Relic/Heavy relic...Yay or nay?

[joebloggs13]

Just curious about TGPers thoughts on this.... Would you buy a relic/heavy relic guitar? To me it seems like a cop out in a sense. The buyer wants a road worn guitar without ever having gone on said road....like getting someone else to do all the work for you. Do they thinks fans/friends will think...wow that guy/gal must play A LOT. I don't get it, and would never buy one.

 

[nl128]

Hmm.... I'm curious too. I've seen the subject come up on TGP before .

 

[joebloggs13]

I would prefer that the road wear be done by yours truly, so that if stories were to be told, they would actually be true.

 

[Devnor]

This is Oteil Burbridge, one of the best bassists in the world by anyone's standards. He's playing a Road Worn P here with the Tedeschi Trucks band. He is playing unbelievably beautiful music, in front of thousands of happy fans, with some of the best musicians in the world:



If you think he is a poser, or you actually give a moment's thought to his finish preference, or question whether his bass' marks tell a real story or not after hearing this, then you've forgotten what music is about. Whatever inspires you to play what you feel inside, whatever thing that puts a smile on your face and more emotion into your playing, be it a reliced finish or whatever, is a good thing. If you're listening to music with your eyes and judging musicians based on what you see rather than what you hear, you're missing out.

 

[Serenity]

Usually i'd say it's not my thing, but i've been looking at Les Paul Historics lately and some of those Murphy aged guitars look very nice.

 

[m@2]

I do like a light relic treatment on guitars for this one reason. I'll never have to be the one to put the first ding on it

 

[Herb Utsmelz]

Is the wear and damage you're beating into the dead horse "real" or just a fake relic job?

 

[Dr. Tinnitus]

I wear a suit and tie to work. Not my thing, but people think I'm successful...

 

[Astronaut FX]

If you're listening to music with your eyes and judging musicians based on what you see rather than what you hear, you're missing out.

I guess I'd counter that with the observation that, if everyone listened to music with their eyes, then the appeal of and demand for relic'd guitars would never have originated in the first place.

 

[Bossanova]

I only like relics done to cheap, poly-covered Chinese guitars by 14-yr old boys. They're all the rage on my local Craigslist. Sweet look for the blooze jam.

 

[Tune-O-Matic]

Some of those heavy relic jobs look like the previous owner went out of his way to beat the crap out of his guitar.

 

[daFrimpster]

I don't like it. I think its silly.

 

[MHG]

My Mario Martin is the best guitar I've played, and looks absolutely amazing. Gorgeous checking! Some builders take it a bit too far, but I prefer a nicely relic'd guitar in general.......not "heavy Relic" though. And no, it's not in order to impress anyone. I prefer most colors after they've been relic'd a bit, as well as the overall vibe and feel of the guitar.

 

[Trebor Renkluaf]

Finally a new topic for TGP discussion.

 

[dirk_benedict]

Life is short, play whatever makes you want to play, and whatever inspires you to play your best while you're playing.

 

[buddaman71]

I like the heavy relics, because I like little to no finish on my guitars.

I also find ornate, glossy, highly-figured guitars obnoxious and just out of place on a player like myself. I actually take them out and gig, so the first ding isn’t a heartbreaker. I like beautiful women and rustic guitars.

It’s just personal preference.

PS: I’ve never shown either of my Extreme Antique Shur Guitars to any non-player who didn’t think they were cool.

 

[AParrotLooksAt4O]

I wouldn't, just like I wouldn't purchase any other counterfeit merchandise.

Some make the comfort argument...I think it's more about deceit and novelty.

I wouldn't buy a hockey jersey and rip the sleeves, stretch the neck and grind a puck into the fabric.

 

[seantk]

I like some light subtle relic treatment, but I am not a fan of heavy relics . Some of the ones that I have seen are just plain awful looking. I like to create my own relic guitars by actually playing them myself.

 

[joebloggs13]

I like some light subtle relic treatment, but I am not a fan of heavy relics . Some of the ones that I have seen are just plain awful looking. I like to create my own relic guitars by actually playing them myself.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[CRBMoA]