Is this Reliced thing played out yet?

[DankStar]

not sure - how about I let you know after I get this (Edwards relic):



Cave Creek Guitars in AZ gets their own relic from Fender that is sick, it's beat to heck but plays like a dream and looks cool. Not $3K cool, but still.

What's funny is, I want a relic, but I would never want to beat up a guitar as bad as a relic. I don't know who even treats their gear this way (well, I understand pro players doing it every night). I would have to willingly drop stuff on it, run it into walls, etc. Even on the guitars I've played a ton, I haven't worn the finish off by playing alone. I mean, my arm isn't made of sandpaper.

[grumptruck]

I wish they would just release guitars with no paint on them period.

For that relic sound without the dooshbagery.

[ImmortalSix]

I wish they would just release guitars with no paint on them period.

For that relic sound without the dooshbagery.

Business idea!

[ErikH]

I never got in to them to begin with. I thought it was stupid from the start. Reminded me of seeing jeans all torn up and worn out at the stores selling for more than a nice pair that's not worn out.

My #1 is naturally relic'd. Got a few others that are naturally worn too. I have no problem buying a used guitar that is worn from being used but I will not spend my money on a new guitar made to look like it was used.

[ItsaBass]

FYI, the Leo Fender-era G&Ls were NCL finished.

But the Rustics are very nice.

Bill

Is that so? I did not know that. Could swear I have played '80's ones that were definitely poly.

[JordanM82]

I don't get all the hate, I have a road worn Strat body as part of my partscaster and frankly speaking it sounds fantastic. It's light, with a thin finish (that happens to be nitro) and it feels good too. I don't care how it looks, I didn't buy it for it's looks, I bought it because it sounded and felt great. Try playing one if you haven't, I have found that these guitars sound great and feel good in hand for the vast majority of them that I have played... I don't own a bunch of relics, honestly, it does nothing for me aesthetically, but if it sounds great and feels good, maybe we should just go easy on the criticism.

And what the heck is a "Blues Lawyer", is it wrong for someone who's main profession is not making music to be interested in Blues? Gear? Specific Guitars? Or even collecting instruments? Seems like a super judgmental attitude towards people who maybe can't play as good or don't know as much about gear as we do... maybe we should look to help educate instead of passing judgment so much.

[Chris of Arabia]

I'm not bought one myself, but I do like some of the ones that are out there; Gibson 'Paul Kossoff' model, Tokai did a reliced Love Rock at one point (not seen one in ages), and there are some very nice Custom Shop Fender's over at Wildwood. With the latter though, it's very much the ones that sound good, for those that have video clips, that interest me. I've never tried one, so maybe I'd like them, or maybe not.

[ratherdashing]

The concept of attempting to fast track that process, to give the illusion of the passage of time, is a reflection of the aesthetic superficiality that plagues much of the Western world, where it is more important to look the part than actually be the part, or to look like you know what you're doing rather than just doing it. It all seems a bit silly, and even sillier when such an illusion should also come at significantly extra expense.

This is my feeling as well. It's all about vanity.

[Vengeance]

You want to beat the crap out of your guitar or just play it till it falls a part that's all your choice. I'll be damned if I will ever walk into a store and pay any kind of money for a NEW guitar that is beat to hell. Back in the day that was scratch n dent discount not to mark it up $1k.


vv sarcasm vv

Take your fake relics and go ahead and put on some fake inlays while your at it.

^^sarcasm^^

[blueman335]

I never got in to them to begin with. I thought it was stupid from the start. Reminded me of seeing jeans all torn up and worn out at the stores selling for more than a nice pair that's not worn out.

+1. Play it and let it break-in and wear naturally. 'Pre-worn' for anything new is a major turnoff for me. Why pretend?

Aren't the road worn Fenders simply a way to sell factory 2nds without a discount? They're taking blems and adding more blemishes so you can't find the original flaw. Great idea on the manufacturer's part. I'm sure every company wishes they could get away with it. What other new products would you buy that are beat up?

[Powdered Toast Man]

And what the heck is a "Blues Lawyer", is it wrong for someone who's main profession is not making music to be interested in Blues? Gear? Specific Guitars? Or even collecting instruments? Seems like a super judgmental attitude towards people who maybe can't play as good or don't know as much about gear as we do... maybe we should look to help educate instead of passing judgment so much.

I believe it refers to guys who can't really play all that well but insist on buying the "BEST" pieces of gear out there and then sit it on a stand at home just to show off to their friends. Pseudo musicians who have the disposable income and nothing better to do with their money.

[BloodRose]

The "boom" is over, yes.



