The Steel Guitar Forum

We went around the horn a while back on whether to re-vinish a worn vintage instrument or not. There seemed to be two camps: #1. Never #2. Why not? ... and a few middle ground straddlers based on how bad the original finish is today.

Well, here's an alternate solution: pay big bucks to make your Stringmaster look like it was abused on bar gigs for the last 40 years. Fender's Relic series has offered this for a while now. In then 70s it was called "antiquing", now it's "relicing". I just don't get it.
http://mjtelecaster.com/index.html

ps I've got two kids who would love to "relic" your guitar for free <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 22 May 2006 at 01:44 PM.]</p></FONT>

The origin of this, if it is not an "urban legend", is that they made a telecaster for Keith Richards and he declined it saying that if they wanted him to use it they would have to "bash it up a bit".

I like the concept to a point, as if I were able to afford one of the vintage guitars I would be pretty uptight about taking it out to a gig. Relic'ed guitars are replaceable, or were- now they cost as much as the vintage guitars so it is increasingly pointless.

No need to spend all that extra dough - all it takes is a little patience. Just play bar gigs and concerts for 40+ years. If that doesn't relic it, nothing will . .





<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 22 May 2006 at 03:44 PM.]</p></FONT>

...

Just for fun... here are three pre-CBS Teles... two are all-original, one is a body-only refin by Mark J... guess and then click below...



Answer here: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum19/HTML/002519.html <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Rick Batey on 22 May 2006 at 04:46 PM.]</p></FONT>

I have a friend that does purdy good doing this for chaps. He aint cheap either. He'll either make one from scratch or customize you custom shop. Some player will have there custom shop or a new guitar made and reliced to match there vintage guitar so they dont have to worrie about it on the road.

Rick... I guessed it!

Andy... I'm in the never catagory

As far as the "relics", I have no problem with that per se. We sell the Fender Custom Shop relics at the store where I teach, and to be honest, I think they are ridiculous. $1000 ADDITIONAL for a factory beat (artificially aged) Strat. It's like buying a fake antique.

My 1968 Tele:

<center> </center><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 22 May 2006 at 08:50 PM.]</p></FONT>

That sucker has seen better days. I bet you hate the sight of it so much that you'd be just as happy sending it to me. I'll pay the shipping.

Thanks Greg! I just took off the pickguard and it's soaking in a pan of water for a couple of days. I gotta get rid of those stickers. As nasty as this guitar looks, it sounds really sweet and it plays like butter.

Spreading some butter on the stickers loosens them faster than soaking in the water!

"Relicing" is something I do not understand. I think the two main factors about vintage instruments are

1. Quality
2. "Mojo" – the history and fascination of an old instrument

I think the (real) nicks and dents that vintage instruments have are part of their "personality". Someone applying fake signs of wear and age does not give an instrument history or personality. It’s simply not real.

I really don’t understand why Fender make these expensive guitars with fake aged finish and dents. Why don’t they make all their instruments as good as those, and leave the finish unspoilt?

honest playing wear has the most mojo.

just as I dont care for smashing guitars I dont care for relicing a guitar.
however, if one comes across a bad paint job(like the pink gorilla job mentioned) then by all means repaint or refinish.

Relics- the stonewashed jeans of the guitar world!

------------------
http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

The local furniture manufacturer used to "relic" or "antique" furniture by slapping it with lengths of log chains...

I'm going to throw out a guess, that they 'reli'c their guitars because people will buy them that way.