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Post subject: It's not old, it's made to look that way.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:40 am
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Relic or Closet Classic. "It's not old, it's made to look that way." I then receive the standard question, why would you buy something that's beat up and not really old? This is a question I receive from 80% of the people I show my strat to. :?


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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:03 am
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Some people even buy relic'd furniture. ? Artificially aged guitars do not appeal to me, EXCEPT when accurately matching a particularly noteworthy piece, like the Rory Gallagher Strat and others. But a brand new old looking guitar is not in my future. I think it's even goofier how the G. Fullerton set comes with a shiny guitar and a relic'd amp. What's the reasoning for that?

n.


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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:31 am
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noley wrote:
Some people even buy relic'd furniture. ? Artificially aged guitars do not appeal to me, EXCEPT when accurately matching a particularly noteworthy piece, like the Rory Gallagher Strat and others. But a brand new old looking guitar is not in my future. I think it's even goofier how the G. Fullerton set comes with a shiny guitar and a relic'd amp. What's the reasoning for that?

n.

You're right. If I buy a guitar I want to put the mileage on it my self.


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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:27 pm
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I'd have to agree. Relic'd guitars might appeal to a classics lover, but only if the origonal cannot be obtained through hard work and sacrifice, would I consider getting a replica. Like with my Les Paul Gibson Four string bass I have at my house, or my old Strat accustic, I'd much rather have the true timeless aged through rocking out and use than made to look like it.
Personally, I think that's what makes classic's just that-classic. You know those old relics have been used, abused, and made to produce gods gift to mortal man-music, whether it's rock, soul, funk, blues, jazz, country, bluegrass, or any other brand.


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Post subject: Re: It's not old, it's made to look that way.
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:15 am
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murdochart wrote:
Relic or Closet Classic. "It's not old, it's made to look that way." I then receive the standard question, why would you buy something that's beat up and not really old? This is a question I receive from 80% of the people I show my strat to. :?


Following the evolution of performing musicians in rock music over the past half century it has been hard to avoid noticing the change in the trends of what we call 'stage presence'. Early on we were talking coordinated jackets and ties as well as instrument makes. Everything was spit and polish. Not so now.

A case in point, my '58 strat, having begun acquiring that 'relic' look by '68 was sent to Fender during the CBS era to have the body refinished. Twenty-five years later, I was to learn, from a highly reputable vintage guitar dealer, that the body had been swapped....i.e. replaced, not refinished.

Apparently, there are players out there who fancy the 'well worn' look. What boggles my mind is someone who would put down 50K or more for the real deal, in the same condition...i.e. worn finish to the bare wood, badly rusted metal parts, chipped/broken plastic, yikes. Can the pursuit of tone be that manic?


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Post subject: Re: It's not old, it's made to look that way.
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:20 am
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zzdoc wrote:
Can the pursuit of tone be that manic?


AS you said yourself, it's not anything to do with "the pursuit of tone." It's stage presence.

AS I'm sure many of you know, some of the earliest relics were made for Keith Richards, who said his Custom Shop guitars looked "too new." So the CS scuffed them up for him.

It's my observation that the majority of amateur players tend have some kind of authenticity problem with the concept and and the majority of professionals don't, a generalization that supports the idea that relics are for show. And this is, after all, show business.


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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:19 pm
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You know, I'd have to agree with you both. Especially with my ranting of late on "rock and roll in the 21rst century". It's kinda sad to see rock becoming more and more show business and less about rocking your socks off and making dad's lock their doors for daughters who get mixed up with us rock 'n roll junkies. lol.
Otherwise, if not for the fact that my old gibson is still-after roughly 30 years (it was a birthday present from my step-dad) in mint condition-I'd probably just buy new. Sounds better.
Really, if you want it worn down and beaten, then get up there, and shred like there's no tommorow. Shouldn't be long before that nice, shiny, "new" look is a little worn. Then, that's just me. :-D


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Post subject: very happy with a relic.
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:16 am
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I like things original, authentic, and I look after things too. I would have loved a NOS (but American-not MIM) '72 Tele Deluxe. Even more, to find a 70's one in some guy's attic in great nick!! But it's just not how it worked out...I spotted a Relic in my home town, and played it out of interest, knowing I wasn't a relic man. It was fantastic to play. I kept looking, but kept playing it at the store. It came on (a good) special and I negotiated it down a teeny bit more and...presto, I'm a relic owner. It boiled down to just feeling and sounding so bloody good. I've gotten my head around the battering the poor thing got because the thing is tangibly master-built and beyond any shadow of a doubt one-of-a kind. It boils down to experience, not image. (ironically) :wink:


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