Lifting light dents in Gibson "faded" finishes

[magnetbox]

So I recently bought an '00 Faded series, definitely in "player" condition, which I don't mind. But it looks like a previous owner took their pick or fingernail and made some little scribblely scratches in a few spots. We all know how soft these finishes are, and it looks like someone just got bored or nervous, lol.

It's not obvious from a distance but up close you can tell they're not from normal play wear. Like, imagine someone doodling on the back of an envelope. They're very shallow, don't break the cherry finish.

Anyway, as I'm cleaning it up, I thought to maybe use heat / steam to see if I could lift them out. Anyone done this on a Faded Series finish? Any tips or advice? I was thinking about using a wet washcloth and some gentle presses with a clothes iron.

 

[Norton]

hmmmmmm. on raw wood this works really well. On a finish.... I don't think that's going to have the same effect.

personally, my advice would be to leave the dents alone.

If you MUST have a pristine guitar look into drop filling finishes with CA glue. It works great.

 

[papagayo]

You can try lemon oil on a small surface.

 

[DCCable]

As far as I'm concerned the Faded guitars that Gibson sold are just DIY finishes that you don't have to pay Gibson's labor rates for the finish.

 

[Col Mustard]

Faded SGs are like that.
I wouldn't fuss with the finish. You're likely to do more harm than good IMHO.
The faded finish is thinner and softer than "regular" Gibson glossy lacquer
and definitely thinner and softer than the Polyurethane you find on other guitars.
You can expect your faded finish to pick up more little flaws like what you describe.
You can also expect it to wear thin where your arm contacts it and on the back of
the neck. Ignore these things and rock that sucker.

At the time those were made, Fender was selling truckloads of "Road Worn" Strats and Teles.
It was a thing. Now, not so much. But Gibson jumped on the bandwagon with the faded series.
IMHO, I think they nailed it. I bought one, not because I thought the faded idea was so great
but because I bonded with my SG while playing it in a store. The faded finish felt so good in my
hands, the guitar balanced perfectly (and still does), I love the tone and the neck and everything.
I wanted THAT guitar at THAT price. I still have it.

Here's my 2007 Faded SG next to my 1936 Martin 0-17. Both made of Mahogany, but about
70 years apart. This is what the "worn" finish was supposed to do.

IMHO dings and dents are easily acquired by a faded Gibson, but they don't look out of place.
Think of them as tone notches, and move on.

The faded series was what I consider "The Workingman's Gibson..." You get a real Gibson with all of its
tone and grace, but at a reasonable price. If you want gloss, there are plenty of Gibsons out there for sale.
What I like to use on my faded SG is Howard's Feed n Wax. She gets a little bit more glossy with that.
I've seen guys write scathing posts about Gibson's faded finish. They should sell those and buy what they
want. You pay more for a glossy finish and some questionable inlays. I prefer the totally simple look of
the SG faded special, which I then decorated with wooden parts, not plastic.

 

[Goldy'sSGs]

So I recently bought an '00 Faded series, definitely in "player" condition, which I don't mind. But it looks like a previous owner took their pick or fingernail and made some little scribblely scratches in a few spots. We all know how soft these finishes are, and it looks like someone just got bored or nervous, lol.

It's not obvious from a distance but up close you can tell they're not from normal play wear. Like, imagine someone doodling on the back of an envelope. They're very shallow, don't break the cherry finish.

Anyway, as I'm cleaning it up, I thought to maybe use heat / steam to see if I could lift them out. Anyone done this on a Faded Series finish? Any tips or advice? I was thinking about using a wet washcloth and some gentle presses with a clothes iron.

I’m with you, I can take a worn faded finish with some play wear, but when it looks like purposefully damaged, not so much. I would try one drop of h2o in the most inconspicuous spot and then a clean cloth and a soldering iron with a new pin point tip. See what happens?

 

[Kozmyk]

I have lifted dents and dings using steam from my espresso coffee machine.
I used a length of silicone tubing, like that used in fish tanks, pushed over the end of the steamer.
That allowed fine control over the area where steam was hitting the wood.
That was on actual dents and dings; quite how effective it would be on wear or gouges where material has been removed I don't know ?

 

[TChalms]

I would try a damp wash cloth and a warm iron real quickly on middle of the back - right in the belt buckle spot. Be real quick and see what that does. If it totally ruins the finish now you know, and you won't care too much. If it doesn't do anything try a little longer, or try turning the iron up.