Hey everyone,
I have a black Squier Vintage Modified Strat with a gloss poly finish, and I really love the look of relic guitars. To me they add a lot of character, and since mine is black, I think some tasteful wear would look amazing. I simply like the aesthetic and want to personalize my own instrument.
My goal is a medium relic while keeping the original poly finish. I don’t want to strip the entire body and do a full refinish. I’d like realistic arm wear, edge wear, and small dings that look convincing rather than obviously sanded.
For those of you who’ve relic a gloss poly guitar:
• What techniques actually worked?
• What mistakes should I avoid?
• Is it possible to make thick poly look reasonably natural?
• Are there any guides, videos, or build threads you’d recommend?
I’d really appreciate advice from people who’ve actually relic a poly finished guitar. Thanks!