making this guitar look old and beat-up...... Nice work!

This is the first guitar I ever bought, just to see if I'd stick with it. A $30 ebay special (see the 'before' picture), and that's WITH shipping. Although most people would consider it a child's toy, and indeed it LOOKED like a toy before, but I think it sounds pretty decent.

I reslotted the nut myself to make the string spacing identical to my electric guitar - I figured this would help with muscle memory since I switch back and forth a lot. It's ugly but does the job.

The sound is pretty much the same as before I sanded it. I will admit that the action raised up about a 32nd of an inch, maybe because I sanded so much off the face that it weakened it? I've since lowered the saddle a little to compensate so it's basically the same as before.

THANKS! I think I have an unusual view on many things in this world. To me, acoustic guitars should feel old and look old - like they have their own sad story to tell!

Where's the "biting my tongue" emoticon?

If I try to look at it as an arts-n-crafts project as opposed to anything remotely related to lutherie, it becomes a bit more bearable. To each their own though. If you ended up with what you wanted, that's great.

I will at least commend you for your choice of instruments to modify - it looks like you came out with exactly what you were looking for, and didn't destroy an instrument worth preserving. And as much a smart-ass that I am, I do mean that as an honest compliment.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Ouch dude... words escape me... If you ment 'looking like someone took a low grit sand-paper and went to town on it' then, Bravo!

I think you might find some info on the web from people who try different techniques to 'age' a guitar...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Well....It doesn't really look old and worn to me. It just looks......sanded.

To each their own.

You are very welcome Jackie. I understand what you were doing here and I now understand why. I also admit that I have an attraction to older looking guitars that have some character and the appearance of being distressed.

Just keep in mind that many of the folks here, me included, have a bit of a bias regardless of if we will admit it or not.... We spend a lot of time trying to make guitars look shiny, bright, and new..... It's been said that whom ever decided that guitar need to be shiny - we should did them up and shoot them.....

I think this guitar might give Esteban shrinkage

C'mon guy's, Which one are you going to take out on a weekend in the bush and bash at around the campfire. This one is perfect for that, and I really like it for what it's intended to be.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

I think it looks good compared to Willie Nelsons old Martin!

I think it is ...what it is. No harm no foul! I wouldn't suggest you doing this to an expensive guitar, but at $30, I think it was appropriate. In fact, I bought my daughter the pink version of that same guitar. In all honestly, I think yours looks better! Ha ha

JD

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Joe

Ah yes - Trigger.

Is your daughter's a 'Crescent' brand? I actually got mine for A PENNY (plus $30 shipping). Thousands of these guitars are moved on ebay - mostly parents getting them for their kids to experiment with.

It's actually not a half bad guitar once you fix the action. Mine has spot-on intonation and sounds great (at least to me). Now it looks cool to me also. Best penny I ever spent.

Wow, a penny to make it look just like you want it to look and you say
it sounds good to you .Well, Good for you then Jackie .

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

If I wanted to make that guitar look old, I would paint it with ( your choice of color) milk paint; let it dry ; give a good sanding with 320 gt wet/dry paper;sand thru some areas to the wood ;make several dents and dings ,then apply a second coat, only this time use black milk paint; sand it lightly with 320 revealing some of the ( undercoat) ; sand in some places down to the wood; maybe duplicate heavy pick or fingernail scratches. After you are satisfied with look of the the distressing job, wipe the guitar down with a damp cloth let it dry, then top the whole thing off with a coat of BRIWAX or some other brand of colored wax. When the wax is dry, buff it with an old clean tee shirt. The coat of wax will give a soft luster to the guitar .The key to making any distressing job realistic looking is to duplicate where the item would normally show wear first; Try it; even if you just the black milk paint ;the process will still give you good results.

best wishes,
jack

I would've given you $35 for it before you did what you did, plus shipping and made some Kid happy.

MK

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

Well, I would say it needs some wine labels and a coat of decoupage.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.