The Ol' Special II gets a facelift.

[NO_H2O]

I have a Gibson Special II in Vintage Burst. Made in 1982 at the Kalamazoo plant. It had black pickup rings with black open coil pups, black knobs and missing the switch ring. The Schaller bridge had seen better days so while I was changing it out I thought I would try to give it some contrast.
I ordered some cream pup rings, switch ring and speed knobs. The new hardware looked too new so I scuffed it all down with a scotch-brite pad and stuck Everthing in a jar of very strong coffee for a few days. Now it looks the same age as the guitar But the camera does not pick the darker color up at all. Not sure about the speed knobs. May go back to the original hat knobs.
I also swapped the magnet in the bridge pup for an Alnico 4 rough cast.
My son will come and borrow it back and I will not see it again until it needs attention again.

[tubenit]

I like that!  THANKS for sharing the pictures.  Nice looking guitar.

With respect, Tubenit

[NO_H2O]

It's a fine playing guitar with an odd history. It was an original Epiphone USA Special II made in Kalamazoo 1982 as an answer to all the import guitars coming in to the country. They did not sell well. The Special II had a cost of $525 plus a $24 upcharge for the "vintage burst" finish. The ones that did not sell were sent back to Gibson and rebranded as Gibson Special II's. They already had a Gibson serial number and MADE IN USA stamped in the headstock so the re-sprayed the headstock and silkscreened the Gibson logo right over the silkscreened Epiphone USA logo. It came with Tim Shaw 1959 Les Paul tribute pups. The bridge pup had been replaced with a Seymour Duncan Distortion. So I ditched the ceramic magnet in favor of an Alnico 4.
Still not sure about the speed knobs.
What say you. Cream Speed Knobs or Original Hat Knobs.

[BetterOffShred]

I personally like the black hat knobs with the metal insert on top.  They look sweet on that already fine looking machine!  That guitar is pretty awesome, and thanks for the back story on it! 
-Brett

[tubenit]

I replaced the magnets in all three of my guitars with Alnico 3 in the neck and Alnico 2 in the bridges. It does make a positive significant difference in tone.

with respect, Tubenit