Relic guitars, faded jeans cool, or tan pants ghey?

[japetus]

I will never get it, but to each their own. Not a hot take...but it's how I feel.

 

[SonVolt]

The Jackson usa custom shop relics are sacrilege imo.

Pointy guitars don't age well.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Relic guitars are like staring at a fat chick with beer goggles on, and thinking she looks good.

And your friends will laugh at you if they find out you took either one home.

 

[VonBonfire]

I only care if it plays and sounds good. I'm going to relic it anyways so current shine of paint is irrelevant unless I'm buying a fancy top PRS.

 

[Texsunburst59]

These 2 guitars have paid their dues out in smoky bars, outdoor gigs, parties, etc……

They’ve been knocked over, scratched, dinged, and had a little beer spilled on them over the years.

These are not the prettiest of colors, and the Antigua has a love/hate amongst guitar players, but I don’t give a F*ck.

These 2 have earned their battle scars, and it’s not fake shit.

My ‘75 Walnut & ‘79 Antigua Strats

 

[PDC]

it feels like "stolen valor" on a certain level

This ^^^

Back when I was young and hard-charging in martial arts, our instructor used to joke about one of his contemporaries who tied his fresh, starch-stiff Black Belt to the back bumper of his car and drove around for an hr the day after his '1st Decided' Test so it would look like he had had it forever.

I look at it this way - I am a car guy and I have no interest at showing up at the local car show with a 'Relic' car. I sure wouldn't feel like heading to the neighborhood pool with my 'Relic' wife or or 'Relic' girlfriend... Some things in life are intended to look as good as they possibly can. I have always thought guitars belonged in that category.

(But then again - look at the unfinished spare parts caster in my member photo. Hmm...)

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

These 2 guitars have paid their dues out in smoky bars, outdoor gigs, parties, etc……

They’ve been knocked over, scratched, dinged, and had a little beer spilled on them over the years.

These are not the prettiest of colors, and the Antigua has a love/hate amongst guitar players, but don’t give a F*ck.

These 2 have earned their battle scars, and it’s not fake shit.

My ‘75 Walnut & ‘79 Antigua Strats

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I love patina as it naturally occurs, but most relic'd guitars look so fake and obviously overdone. It's cool if someone likes fake relicing, I just don't.

 

[Rackman]

Guitars I own really don't "relic" because I have enough picking control not to randomly hit the body, and I don't bang them into things.

I don't like my stuff looking beat up if I can avoid it anyways. But if some nitro finish wears though or something, so be it.

 

[WizardAmpIphoneClip]

Pointy guitars don't age well.

Mine literally stay in 1 area of the house

 

[japetus]

I actually try to keep my gear looking not beat up. All my old guitars are beat up, but it's honest wear. This is a 1997 USA Ash Tele, I gigged and played this thing and treated it like shit. It has wear marks, but nothing like this insane relicing stuff I see.

 

[cobrahead1030]

I can take it or leave it.

I own a few; a Nash, Suhr & MJT. Two of them I bought used, the other was a partscaster build.

I like the way they feel, I appreciate that I don’t feel the need to baby them like i sometimes do with expensive guitars. None of them are heavily aged. Honestly a week or two after having one, I don’t even think about it anymore, it’s just another guitar to play.

I appreciate that some shops really make an effort to make their relic guitars unique. I’ve picked up a few whose work really blows me away with how well it’s done & the attention to detail.

 

[SonVolt]

I like the Charvel and EVH relics. But they're relatively affordable. Fender Custom Shop and Suhr relics are retarded.

 

[rstites]

I've never been a fan of them. My guitars that I've owned for 30+ years and played countless gigs with generally don't look as beat up as the relics I see......which just makes them look really fake. I have a few nicks on mine, but not the over-the-top wear so many do. I prefer to either let them earn their wear or have them looking nice.

 

[Rackman]

It has wear marks, but nothing like this insane relicing stuff I see.

That's the thing about these relics - I have NEVER seen a guitar look like that from honest use. Yes, neck finish and under your picking arm can wear through. You get divots in the wood/finish on fretboards. Occasionally a ding.

But someone gave these clowns a palm sander and a little hammer and they just do stuff randomly.

 

[RaceU4her]

I will never get it, but to each their own. Not a hot take...but it's how I feel.

I’m with you

 

[boogieman1187]

I always hated relic guitars cuz I try to keep my equipment in pristine shape, however I bought a couple luxxtones that were relic'd and it made gigging out easier because I didn't have to worry about dinging them up so I could just play and relax. To each their own I guess.

 

[tallcoolone]

MJT has done several aged finishes for me, they look great. Not surprised RT isn’t into them tho—not really a Flying V or 7 string thing

 

[cobrahead1030]

MJT has done several aged finishes for me, they look great. Not surprised RT isn’t into them tho—not really a Flying V or 7 string thing

I bought this body from MJT on eBay over a decade ago, thinking I’d build a cheap parts tele. But it was so nice, I ended up buying a neck & some other things from warmoth and having MJT age them as well. Then bought some BKP’s and had my luthier do a proper setup after I put it together.

 

[tallcoolone]

I bought this body from MJT on eBay over a decade ago, thinking I’d build a cheap parts tele. But it was so nice, I ended up buying a neck & some other things from warmoth and having MJT age them as well. Then bought some BKP’s and had my luthier do a proper setup after I put it together.
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Yeah that looks cool as hell! I’ve got several older guitars that have significant checking and they don’t look half as good as my fake ones lol. One LP has just horizontal checking and it looks awful IMO. Love the broken glass look you’ve got there

 

[Metalhex]

I always hated relic guitars cuz I try to keep my equipment in pristine shape, however I bought a couple luxxtones that were relic'd and it made gigging out easier because I didn't have to worry about dinging them up so I could just play and relax. To each their own I guess.

Hmm I never thought of it that way. They can be used a road beaters. Makes sense