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Is Relic’ing A Fad?

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
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Interesting piece about violin finishes. A certain aesthetic is associated with old wood it seems. I prefer my jeans intact when I buy them.
My genes are fine but my chromosomes are apparently allowing them to relic.
 
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Red Baron

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I've not yet witnessed a newly made reliced car or motorbike.
Relicing is popular in the world of rat rods/bikes, including fake rust finishes!
I don't mind the look of some reliced guitars, but I'd never buy one. I much prefer to age a guitar naturally myself.
 

Pat Boyack

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Relicing has been around for over 3 1/2 decades. To call it a "fad" now is comical.
 

bdellnola

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I own one artificially aged guitar, an R9 that I got redone and aged by Historic Makeovers. The rest of my guitars are "normal" including my main gigging guitar.

The reason I wanted it was simple - I've always wanted a 1959 Les Paul but that's obviously never ever going to happen for me. I also realized that modern nitro does not age the same way the original bursts do. I have several Gibsons from the 70s through now and none are checking or aging in a way like we see on older famous examples. For context, I've been a a full time musician most of my adult life so these guitars aren't case queens at all. Therefore the common refrain "age them by playing them" is kind of misleading in my personal experience.

If the goal is to have the aesthetics of a real vintage burst then this is most people's only option. It was a fun project that satisfied that kid in me with old Guitar World posters on the wall. Purely aesthetic desire.

There are lots of other folks that like this look who can afford a custom shop Gibson/Fender but cannot afford the originals they are based on. If those vintage guitars were remotely attainable for normal(ish) people then yea, I'd think "relic'ing" is dumb. My guess is relic'ing will proliferate further as the prices for 50s/60s Fender and Gibson continue to rise into absurd territory. Hell, Julian Lage has been playing a boutique relic'ed Tele recently! He was playing a beat up Nacho tele at the Village Vanguard late 2022.
 

Big Al

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The beauty or desirability of vintage guitars does not reside in beat up finishes. Reliced guitars are cosmetic fakes for superficial mojo seekers. Makes pretending much easier.
 

Nifty

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Apr 28, 2021
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Im not a fan either. Many years ago I first saw a "distressed table" in a furniture store. They wanted us to buy it as we were shopping dining room tables . My personal antiques, authentic pieces, looked better than that thing. lol
 

Big Al

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Don't hold back now Big Al:)
I just mean relic guitars are not more vintage than a new unmolested fake aged one. It doesn't get you closer to owning a real 50's guitar and is only a finish option. Mostly hogwash, except for the look, that is pure genuine imitation real deal fake aging and wear with a George Santos backstory.
 

gibboboy

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Aug 17, 2007
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It's an affectation, a fad as you say, just like worn jeans, however I've not yet witnessed a newly made reliced car or motorbike........but there are bound to be some out there.
It’s already here, Porsche offer it…
I’m still waiting for reliced toilet roll to go on sale :ROFLMAO:

Yes, the Porsche paint was their April fool but it shows their thinking about it
 
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Wilko

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Yes, the Porsche paint was their April fool but it shows their thinking about it
They went as far doing that car for the photo shoot. It was bait, and I'll bet they sold a few.
 

Big Al

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WTF??? I thought I'd poked the bear but nuttin' doing?.. Use to be able to rile up the stiff shirts,what happen, everybody got a sene of humour now?
The car looks great. I just luuuv olive green and cosmetic rust. That sheeit be dope!
 

Dave P

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Oct 13, 2001
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It was fun for a minute. If it's well done, I don't mind it. I haven't bought one in 20 years so I'm over it. I've seen some horrid aging by well known boutique builders that looks like someone used a heat gun, scraped off a bunch of finish with a putty knife, and rubbed some Kiwi shoe polish on it. Yuck.
 

Wilko

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forum attendance is way down. poke the bear! WTF?
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
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It's a feeling- but I think most folks have caught on to it being just fluff.
I will say a HM neck shape is a thing of beauty.
 

Winkyplayer

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May 1, 2021
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It's likely not going anywhere. When I sort guitars by price "High to Low" on my local big-store site, virtually ALL the guitars on the first 10 pages are "reliced" or otherwise aged. (Main exceptions being PRS and Gretsch). I don't get it. Pay extra for something damaged? Nope.
 

Wound_Up

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Apr 5, 2020
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The beauty or desirability of vintage guitars does not reside in beat up finishes. Reliced guitars are cosmetic fakes for superficial mojo seekers. Makes pretending much easier.

Not everybody is "mojo seeking" or "pretending" that wants one. You should try not being so narrow-minded. Sometimes, it because they want a guitar to play at home, by themselves, that's got that broken in feel. As if it's been played a lot. You realize not every reliced guitar is a 59 Les Paul copy or a 52 Tele or a 54 Stratocaster, right? People relic all sorts of guitars. So not everybody does it because they want to pretend they have a vintage guitar.

There are people out there who aren't pretending they have a "insert guitar here". They aren't seeking mojo to impress people when they're out gigging.

You really should try to not be so narrow-minded. Especially about something as ridiculous as what someone else does with their own guitar and their own money.
 

corpse

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It def creates a vibe- I get it.
Everyone is a poser to Big Al- he did this shit for a living for 40 years. John Mayer- poser; Joe Bonamassa- poser; Tom Morello- Poser.
Hey Big Al- yes- by all means please- don't be so narrow minded. Laugh out effing loud.
 
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