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.blueshawk views
artificially aged guitars
 the blueshawk with his BluesHawk |  Honey Boy Blueshawk with his 1954 left-handed BluesHawk |
Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against guitar designs from earlier decades. I used to own an excellent, edge bound Telecaster and a Strat Plus - fine and honourable guitars both - recent interpretations of classic 40s/50s designs, and I think, distinct improvements on the originals.
I am sure that most of the original instruments that survive from the '50s and '60s have something worthwhile about them - not least, that must have been a major factor in their survival, when so many other guitars from that era have disappeared. Of course, many duds will also have been produced in the '50s and '60s. Some of those will also have survived - what will have been the effect of age on those instruments? Are they better now, than then? - does age improve all instruments?
Whatever... attempting to simulate the effects of ageing on an instrument, does not produce an old instrument, for better, or worse. The addition of rust to the bridge, nicks and scratches to the finish and dust and dirt to the pickup windings will never improve the sound.
Those changes that may genuinely contribute to an improved sound in an instrument over time - the slow change in the magnetic characteristics of the pickups, the long term seasoning of the wood - cannot be easily simulated.
Also, the ageing processes used by guitar manufacturers are necessarily limited. Nobody wants to buy a new (but aged guitar) with tuners that are so badly worn they barely work, tone marred by noisy controls and frets so badly worn that the guitar becomes unplayable.
The ageing process is therefore a selective sham -
 | you do age the cosmetic stuff that makes the instrument look old |
| you don't age the stuff that limits playability |
| you can't age the stuff that might have a significant impact on sound |
The whole game has reached it's illogical conclusion in the artificial ageing of amplifiers - I have no real argument with using older designs and constructional techniques - for example point to point wiring - (although I remain to be convince that they have a significant impact on sound) - but the application of cigarette burns and drink stains to the case, and dust, grime and finger-marks to the interior - pull the other one!
The truth of the matter is that manufacturers - especially Fender - have spotted a way in which they can make oodles of money ("ageing" is a sophisticated process only practiced by the Custom Shop girls and boys). This plays on the narcissism and self-delusion of people with more money than sense. Not a new phenomenon I know - but it becomes particularly offensive when some guitar magazines sycophantically defend "ageing", so as not to offend large guitar manufacturers.
Let's hope we never see a line of artificially aged BluesHawks - honest, well-made, new guitars will always have more real value than pretend old ones.
