How do you feel about "relic" guitars?

[Fab4]

Is there anyone on The Fret who really LIKES relic guitars? Not just well used once-new ones, but modern relics made to look worn on purpose.

Toss in your 2 cents. We'll be nice (at least I will, I promise.) Let us know what the appeal is to you. What do you think is good/cool about them?

 

[sunvalleylaw]

From my point of view, unless you primarily want the relic version of a guitar mostly as an art piece, or maybe to play with lightly just at home, a relic replica is not useful to a musician that plays. It is designed and built to look just like some artist's guitar, and if you go out and really use it, you will change it from that to something else with your own wear. I will be nice to anyone that shares their desire for a relic too.

 

[wingsdad]

I think the whole 'relic'd' thing started early one Monday morning at the Fender or Gibson factory when some hungover dude on the line in the finishing dept tripped and hit the switch at the wrong time and screwed up. His supervisor took the goofy ruined body to his boss, who took it to a suit from the marketing dept, who went to lunch with more suits, they had about 3 Martinis, started rapping about P.T. Barnum, were reminded that Barnum said 'A sucker is born every minute!' and thus came up with the brilliant idea to capitalize on the whole 'collector' niche craze thing and throw a premium 'custom shop' price tag on it and feed the mess to the unsuspecting, naieve and hungry yuppy-with-disposable-cash market demo.

Meanwhile, the supervisor got a big fat bonus check for salvaging garbage into gold and fired the ******* who accidentally came up with a way for the corporation to open an untapped revenue stream.

Sort of like how Penicillin and 'vulcanized rubber' were discovered....

 

[Fab4]

Sort of like how Penicillin and 'vulcanized rubber' were discovered....

Hmm. Both advances that revolutionized their respective industries. So, you're saying that relic-ing is the wave of the future, and we'll see exponential advances in relic technology that will create a brighter, healthier, more productive world for us all?

Well, that's something to look forward to. And to think, we were here when it all began...

 

[Gil Janus]

But isnt the David Gilmore a Black on Burst???
A finish like that kinda begs to be relic'd...although I think Im more of a fan of replicas.

Yes it is - but the guitar itself is not relic'd - that is left up to the player :thwap:

Gil

 

[Fab4]

It is designed and built to look just like some artist's guitar, and if you go out and really use it, you will change it from that to something else with your own wear.

I have no problem with "artist tribute" guitars, but I wouldn't pay $10,000+ for any of them. I thought the SRV #1 tribute was really fascinating, with its 1/4"-deep crater above the pickguard, the upside down trem and the twinkle tape "Custom" sticker. It also sounded great. Same for the Andy Summers model. The wear patterns and mods give you a look inside the players' heads and let you feel something of what they felt when they picked up their main guitars. The recreation process is interesting, too.

I like the fact that Fender is offering the Gilmore tribute Strat in "artist relic" and NOS condition. You can decide if the replicated mojo of David's own scratch and dent pattern is worth an extra $800 to you.

Most relic guitars, on the other hand, aren't modeled off of a particular guitar. They're simply aged to show typical wear patterns that might have occurred if the guitars had been played heavily and knocked around a bit. That's simply fake mojo in my eye, which impresses me as intellectually dishonest.

 

[ShortBuSX]

Is there anyone on The Fret who really LIKES relic guitars? Not just well used once-new ones, but modern relics made to look worn on purpose.

Toss in your 2 cents. We'll be nice (at least I will, I promise.) Let us know what the appeal is to you. What do you think is good/cool about them?

I would totally buy this guitar.(and have never been a Clash fan)

Itd be even better if I found one used!(at a slightly more reasonable price)
If you havent handled one, I really recommend you check it out...its totally got that thrift store denim look and feel...I even like that left out in the rain look its got.
And its not like youre worried about mangling it yourself...Id even go as far as to use it as a drink coaster or TV tray! I mean...what could go wrong?

