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

[CoreyW]

Relics are pretty cool, some are a bit over done, but the feel on a good one is amazing.

My CS Strat

And to the crowd that says a lot of these look unrealistic… my 2011 62’ AVRI Strat…

 

[cardinal]

I wouldn't purposely seek out a relic but don't really care either way as long as it doesn't look terrible (eg, a lot of Suhr relics look actively terrible).

I buy a lot of used guitars and those come "pre-relic"'d in a way, so it's just whatever.

 

[DrewJD82]

Just be prepared; you can spec out two relic’d Strats to have the exact parts and specs you want and put them together yourself for dirt cheap and some fucktard who has never played a gig, bought an off-the-shelf Les Paul and still brings it into GC for string changes will call you a poser.

US-made, 100% nitro-finished bodies/necks (MJT/Musikraft), Callaham trems, Tusq nuts and EMG/Pribora pickups = $2200-$2400 for both.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

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.

While I agree with the first sentiment, the second part is my issue. I am not paying custom shop prices for a guitar to be pre-used when I can buy a used version, and if necessary get it cleaned up and set up by a luthier for less including nut replacement and fret work if necessary.

When it comes down to it, I'd probably handle most of it myself if it's not needing fretwork and a new nut, or a total rewire on a hollowbody.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Just be prepared; you can spec out two relic’d Strats to have the exact parts and specs you want and put them together yourself for dirt cheap and some fucktard who has never played a gig, bought an off-the-shelf Les Paul and still brings it into GC for string changes will call you a poser.

View attachment 458614

US-made, 100% nitro-finished bodies/necks (MJT/Musikraft), Callaham trems, Tusq nuts and EMG/Pribora pickups = $2200-$2400 for both.

That I can appreciate. Paying $7000+ for that I cannot (2 Custom Shop Strats). Hell, even paying more than $2k for one is too much.

 

[VonBonfire]

While I agree with the first sentiment, the second part is my issue. I am not paying custom shop prices for a guitar to be pre-used when I can buy a used version, and if necessary get it cleaned up and set up by a luthier for less including nut replacement and fret work if necessary.

When it comes down to it, I'd probably handle most of it myself if it's not needing fretwork and a new nut, or a total rewire on a hollowbody.

What I was getting at if I'm in-store shopping for a given model and one particular guitar out of many has better playability and a more unique voice above the others I'm not concerned about what color it might be or if it's relic'ed or not. Cosmetics are irrelevant to me though of course a sweet color and look is a bonus.

 

[CoreyW]

What I was getting at if I'm in-store shopping for a given model and one particular guitar out of many has better playability and a more unique voice above the others I'm not concerned about what color it might be or if it's relic'ed or not. Cosmetics are irrelevant to me though of course a sweet color and look is a bonus.

I wish I could say that the cosmetics didn't matter, I have no interest in a guitar if I don't like how it looks.. but I also have gotten rid of guitars that I loved how they looked but I just didnt bond with...

I like relics, mostly because of how they feel, but I do typically find them visually appealing. The whole Rory Galligher sig was a bit way to much for me.

 

[mnemonic]

I guess there are a lot of levels to ‘relic’. When I hear relic I first think of the fender custom shop guitars which by and large look like hammered ass, to me. Especially the color over burst, just looks like a mess. They look like they stink.

I remember seeing some Gibson relic that went so far as to install grover tuners but still drill some unused holes for the ‘original’ tuners, with some marketing blurb imagining some made up storied history of a previous owner doing modifications, for a new guitar. That just seemed extra-cringe to me.

The closest I have to a relic would be a butterscotch tele body I ordered from a guy who does finishing and various levels of relicing in the uk, it has a bunch of checking and some chips but that’s it. I wanted a tele but I was kinda particular about what I wanted. I wanted something old-ish looking but not interested in historic accuracy. So I just bought as much nickel plated hardware as I could as that goes tarnished just from sitting around.

I have also finished a few home made guitars with nitrocellulose lacquer that have a bunch of finish checking from just sitting on my wall between summer and winter.

 

[VonBonfire]

Especially the color over burst, just looks like a mess. They look like they stink.

I wish Gibson and Fender offered relics where they reeked like cigarettes. I might actually pay extra for that since Newports are like $10-12 a pack here. That's a good value.

 

[NorCal_Val]

I bought the Charvel Henrik Danhage(on the right), because of the neck, not because of the relic’d look. I’m ok with the relic’d paint job.
But, that neck…, so good.

 

[chrisgr]

I have the Charvel pro mod orange relic and love the guitar but would have rather had it in a non reliced finish.

 

[CarlF]

I thought relicing would just be a fad that would fade away, but it never did. I will never buy anything with a relic job on it. I like brand new shit.

 

[67mike]

Relic guitars are for man-bun sporting jizz recepticals

.

 

[LP Freak]

Personally, done right I think they look cool. But there’s some companies out there that just flat out suck at it. It”s so obvious when they’ve just taken a belt sander to it various places and it looks like shit.

 

[skoora]

Excuse me sir, I think you meant "unhoused individual who deserves our respect and compassion"

I know you didn't just commit a fasshizzum!

The Izzums are really a scourge. I think my favorite though is the Zion one…..J-izzum

 

[DanTravis62]

The Izzums are really a scourge. I think my favorite though is the Zion one…..J-izzum

That sounds like anti semitizzum brother

 

[VonBonfire]

Personally, done right I think they look cool. But there’s some companies out there that just flat out suck at it. It”s so obvious when they’ve just taken a belt sander to it various places and it looks like shit.

@dstroud taking a belt sander to one of his LTD's is one of the coolest moments this forum has seen though.

 

[skoora]

That sounds like anti semitizzum brother

Just puttin’ the yum in goyum.

 

[skoora]

I bought the Charvel Henrik Danhage(on the right), because of the neck, not because of the relic’d look. I’m ok with the relic’d paint job.
But, that neck…, so good.

This is the guitar I thought of for this topic. I like the specs of it but the heavy body relic is a big turn off for me. I just got a roadworn Strat so I’m not anti-relic but that Charvel is overkill for me.