Duncan Antiquities mods

[trevorus]

So, I have a set of Antiquities in my mid 90's LP Studio. Gold hardware, but the pickups were originally nickel. Anyone know if SD sells the aged covers so I can retain the look with the gold hardware? Or should I just go to town with steel wool and salt water?

 

[beaubrummels]

Just play 'em hard. Gold wears off pretty quick.

 

[Mincer]

Do they do aged gold? I have to admit, I haven't seen that.

 

[uOpt]

Do they do aged gold? I have to admit, I haven't seen that.

I have an aged SD custom shop humbucker set in aged gold, so they definitely do that. They sound and look exactly like Antiquities but are not labeled as such on the paperwork. Dunno why.

My memory says that SD might require you to send in the old pickups for them to keep the old covers before they give you different aged covers.

Or we could trade. I don't really have a use for aged gold humbuckers.

 

[GilmourD]

Since Antiquities aren't potted it shouldn't be rocket surgery to swap the covers for something else as long as the spacing is a proper 49.2mm. You just need a good hot iron (I love my Pinecill 2.0 powered with a higher wattage USB-C power brick for things like this). At that point, just find covers that look like what you want and swap them.

 

[trevorus]

Since Antiquities aren't potted it shouldn't be rocket surgery to swap the covers for something else as long as the spacing is a proper 49.2mm. You just need a good hot iron (I love my Pinecill 2.0 powered with a higher wattage USB-C power brick for things like this). At that point, just find covers that look like what you want and swap them.

I've already switched them to gold with philister screws and covers from Philadelphia Luthier Supply. They fit great and look great. It's just the hardware on the guitar is worn in, and the pickup covers aren't and that just makes me twitch a bit.

 

[GilmourD]

I've already switched them to gold with philister screws and covers from Philadelphia Luthier Supply. They fit great and look great. It's just the hardware on the guitar is worn in, and the pickup covers aren't and that just makes me twitch a bit.

Ohhhh, I gotcha. I was thinking they were still the original nickel.

Ummm... Got any pics? I'm curious how worn the rest of the hardware is in comparison to the pickup covers.

 

[Mincer]

Were the gold covers expensive? I might suggest to age them yourself, and if it doesn't come out great, try again. Or ask someone here that has done that sort of thing a lot to do it for you.