To relic or not to relic

[beandip]

I've got my new strat, and it's a little beat up, but not much. I used to have a strat just like this one (minus the warmoth neck and cool pickups) that I beat up and it looked really good. I mean, unless you owned an actual relic or knew alot about guitars, you could tell the difference. I'm not sure if I should relic it to make it look real instead of it being hit with a hammer (that's what this guy called "beat up" so I had to remove the hammer dents). He's got it there a little bit, but no random dents, or no arm, pick, belt, or knee wear. Should I do it? And soon I'll have some pics of the relic I did before.

 

[Mincer]

Re: To relic or not to relic

nah, just play it a lot...relic it the 'real' way.

 

[beandip]

Re: To relic or not to relic

you ever tried to relic a poly finish the "natural" way? I cant live forever bro!

 

[Quencho092]

Re: To relic or not to relic

which strats have a poly finish

 

[DanteG]

Re: To relic or not to relic

To "relic" a guitar is equivilant to cutting the knees of your jeans with a razor blade. You've gotta earn those scars ! If it doesn't have a story for each dent, scrape and rub, then it's not a relic.

 

[butnut]

Re: To relic or not to relic

Poly is tough and will never relic like the old Fenders with the thin nitro lacquer. Bean is right, you could play it every day for 50 years and it still will look good. I take relic'ing as seriously as painting. It's a challenge to make it look 'real' and it's fun too. Big difference between relic and beat up. If you want a guitar that looks like it was dragged behind a truck, that's beat up and abused...ugly. Relics done well look aged, cared for yet the fragile nitro has chipped, flaked or just worn away in heavy contact spots. The metal is lightly rusted and dull, pickguard edges have rounded smooth from wear. So lets not confuse relic with abused and bashed guitars, they look just as kool as a nice shiney guitar, so I have some of each. Look at pics of old Fenders for ideas of how nitro wears and chips...good luck.
This guy did an extreme relic...but it was Rory's Strat, did a nice job. :22:
Rory relic...

 

[butnut]

Re: To relic or not to relic

If it doesn't have a story for each dent, scrape and rub, then it's not a relic.

I kinda see your point Dante. But if you have a guitar with 'damage' you created, that's still not a relic...it's original.
I spent 1/2 my life restoring antique furniture, bikes, cars...making it look beautiful and 'perfect'. I also take good care of my stuff...anal to a point. To me, the word relic is just another 'finish option'...that's all. A 'good' relic will fool most people, but not true experts, and bad relic will look like you just don't give a crap about your gear...exact same reaction with a good or bad repaint... factory-custom paint job, or spray bomb...done well, BOTH can have the same results if done right...done poorly...day and night.

 

[theodie]

Re: To relic or not to relic

Bean, please dont do it. It makes me cringe!!!

 

[Quencho092]

Re: To relic or not to relic

i guess a realistic way to relic the guitar is to be purposely careless at gigs. scrape body with belt, bump bottom against floor etc. Anything overdone looks cheesy though. My dad has possibly the most reliced jazz bass ever. Not purposely done, but after gigging almost everyday for the past 30 years, there is not a spot of paint left. Looks awesome, as you can still see faintly a black ring around the edges of the bass.

 

[aleclee]

Re: To relic or not to relic

If it's poly, it won't look "vintage" no matter what you do...short of refinishing it in nitro and going from there.

 

[beandip]

Re: To relic or not to relic

I'll show you guys a pic of what I've done with the old guitar. Anyone got a scanner I could send a pic to?

 

[xerxes]

Re: To relic or not to relic

natural relic is much better than not natural

let it go its own way and tell a story