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Maybe the relic thing started with those who have played & experienced good old guitars & those who wish they had. The old beaters attained some cachet, because a good guitar gets played, the bad ones get ignored.

The brain is a lazy instrument. It probably doesn't take too many visual/auditory inputs to permanently assoctiated great tone with really beat-up wood.

The one real benefit that I can see with relics is a worn-in feel, how much money that is worth to you is up to you & your overconditioned brain.


My overconditioned brain thinks tone comes from closing your eyes & soaking in the tone waves that are all around us but need wooing to manifest.


That & the forty amphs, guitars, etc that I am currently drooling over.

 

[ShortBuSX]

My overconditioned brain thinks tone comes from closing your eyes & soaking in the tone waves that are all around us but need wooing to manifest.

My overconditioned brain just wants more and different guitars...in different colors, shapes and in varying conditions.

 

[Geraint Jones]

As a huge Clash fan I`d never buy the relic Tele , it seems completely against the Clash and Strummer`s punk ethos , quite a few years back I bought a Tele after a lunch time sesh in the pub and sanded the custard yellow finish off virtually destroying any value the guitar had , I did`nt care though it was exactly what i wanted, a workhorse guitar that i was`nt bothered about being abused . Anyway i`m off now to go shopping for a willie nelson relic .

 

[markb]

As a huge Clash fan I`d never buy the relic Tele , it seems completely against the Clash and Strummer`s punk ethos

Hear, hear on the Strummer tele. It's just the kind of corporate cash-in that Joe would never have authorised in his lifetime.

Anyway i`m off now to go shopping for a willie nelson relic

Yep, just what the world needs! A nylon strung Martin with holes in it :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

 

[Geraint Jones]

Mind you if the price was right as discussed earlier i might consider it . I remember reading an interview with Andy Summers a few months back about the Tele he`d bought for a few hundred quid in the early days of the Police, I bet the Fender execs are having a big Christmas party this year.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

My overconditioned brain just wants more and different guitars...in different colors, shapes and in varying conditions.

Yes, "relic" is just another finish option like candy-apple red or paisley. It's typically an expensive "upgrade", but if that look floats your boat then so be it.

 

[ShortBuSX]

Yes, "relic" is just another finish option like candy-apple red or paisley. It's typically an expensive "upgrade", but if that look floats your boat then so be it.

And Im saying go look at one, pick one up...I really didnt think much of that guitar before doing so, like Id said, Ive never even been a Clash fan, that guitar is just cool man.
But I reckon like most things around here, its subjective...were going to have differing opinions on occasion *shrug*

 

[bigoldron]

Anyway i`m off now to go shopping for a willie nelson relic .

Have you seen Willie lately? He's pretty much in the relic status as well... His guitar has the "relic" look, but it came by it honestly. I still love his music and hearing him play and sing! :master:

 

[Geraint Jones]

Yeah, Willie Nelson he`s one of a kind . The strings must be the only thing holding that Martin together .

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

And Im saying go look at one, pick one up...I really didnt think much of that guitar before doing so, like Id said, Ive never even been a Clash fan, that guitar is just cool man.
But I reckon like most things around here, its subjective...were going to have differing opinions on occasion *shrug*

I didn't even realize that we were having a difference of opinion, but of course that will happen now & then.

I'll definitely give one a try if I see one.

 

[ShortBuSX]

I didn't even realize that we were having a difference of opinion, but of course that will happen now & then.

I'll definitely give one a try if I see one.

...but if that look floats your boat then so be it.

Sorry, I reckon I took your response the wrong way.
But do me a favor and lemme know what you think of the JS when you do get a chance to try one.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Sorry, I reckon I took your response the wrong way.
But do me a favor and lemme know what you think of the JS when you do get a chance to try one.

Yes, I see. Some use the "floats your boat" phrase in a snide way. I meant it in a "Whatever gets you through the night...It's alright. It's alright." kind'a way.

Nothing wrong with a floating boat as far as I can see.