Is it possible to weather a tartan without damaging it?

[Katia]

Anne's last comment on faded, prewashed (and it may be added, "distressed") jeans, brought to mind, the rather interesting, perhaps odd, option to purchase new electric guitars and basses from several makers, "factory-relic-ed" and even "heavily relic-ed."

Intent is allowing the purchaser to possess an instrument which appears to have been long-and-heavily played, having suffered the ravages of time, "road wear" and "battle damage," without having to put in the playing time / effort-"dues-paying," oneself.

OTOH... once the playing begins, this fact will likely become painfully obvious...