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Post subject: Road Worn?
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:24 pm
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Before I start, please know I've been a loyal Fender player since the early '70s.

As we all know Fender has launched a new line of their guitars marketed as "Road Worn."

Am I the only one who thinks this "relic" trashed look is getting a bit out of hand? I mean, come on folks.

Here's the deal, if anyone wants a trashed looking guitar I have several that have been used live for years and have all the little nicks, dings, and belt wear than you would expect to find on a guitar that has actually been played outside someone's home. I'll match those nicks and such for a negotiated rate to your P Bass, Tele, or what have you. I have a flat head screwdriver and sandpaper of various grit. Send me your favorite new guitar (any manufacturer) and I'll even play it under a heat lamp so that my forearm sweats all over the finish and gives it that matte look we all know so well. Electronics and action will go untouched, but I guarantee your favorite axe will look "road worn."

I say this as a joke, but hey, maybe trashing the finish on guitars is the next "untapped" market <LOL>.

Seriously, I thought "relic" guitars were silly until I saw this ... sorry Fender!


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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:47 am
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Relic is a finish option. Just that. Be happy with it, dont be happy.. people are buying them.

(I would still prefer a Road Unworn.. and could be probably cheaper.. but oh well.. I don't think they are any offense..)


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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:50 am
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I guess my point is "why does someone want a trashed guitar?" Heck, they get trashed as it is even if you treat them with kid gloves.

I know there is going to be hate mail over this as every other email I've reviewed sounds like someone from Fender's Marketing Group wrote them.

Please know that I don't find these guitars "offensive", just a waste of $$$ and a bit silly.

Maybe I'm just an old fart who bought my "vintage" guitars when they were just called "used" (how about a '60s P Bass for 325.00 or an early '80s Rick 4003 for around 400.00 ... both used <smile>). I never thought they would be worth anything ( an example is that a friend has one of Flea's basses that he used really early on and took and ice pick to (gave it to her). It's trashed more than any bass I've ever see, but with a providence I bet someone would pay a lot of green for it although Wendy thought it was just kind of cool and not worth a dime).

I guess there are collectors with a lot of disposable income or people who want to look like they've been around the block a few times without really doing it (sorry if that sounds like I'm being superior or anything). When I played live I could hardly afford my gear and got my best from one poor guy whose band had been dropped from Capital and just needed cash to pay the rent.

Anyway, great come back and I agree with you 100%. I guess I just have had the time to get all this wear on my guitars even though I've always tried to treat them with the respect they deserve. I've seen dings, scratches and dents as blemishes and not wear I wanted at all.

One thing Fender could do is replicate the dulling due to sweat on the area where the forearm rubs against the top of the body. I've seen many, many more with that type of wear than ones that looked like someone took a belt sander to them (most of that type of wear, at least on my gear, has been on the back and due to being irresponsible and wearing a belt, or the button on my jeans wearing the finish down over time.

All the best to anyone into "new" "old" guitars <smile>.


Iago wrote:
Relic is a finish option. Just that. Be happy with it, dont be happy.. people are buying them.

(I would still prefer a Road Unworn.. and could be probably cheaper.. but oh well.. I don't think they are any offense..)


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:35 am
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Personally, I wouldn`t buy a new guitar that looks like it`s old. That happens over time and your own style of playing / taking care of it, will eventually create a conversation piece. With every scratch, dent, or chip, there`s usually a story behind it.


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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:50 am
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I dont really understand the Road Worn series either. If someone wants a worn guitar, go play the God damn thing for a few years

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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:16 pm
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Why not? Fender offers the varities and people can choice it.
A taste question.

Cheers
:D


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:56 pm
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Look everybody ... relic guitars are the "in" thing. And Fender is cashing in on it big time. Good for them. Because, either they are making the relic guitars you like, or they are still making enough money so that they are still profitable allowing them to make the other types of guitars that you do like. It's good for all of us.

Now, all you relic haters, just let it go...

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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:07 am
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Could not agree more, 01GT eibach ... The reason Fender went this way is because they do a pretty good job at market analysis and understand their customer base very well ... Considering the current economic conditions many of us find ourselves in, I believe Fender is smart in meeting a market trend toward the "road worn" guitar without those guitars coming out of its Custom Shop ... I've own(ed) vintage Strats, American Made Re-Issue '57s, EJ Artist, an '83 MIJ '57 Re-Issue, and guess what - I just purchased one of these as well ... Why? ... 'Cause I love 'em all, pure and simple.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:19 am
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jeffo46 wrote:
I personally prefer my guitars to look as if they just came out of the box. I tend to baby my equipment, seeing that I'm not made out of money,so what I do have, I tend to take care of. The relic look IMO, is a waste of money.
I say price out the equivalent guitar with no relic, and see how much less it would be. Then you'll see how much better a guitar you could get for the road worn price, and buy that instead.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=526796 seems really really close to
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=510057 to me. Close enough to not warrant a $250.00 dollar difference anyway.

Interesting that you could get this:
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=512768 for substantially less, and in my opinion a muich better guitar. Or you could get :
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=515748 for only around $50.00 more
Or you could get :
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=528017

Well, I could go on, but I have to say at the price point the road worn is actually , in my opinion, the very worst choice.


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