Fender Heavy Relic Strats

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nico
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Nico

Nico

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Apart from the fact that some people don't like how they look, what are your thoughts on the build quality, playability and sound?

I am gassing for either that or a Suhr Classic...


Nico.
 
I love mine. Like any guitar, you need to get it set up professionally the way you want it, but, it plays great, sounds great, and FEELs great.


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I thought it was a lame ass joke at first but I played some and now the only strats I have are relic strats except for one that I use mostly as a test guitar for learning to do modifications (i.e I don't care if I ruin it) I plan to get two more strats this year both relics. But that might change depending on what is available at the tokyo guitar show in June. They feel broken in and easy to play and the ones I have tried didn't need much fiddling with out of the case. Allot of people rag on them allot and I did as well but I gotta admit, at the end of the day, I like to pick it up and I enjoy playing them and thats all that counts. That candy tangerine is sweet. I think those were from 2009 right? I saw a few around. As far as the Suhr classic or a strat goes... all around I think you will end up with a much better guitar going the suhr route but I am also a sucker for the whole history thing and a strat to me is only a USA fender and a Suhr is just one hell of a damn good guitar
 
I own a relic strat and tele and both are great, i dont plan on selling either one because i love them and if i had some xtra cash i would buy another.
 
I hate the idea...fake abuse is about as lame and poser-ish as it gets IMO. That said, I played one of the original ones back in '97 I believe and bought it immediately. As lame as the whole relic concept is to me, the guitar was simply one of the best new Strats that I had ever played (still is).
So to answer the OP's question, the build quality/playability/sound were all great (although I haven't played a more recent example)...if you dig the relic trip I'd go for it.
 
Yes, that's a Candy Tangerine finish on mine. The fact is, most of the relics are very comfortable to play, and they look great. I couldn't give two shits about whether the wear and tear was 'authentic' or not. What matters to me is how the guitar plays and feels.

I happen to prefer a little wear and fading on my jeans too. . .and my shoes feel better on my feet when they're broken in a little.
 
reverymike":19ry83my said:
I love mine. Like any guitar, you need to get it set up professionally the way you want it, but, it plays great, sounds great, and FEELs great.


62stratbucker.jpg
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Sweet looking relic.
 
One of the things I don't like about the Fender relics is that they use the super wide spacing on the bridges. This coupled with the heavy roll on the fretboard causes me to constantly pull the strings off the neck with even a little bit of vibrato.
I do like them though, so I bought one and replaced a few things and sold off the unused parts.

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reverymike":gnhhzn67 said:
Yes, that's a Candy Tangerine finish on mine. The fact is, most of the relics are very comfortable to play, and they look great. I couldn't give two shits about whether the wear and tear was 'authentic' or not. What matters to me is how the guitar plays and feels.

I happen to prefer a little wear and fading on my jeans too. . .and my shoes feel better on my feet when they're broken in a little.
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Im with you, i dont care if the wear is real because i love the feel. I have a red sparkle relic strat with a humbucker in the bridge that is similar to yours and i love it. Im a fan of beat up looking guitars and no matter how much i play it i will never get it to look like my relics because im not in a position to play a couple hundred shows a year for the next 10 yrs, so im just fine with owning a relic and i like how they look.
I also like my jeans faded and worn looking, i like my leather jacket worn looking too.

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I love that red sparkle HBS-1! I almost bought one, but then found my candy tangerine '62 relic. (I dropped the humbucker in afterwards).
 
reverymike":3mq1ry9o said:
I love that red sparkle HBS-1! I almost bought one, but then found my candy tangerine '62 relic. (I dropped the humbucker in afterwards).
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tangerine looks awsome, i almost bought a hbs-1 in tangerine also. im a huge fan of a humbucker in a strat but most custom shop strats i see dont have it as a stock pu, my guitar comes with a duncan jb from fender and it sounds pretty good with the ash body and maple neck, normally i hate the jb in most guitars.
 
The early 60's relics are amazing. However, When i went to NAMM I played about four 68's and they all sounded, felt different. Some were with an ash body and some were alder. Weird. For consistency I would go for the heavy relic early 60's models...they are superior IMO and im actually looking to get one as well. The 69' CU are really good too, i have one thats a light relic. There is also a 65' only in Dakota Red that I really want, but its over 3 g's!
 
reverymike":1ahkaz87 said:
I love mine. Like any guitar, you need to get it set up professionally the way you want it, but, it plays great, sounds great, and FEELs great.


62stratbucker.jpg
Click to expand...

This would be a killer guitar for me, and wouldn't force me to constantly keep my hands on my strat any gig I use it at. Plus while I could definitely dig a humbucker in the bridge, couldn't bring myself to rout my '63 for one :lol: :LOL:

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A good friend of mine has one, I thought they were kinda cheesey till I played his. Late 50's or very early 60's I think. I was absolutely floored when I heard it. It was the 10-ton violin tone through my plexi. It makes my Am St seem like a dimestore toy
 
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