Relic Guitars

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:45 pm

Billy Batz wrote:Especially when you plug in the huge marshall stack.

Shakes her better than the washing machine............

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:52 pm

I with most of you guys on the relicing thing except for the fact somehow my Rory does have some mojo to it. It truly feels like it has been played for years and really does fit like an old pair of jeans. Is that do to the relicing itself or the love that the custom shop put into recreating a very special instrument?? Who can say. I've played other relics that do seem fake and cold, but the Rory is something different. And, I would never have spent the money for a Page but seeing as how I was eventually gonna go for a '58-'59 historic I tried the Page and absoultely loved the neck. It's nothing like I expected and feels more like my '71 custom than a vintage burst. Some of these recreations / relics do have a level of love /mojo to them.

cole · Post by **cole** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:55 pm

I know one thing...if my Les Paul gets a ding, scratch, whatever...it won't be no fuckin' Tom "Look guys what a cool relic job that I only charged a grand ($$$) for - am I an asshole or what?" Murphy doing it.

It is shrewd marketing and guitar players (as conscientious as we are about our sound) are suckers for it every time. Can't blame the guys who do it to these instruments though as it's all market driven...

You want me to drop your $5000 Paul down the stairs to get those neat dings? No problem.

Can I take it from a warm cozy room and throw it outdoors in the middle of January to get those oh so cool lacquer checking marks? Sure!

Instead of paying a nut to perform a relic job on a great guitar, take your hard earned $1000 dollars and build a Metro Plexi!!

You'll be the envy of everyone then.

Cole

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:09 pm

hey, i wonder if people would pay me to say drag their guitar behind my truck? "each finish is unique"

npminard · Post by **npminard** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:33 pm

I agree that Fender players seem to like their guitars beat up and worn, while Gibson players like their guitars to stay nice. I want my Gibson to stay nice and shiny, while I want to put as much time into my Strat as possible.

I like the aged look, but I'd much rather have the finish wear off b/c I played it everyday for 30 years.

The relic'ing is cool, in my opinion, from an artistic standpoint, but I wouldn't buy one from a player's perspective, I want to relic my own guitar...the old fashioned way.

Tried a '51 Nocaster, felt great, but was relic'ed. The ass at Guitar Center said it was an all original, rare/vintage guitar

I've heard of people buying a relic b/c it felt good to them and they got it for cheap, to each their own, doesn't bother me if others like them. I am getting impatient w/my non-nitro finish on my Strat, might have drag it through street

JD · Post by JD » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:02 am

I dislike the relics personally. I feel those scratches, marks, and dings are the story and soul of that instrument, earned with age and use. If I'm buying a new guitar I want it to look new or I'd buy a used guitar. The idea of paying someone extra to beat the shit out of my new guitar is simply absurd.

Of course I understand why the guitar companies are doing it, cashing in on their mistakes and giving people their instant gratification. Business is business.

We would always joke that someone in the shop dropped something on the new guitar in final inspection and was scolded years ago but these days given a pat on the back and told just bang on it a little more and we'll give it an upcharge LOL.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:34 am

You know, I once played a '69 relic strat that was extremely good sounding, it had a maple fingerboard(which I like) and was in a sunburst, which I do not like. It was around 4 yrs ago and I'm thinking that the price was approaching $3000 . I was really impressed with that one, but the one I ordered in black a year or so later left me unexcited. So much for consistancy. The Mexican made 70's strat's were better. They (Fender's custom shop employee's) say they "Tone tap" the alder wood to pick the best sounding pieces. This obviously doesn't work. I tell you if some one wants to get a Fender that is alittle older or worn looking I would look for some of the Japanese Squier's from the early to mid 80's. They are much better than what Fender were putting out and were nearly identical in look's, except the one's with rose wood board's had a thicker "slab" construction as opposed to the American "Round lam". And the logo on the large headstock is different( Fake decal's anyone ?) They also have the bullet truss rod and three bolt construction. These can still be found for arond 300 buck's or so.

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:30 am

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yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:44 am

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BashCoder · Post by **BashCoder** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:01 am

Yeah, I got the whole sales pitch last night. It's interesting: GC's previous Clapton remake - the "Crossroads 335", was a success and they apparently went up in value right away. That guitar had a street price of around $12,000 and they all sold immediately. Some made a 25% return the week after the release on ebay.

The Jeff Beck Nocaster recreation hasn't performed in the same way, however, and appears to be a marketing "miss".

But the business model for Fender and GC is of course the recreation of SRV's main strat. They made about 100 of those, and sold them for $10,000 each. Now I believe they regularly go for much more. Last night I played one with a retail price of $40,000.

So if they were doing only 100 of these at $22,000 (over 2% of the cost of their $1MM original Blackie), I could understand the economics. Or if they were doing 200 at $10,000. But GC and Fender are going for 4X multiples of the SRV project, and that spooks me just a bit. Basically twice as many guitars for twice as much money. I get it - this is Clapton and that was Beck. But the folks who bought the Beck Nocasters aren't seeing that thing go up in value at all.

Nashville's GC has pre-sold one already. It goes on display tomorrow at several stores. The marketing for this thing is great. Dig Fender's awesome website for this guitar here: http://www.fender.com/blackie/

For chuckles, click on the dealer locator button...

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:33 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Cus ... dZViewItem

Have to say, this is a waste...

ehh no, wait a minute, stupid...

Jimmie K.

JD · Post by JD » Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:26 pm

Anyone who would like a relic, go ahead and ship your brand new guitar to me. I will wrap an old clothesline around the headstock and drag it behind my car down a gravel road for $500 (including return shipping). I call it the extreme authentic option and will even give you a hand-signed picture of me in my car with the guitar tied to my trailer hitch (certificate of extreme aging I call it).