Question for those that dislike Relic Strats

[rupe]

Not a big fan of them myself. But if you pulled one off the shelf and it was the best Strat you'd ever tried (and assuming you had the money and were in the market for a Strat), would you buy it?

This hits close to home for me. When Fender first released their relics in the late 90's I thought it was the dumbest, most "poser-ish" thing that I had ever seen (and I still think it's poser-ish). I was making fun of one (a Mary Kaye) at a buddy's music store when he encouraged me to "not knock it before I tried it". I went home with it.
Although I hated the relic'ing, the guitar was the best sounding and playing new Strat that I had ever laid my hands on...simply a great guitar. I still hated the fake wear and wished that Fender would build something that felt like this (thin nitro, oil neck? C'mon Fender!) without looking so bad but the sound and feel outweighed the poser factor for me. The guitar didn't last too long as my #1 Strat though...it was surpassed a few months later by a Tom Anderson Hollow Classic. I then sold it when the original relics starting bringing big $$$.

 

[sinfish]

IMO - It is like buying destructed Jeans. It looks like shit, you ain't fooling anyone and in the end you just have holes in your new jeans. To each their own but relics come off the same factory line as the new ones there is just another step in the process. I would find a beat up but well maintained used guitar.


The guitar fits this description:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=poser

 

[sinfish]

or Buy new put some paint on your hands and forarm, play, Then sand the areas you've touch. It would be more personal. If you want the wrecked look that is.

 

[reverymike]

I don't think it's much different than if you were to buy a real vintage guitar that had been played everyday for the last 30+ years. I'm not going to complain that it's worn or aged -- it's comfortable.


Here's mine. . .love it!

 

[again with this]

Not a big fan of them myself. But if you pulled one off the shelf and it was the best Strat you'd ever tried (and assuming you had the money and were in the market for a Strat), would you buy it?

Yes

I just don't understand the relic thing, in the same way I don't understand buying a pair of jeans already torn. I mean, I understand used and worn, but to ding up and artificially age something is silly to me. Just not my thing. But, given your example above, playability would trump my irrational dislike for artifricial aging.

 

[TheMagicEight]

So are you going to wrap it in chains and drag it around your yard to get that 'reclic'd' look?



I had a relic'd 73 Oldsmobile. It was ahead of it's time. Back them I just called it a beater.

Hell no! I don't really like the relic look. Like I said earlier, I want to take excellent care of it and play the hell out of it. I want my guitar to look well-used but cared for, not beaten.

I do have respect for the relics simply because they feel great. But $400 extra because someone beat it to a pulp? After spending 8 hours over two days trying out as many Strats as I could in this music store, I can say they're not for me.

 

[AndyK]

I'm more a fan of the Closet Classic look, old, but not thrown into a meat grinder!

That said, the relic Strats posted above really look like old, vintage instruments. And, you get a DISCOUNT if you buy a scratch and dent new guitar! Go figure!