Now we're on to "pawn shop oddities," which is equally hilarious

LOL!! Yeah.. They were goofy then and they are more goofy now. then they were guitars gone wrong. Now they are more goofy cuz they are guitars puposely designed look like guitars gone wrong..


Im still WTF? on relics too.. I nearly cry when I get a ding on my guitars. I like em new.. Ive gotten over this alil bit as my playing has improved some and Im more into playing and less into pampering, Im not so picky.. but I sure cant see paying more for something thats pre abused

I will say, the only thing I find neat about it, is the care and detail that goes into replicating these duplicate famous guitars. I played a 5150 once and it was pretty cool.. Only thing missing was the smell of cigarette smoke..

[rumblebox]

i used to like new relic'd guitars, but now i think it kinda cheapens the truly worn guitars.

[xxxplorer]

My guitar is beat to crap by me and my drummer's cymbols and the many many beers we consume. Or do the beers we consume contribute to the beat to crapiness?

I do agree though... all these people know about builders and parts but not how to play or what sounds like what and who played what.

I remember in my teens blasting a strat through a Marshall at my parents house and going down stairs, outside to get the mail and a contractor at my neighbor's house commented that I was playing a strat really loud... I was in awe at the time that some dude on the street knew what I was playing and thought he was magical.

These people are getting scarce. Too many people use their eyes. Yes as Crusty pointed out, when you watch your hero play THAT guitar, it's that much better... but when you judge a guy at a bar for it... it's you that sucks.

[Hellion]

I don't think it's going anywhere but what always struck me as ironic was the level of expertise and expense involved in making an expensive guitar more expensive by making it look like an old piece of crap.

Trashed 74 LP? 1.5k-ish. New LP made to look that bad? 5k.

+1

[ItsaBass]

We cannot really blame the guitar companies. The simple fact of the matter is that relics wouldn't exist unless people bought them. They aren't making them for their health. If I was Fender or Gibson, and there was a market of people stupid enough to pay THAT much for a screwed up guitar, you can bet your ass I'd be cranking them out too!

And there is no denying that among the relics are some very nice sounding (though often incredibly stupid looking) guitars. I am kind of one of those stupid folks! I had to have the G&L Rustic. However, it has a few saving graces: 1) It was too cool to see a brand new lacquer-covered G&L. 2) It is a rare color for a Legacy Rustic (in fact, the only one I've ever seen in any color other than lake Placid Blue or Blonde). 3) G&Ls relic work is relatively light, and at least partially reversible without too much hassle. (Polish up the hardware, clean the plastic, touch up the chips, and buff out the finish.) 4) I got it for only $165 more than I would have paid for a standard poly-finished Legacy. There is no way I would have paid the standard retail price of $2,150 for the thing! And that retail price is not even expensive in the grand scheme of the relic market.



And not everyone who has a relic fits the blues lawyer mold. My friend, who I admire greatly as a guitarist, has an early Relic ('96 or '97, I think). And I know that she is cool and low key, totally pro, and not trying to put on a front for anyone. A worn fiesta red Strat is just her dream guitar, and how on Earth would she ever afford a real one? She got it used too. Here she is tearin' it up:



So, while I generally think relics are idiotic, there are exceptions. It depends more on the people playing them, and the circumstances that led to them playing them, than on the instruments themselves.

[blueman335]

I believe it refers to guys who can't really play all that well but insist on buying the "BEST" pieces of gear out there and then sit it on a stand at home just to show off to their friends. Pseudo musicians who have the disposable income and nothing better to do with their money.

+1. It's not that it's anyone's particular job, it's guys with way more money than playing ability, and that they usually flaunt it (the money and the lack of skill both). If your guitar is a status symbol more than a musical instrument, there are some people that won't be impressed. Maybe if they spent more time practicing and less time bragging. I'd much rather listen to, and talk to, a great player, regardless of what kind of guitar he has.

[Agileguy_101]

+1. It's not that it's anyone's particular job, it's guys with way more money than playing ability, and that they usually flaunt it (the money and the lack of skill both). If your guitar is a status symbol more than a musical instrument, there are some people that won't be impressed. Maybe if they spent more time practicing and less time bragging. I'd much rather listen to, and talk to, a great player, regardless of what kind of guitar he has.

Unless he's got a Fender.

[blueman335]

Unless he's got a Fender.

Funny guy. Most of my friends play Fenders, and somehow we manage to get along fine, in spite of our instrument preferences. Everybody thinks it's funny. But you guys get behind a computer and get pissed and start throwing (verbal) punches. What gives?

[Varg]

I wish they would just release guitars with no paint on them period.

For that relic sound without the dooshbagery.

A local guy was selling an old Korean Epi LP he had stripped all the paint and hardware off. I kinda wish I'd bought it, it woulda looked really cool and I had all the parts to get it going again.