Here's an experiment I did with one of my strats. It came stock with white bell knobs and white pup covers. I wanted to change it up a bit so I bought cream ones but they looked orangish instead. So I decided to try and age the look of the white pup covers and keep the cream knobs.
I started by sanding them with 1000 grit sandpaper, then finished with steel wool. I roughed the knobs up a bit with pliers and made some scratches in the pup covers. I then applied Old English dark wood stain to them and finished with a light spray coat of satin lacquer.
I don't know yet if I like it or not. I may try again to see if I get a better outcome. If I do I still have the pickguard that will need done to match them.
New orangish knob and pup cover with stock white knob
After the vintage treatment
Installed, not a good pic though
