Do you think Gibson buys dirt to rub into their Custom Shop guitars to "age" them?

[Nathanananan]

After they scratch the hell out of the custom shop guitars with a screw driver, do you think they have a pile of dirt sitting on the bench that they rub all over the guitar to make it look even more f**ked up?

I wonder if they prefer one pile of dirt over another.

I also wonder if they add motor oil to the dirt to put on the fret board to make it even more grimed up.

[morelia]

I think it's usually a stain designed for timber. Dirt and oil would likely repel any further clear coat added.

[vurt]

i look forward to the tone dirt wars.

[lfm]

Since every player will sound unique playing it, it does not have to look unique too.

But if they can save on laquer finish with worn or roadworn or what series are called will bring as good an instrument for less money, which is fine.

[mrcleats]

It's bizarre isn't it? And Fender are just as ridiculous, if not even more so - that odd tuner they put on the Rory Gallagher strat, a guitar that they apparently put all the finish on before removing about 99 percent of it as if Rory sweated it off for you personally, is just, well, yeah!

[Nathanananan]

that odd tuner they put on the Rory Gallagher strat,

Tuning Machines: 5 Sperzel® Die-Cast Machine Heads with 1 Mis-Matched Gotoh®

next they will start urinating on the guitars just to add a little more vibe.

[Nathanananan]

That said I do see the appeal of an old worn guitar (or at least I used to)

Back in 1996 I seen a clip of Willie Nelson and trigger on MTV. After that I took a screw driver to my Starfield Custom Les Paul Lawsuit guitar.... This was in 96 when I was 16 way before any relicing started to become a fad.

But now that I am older I take extreme care with any guitar I have. I dont want my guitar to looked aged AF.

[YnJ]

It's bizarre isn't it? And Fender are just as ridiculous, if not even more so - that odd tuner they put on the Rory Gallagher strat, a guitar that they apparently put all the finish on before removing about 99 percent of it as if Rory sweated it off for you personally, is just, well, yeah!

I have a 1988 Fender Strat which I have played a lot, for a long time it was my only good guitar. The frets are worn down and need replacement, the finish hasn't aged much though, still looks almost like a new guitar, except for the fretboard, which also is pretty worn, and the frets. It only has some minor wear on the surface of the finish on the backside from rubbing against belt buckles, and that studded belt I used for a while when playing live

[stoopicus]

I just want to offer that before any of you pay top dollar for a relic treatment on your new Gibson, if you send it to me I will happily beat the shit out of it for you for just the cost of postage

[Dirk Diggler]

Nope they don't buy dirt, they just go out back behind the factory and use natural dirt. LOL

[CapnLockheed]

I've met and hung out with Tommy Murphy a bunch of times back in the day before he joined Gibson. He's from Marion, IL and I lived in Carbondale a few miles away. We had several local
vintage shops and Tommy often hung out. He's a hell of a nice guy and was always very generous with his time and knowledge. I can confirm he used only the finest quality imported dirt.

[whassup]

Nope they don't buy dirt, they just go out back behind the factory and use natural dirt. LOL

Now that's kinda ... disappointing. I thought at least they'd have some vintage dirt. Dirt from a '67 Mustang barn find that hasn't been washed in 40 years. Something like that.

[whassup]

I've met and hung out with Tommy Murphy a bunch of times back in the day before he joined Gibson. He's from Marion, IL and I lived in Carbondale a few miles away. We had several local
vintage shops and Tommy often hung out. He's a hell of a nice guy and was always very generous with his time and knowledge. I can confirm he used only the finest quality imported dirt.

There! Much better dirt!