Relic

[Stratman]

I do not believe that just because an amplifier is named "Relic", such as the Fender Blues Jr. that it is a relic in any sense of the meaning of the word relic.

It is a marketing tool that Fender came up with to price amps higher, e.g., Jensen speaker and tweed cover.

It is the same with Fender's Relic collection of guitars.

COME ON - these pieces of equipment were made after 1995 and thereabouts.

They are not relics, regardless of the moniker that Fender labels them with...

Therefore there really is no such animal as a true "Relic" Blues Jr, even if named as such!






It is however a nice sounding 15 watt amp.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Relic

I do not believe that just because an amplifier is named "Relic", such as the Fender Blues Jr. that it is a relic in any sense of the meaning of the word relic.

It is a marketing tool that Fender came up with...

It's not supposed to be. It is supposed to be a new piece of equipment with fake wear on it that appeals to people who like that sort of thing (for whatever reason that they like that sort of thing).

Do I think it's silly? Yeah. Does it matter that I think it's silly? To anyone else, no.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Relic

Sure, it's a marketing gimmick, but some people like the look of a relic'd piece of equipment. Same goes for all the reissue equipment that has the word "vintage" stamped on it. Some people dig that. I'd rather have a new piece of equipment and make it vintage by way of my own playing days on months on years, looks be damned. Music companies exist to make music and money, and it's the buyer's own fault to not be weary of the marketing. It happened to me with a relic'd Blues Jr. a few weeks ago, but I went back and did my homework to really get a feel for the thing.

- Keith

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Relic

I do not like factory relic'd stuff. I'm sure you've all heard me say this before, but it seems awfully akin to stuffing a sock down the front of your pants.

However, I was talking to a Fender dealer the other day, and he was speaking very excidedly about the Relic'd Esquire he'd purchased for himself. He had several actual vintage Esquires, but the "fake" one was his favorite, as could gig with it, or leave it leaning against the couch, and not worry about it getting damaged.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Relic

He had several actual vintage Esquires, but the "fake" one was his favorite, as could gig with it, or leave it leaning against the couch, and not worry about it getting damaged.

Good point. This is when the devil's advocate chimes in with, "He could've done the same with a regular, non-relic'd Esquire and taken his woman out for a nice surf 'n' turf dinner with the money he saved."

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Relic

Good point. This is when the devil's advocate chimes in with, "He could've done the same with a regular, non-relic'd Esquire and taken his woman out for a nice surf 'n' turf dinner with the money he saved."

I suggested the same thing, but he said he didn't really have the heart to bash up a brand new guitar Also, I'd imagine as a dealer, he gets a pretty healthy discount.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Relic

I suggested the same thing, but he said he didn't really have the heart to bash up a brand new guitar Also, I'd imagine as a dealer, he gets a pretty healthy discount.

Right on. Didn't think of that one.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Relic

I suggested the same thing, but he said he didn't really have the heart to bash up a brand new guitar

But why bash it up? Is it so terrible to play a guitar that [gasp!] looks new?

I don't get the relic guitar thing any more than I got it back in the 80s when folks would go to a lot of effort to distress their jeans. :reporter:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Relic

But why bash it up? Is it so terrible to play a guitar that [gasp!] looks new?

I don't get the relic guitar thing any more than I got it back in the 80s when folks would go to a lot of effort to distress their jeans. :reporter:

His reasoning was if the new guitar was already beat up, he wouldn't be afraid of putting a nick or ding in it.

I agree with you, though, and you'll never catch me relicing an instrument, or paying a new price for anything that doesn't look new.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Relic

His reasoning was if the new guitar was already beat up, he wouldn't be afraid of putting a nick or ding in it.

Because factory dings look so much better than genuine love marks. :laugh2:

By that logic, why bother buying a new guitar and just buy one that someone else has beaten up? :blackeye: You'd pay waaaay less and it would be more "genuine". :yell: :smack:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Relic

All I know is I'd love to have a part time job of relicing gear! It's friggin fun!
I'm actually thinking of buying all the materials I'd need to do relicing on guitars and tweed amps. Can you imagine doing it as a part time thing, and getting paid by companies or blues lawyers to sand, knick, stain, and distress their guitars?!!!

I think I'm gonna do it. After seeing Erasseraca's reliced Edwards LP, I'm thinking there's a market for that.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Relic

Because factory dings look so much better than genuine love marks. :laugh2:

By that logic, why bother buying a new guitar and just buy one that someone else has beaten up? :blackeye: You'd pay waaaay less and it would be more "genuine". :yell: :smack:

Again, I agree on both counts.

Can you imagine doing it as a part time thing, and getting paid by companies or blues lawyers to sand, knick, stain, and distress their guitars?!!!

Man, I'd do that **** for free!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Relic

My biggest issue with the "tweed relic'd" Blues junior is that folks get misled into believing they're playing a "tweed" amp. That purposeful misconception on Fender's part is not cool IMO.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Relic

I like RELICs

I had a RELIC Blues Jr and people always seemed to dig it. Looked great in photos. I love stuff to wear in anyway - so why not get half the work done for me? The guitars feel well worn.

Eric's Guitars here in LA can Relic stuff for cheap.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Relic

My biggest issue with the "tweed relic'd" Blues junior is that folks get misled into believing they're playing a "tweed" amp. That purposeful misconception on Fender's part is not cool IMO.

Not that anyone immediately comes to mind.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Relic

I like RELICs

I had a RELIC Blues Jr and people always seemed to dig it. Looked great in photos. I love stuff to wear in anyway - so why not get half the work done for me? The guitars feel well worn.

Eric's Guitars here in LA can Relic stuff for cheap.

A perfect example of why Fender (and others) should market relic'd equipment. Perhaps they should go about it in such a way to make it a bit more obvious the equipment is new and relic'd, as opposed to truly vintage. Maybe they could put some kind of tag right on the front. They could even relic the tag...make it look old-style cool in some way.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Relic

But why bash it up? Is it so terrible to play a guitar that [gasp!] looks new?

I don't get the relic guitar thing any more than I got it back in the 80s when folks would go to a lot of effort to distress their jeans. :reporter:

A gigantamungous Perluss Whun!

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Relic

Ah, a label - yes, something of the sort.

I re-read these posts and realized this is kind of like the Gilmour EVH Lifeson use pedals board in that it's about SPIRIT AND PHILOSOPHY.

Relic's are like modeling of "old" amps, right? It's a nice idea, but somehow we get seduced into replacing the REAL thing for something that is a good facsimile but NOT a true replacement. If that's what some of us mean in here - I agree.

Music has suffered badly at the hands of people who have forgotten the SPIRIT of the game.

Quick aside, Phil Carlson, a music exec. said they only used to sign bands that had at least one virtuoso to Atlantic. He learned that from Ahmet Ertegun (famous label A&R and pres. - see the movie "Ray"). Speaking of facsimiles, that spirit has been lost as well.