Relic finishes

[Sarah93003]

I think it's similar to "distressed" furniture. For years people will pay more money for a nice piece of furniture that is distressed to look like an antique. The furniture makers beat the top and sides with chains, nails, screws, cigarette burns, etc. to give it that aged look. You will also see painting schemes on furniture to make it look worn through on the edges, very much like the guitars are today. Perhaps it's just easier to find "distressed" or "relic" than to find an original antique.

I just think of it as decoration.

On the Gretsch forum you'll find all kinds of people who put pin-up art and dice knobs on their Gretsch to give it the "50's" look. Some folks don't like that at all and others love it. I think the pin-up art thing looks neat but I have no inclination to put a bikini clad woman on my guitar. So, I opted for "Rosie The Riveter" from the same era on one of my Gretsches.

[GattonFan]

I'd venture to say the guitar in the picture is a new relic - unless someone actually put a new pickguard on it. All the other plastic is yellowed - but not the guard.
Dennis

[Dennisthe Menace]

Well, I'm the only one that voted 'no' with the survey. I have no problem with someone wanting to own an 'old looking guitar,'
but my gosh, if you are going to spend anywhere from 3 to 6 grand from the Custom Shop, well then 'hey there Sunshine,'
why don't you just GO BUY an old guitar . There are plenty of old instruments out there and this type of buyer would
actually have an investment with his instrument.
Another reason I voted 'no' is that I just can't see 'wasting good wood' on messing up an instrument. Eco friendly...yeah, right .

[Veenture]

factory relic = faked mojo, period.

[Sarah93003]

factory relic = faked mojo, period.

= fojo.

[socoto]

I’m not into the relics as much as I’m into the ‘closet clean’ look. I used to think the relics were kindof dumb because they were ‘fake.’ Lately however I’ve really gotten into them. I look at it more as an art form, kind of like a custom paint job. I’ve never liked new guitars because I was always paranoid of ruining the finish. For me a guitar is meant for playing, which sometimes means getting nicked or dinged so a relic makes sense. I wouldn't have to worry about ruining the finish, thereby devaluing it.

I think some of the pricing is beyond crazy, but I understand it takes effort/time to create the look. I don’t own a relic, but I’ve been thinking about getting a kit form these guys: http://www.mjtagedfinishes.com/ . I figure if it looks fake (reliced), might as well be fake (not fender). Prices seem pretty reasonable. On a side note, I don’t know if I’ll ever be a fan of reliced hardware/screws…for whatever reason, I have to see them shine!

[dubtrub]

Mojo is in the mind of one that wants to believe.

That previous guitar depicted is a Fender custom shop relic 59. The reason the pick guard is so white is it is a late transition model that was still using the white single ply plastic material. My original 62 has that material on the tremolo cover and it's as bright white today as it was when new , yet the nitrate pick guard that was originally white has aged to mint green. By the way, when new that pickguard was bright white, they weren't green as many would like you to believe.

About 15 years ago when I was doing restorations of beat up vintage Strats and Teles, I worked on some that was abuse so bad it was a shame. Yet there would be certain areas that were still virtually as new. I had a rule to never restore a Fender that had any original finish regardless of condition, only those had been stripped and stained. A lot of finishes were destroyed during the late 60s and early 70s "psycho'delic" era for the popular stripped finish dark walnut stain and brushed on clear varnish Yuck! It was very rewarding for me to bring them back to original specs.

I think relic, worn or abuse is more acceptable and sometimes desirable on a Fender as it was consider a working tool and not a delicate musical instrument like a D'Angelico or even a Mosrite. You rarely see Gibson's beat all to crap either.

Here's an example of a real 61 Strat that has been abused over time. Something of this nature makes no sense, maybe a lot of bar fights and a lot of booze spilled all over it. Mojo or curse? I think the custom shop relic looks better yet I would never refinish a guitar like this.

[MWaldorf]

I'm not interested in owning a relic guitar, but given that I like the look of "aged" white plastic parts, I don't think I can comment on anyone else's tastes.

For me the biggest issue is paying a hefty premium for a relic guitar. While I suppose it's no different than paying a premium for a custom color or pretty wood grain, it just goes against my sensabilities to pay big bucks to someone to damage my guitar. That being said, it's pretty impressive to see the attention to detail in making a guitar actually look naturally reliced - not just rusty parts and chips, but finish checking, aged lacquer, etc.

I wonder if there would be a market for relic guitar cables - beer stained, worn insulation, on, random shorts - I've got a few I could sell.

[Dennisthe Menace]

I wonder if there would be a market for relic guitar cables - beer stained, worn insulation, on, random shorts - I've got a few I could sell.

Oh God, please don't give 'Flounder Music Corporation' any more ideas.
They already have the 'Vintage Voltage Series' for cables .

[MWaldorf]

so maybe I shouldn't tell them my idea about pre-worn and cracked guitar picks?