if i were to buy a relic'ed guitar, everyone would now i didn't give at all those battle scars because i'm still pretty young and have never gigged before. i wouldn't be ashamed to tell them it came that way, it looks different that way, there's nothing wrong with truth.

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Fender Classic Series '50s Stratocaster, 2-Tone Sunburst
Carlos 207
Dunlop Crybaby
Digitech RP50
One WORKING Pro Junior

Who would ever ask?

Well... in my experience, it's actually the first question everybody asks. I think it's because I don't really get to hang out with other musicians much at the moment, so the only people who see my '66 relic are friends and family who don't automatically see what might be desirable about a vintage -- or faux-vintage -- instrument. So far, the response has been "Wow! nice... but how come you got an old guitar?" Everybody seems to enjoy being around this instrument; they just can't see why you'd buy an "old" thing when you could get a new one.

I could probably get away with telling them it's second hand (which it is, anyway), but I just level with them and say it was made to look that way, and it was the only one available at the time in any case. It's a nice relic job -- as much a testament to custom shop craftsmanship as any other aspect of the guitar -- so I'm happy to stand by it. It didn't look out of place next to the genuine vintage '60s strats at the dealer's, and it was a tenth the price so Mrs mondo was placated.

I'd tell the truth, and then wish I had come up with some elaborate story about "The Lost Hendrix Guitar" or something. It would be fairly obvious that I didn't beat it up myself, since I'm 16 and I'm not that destructive.

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My reputation is to be pretty meticulous about the care and cleaning of all my stuff, not just my guitars. So anyone who knew me at all would know I didn't do that to 'em.

I guess to me it's just cooler if you "relic'd" 'em naturally over time. I know my Musicmaster bass has some dings on it even though I'm careful.

I think that story, as much as anything, demonstrates what a "relic" really is: it's stage prop. As such, it's completely appropriate to use one in performance to produce a "look" (no differnet than choosing what you wear on stage). But you always feel a little sheepish when you bought one just to play 'round home.

Showing your friends and family a relic'ed guitar produces the same inner shame as wearing your Danskins to the office might.

heh... inner shame... no, I think that's putting it a bit too strongly. I don't want to be the resident forum relic apologist; I just like my guitar. Not all war stories are interesting ones... I always seem to see a lot of "I'd rather beat my own guitar up the proper old-fashioned way" posts (not in this thread so far, though!) whenever this topic bobs up again, but the dings in my other instruments are usually more of the "How the @&^% did that get there?!" variety, or the good old "I knew I should never have let that no-longer-to-be-trusted friend borrow my guitar!"

The fact that this guitar's history is somewhat artificial doesn't bother me... maybe if I were a gigging musician I'd feel my other ones have more of a story to tell and this would suffer by comparison, but I doubt it. I'm hoping to get back into performing one of these days, so I suppose I'll find out what sort of ridicule is reserved for players of relic strats when that happens! Somehow I think it will become a non-issue once anybody picks it up and plays. And I'll be happy for them to do that, because I won't need to worry about them dinging my guitar... heh.

And... sorry, had to look "Danskin" up... you mean dance apparel of some kind..? As in, showing up at the office trying to look like you lead a rich, fulfilling extracurricular life and just couldn't manage to change out of your gear..? I'm a little confused. I didn't buy a relic specifically for home use, I just bought the best guitar I could afford... and home is where I mostly find myself playing these days, albeit not as much as I'd like owing to rather too many children in a small area. Apart from anything else (and sorry to belabour the point), I feel a lot more relaxed about having my 18-month-old son getting his little paws all over my fancy relic than I do about my other guitars.

I would just say this:
"I met Clapton backstage in San Francisco at the Band's 'Last Waltz' concert. We hit it off, and then he gave me one of the two Strats that he brought to the gig. It dates back to when he was with Cream. It's an all-original '64 Strat, with each bit of wear from Eric Clapton, himself."

Seinfeld's George Castanza: "It is only a lie if you do not believe it..."

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I've always stayed away from reliced guitars, but now considering getting one. I would tell the truth about. I bought it just because it looked cool to me.

I do like the idea of the Clapton story though.

i wouldn't make a head of this. i would say the truth. a stone washed guitar like your jeans...

cheers

The main reason why I will never buy a relic or roadworn finish guitar is because the marks of usage are never where they would be if I actually played that guitar...I'm not saying I wouldn't buy an actual old beat up guitar just cause the usage marks aren't mine, because that's legit and the guitar has some stories to tell. Whereas a production line relic or road worn has no stories other than: Thats where they kicked it across the factory floor to make it look scuffed...Thats where they made some cigarette burns...Thats where they took some sort of abrasive and rubbed it on that part of the body...Thats not actual worn down hardware, it just came out of a battery acid bath to look worn, now put your hands all over it...anyways...

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

Personally, I don't *get* the whole relic thing.

I've a few guitars that have the "road worn" look, but they are genuine worn from years of playing in smoky bars, clubs, pubs and whatever.

That said, to answer the OP's question, I'd say they were bought like that, but then again, I wouldn't buy one, so....

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

The few people i've met with relics are actively gigging guitarists (and quite busy too). They simply wanted the best strat they could get and not worry about hard play. That said i see nothing wrong with having a relic round the house. Ok its not real but andy summers cant tell the difference between his tele and the cs version. If this thread is specificaly targeted at non gigging musicians who own them then the reason of not worrying about knocks still stands. Dunno about anyone else but i only have to look at a guitar funny and something appears on it. Myself i prefer the closet classic level of wear but see nothing wrong with relics. To say its a stage prop is a bit obvious, everything onstage is a prop including the band. Outside of highbrow types of rendition visual impact is just as important as aural impact.

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No no and no

Its only a moot point to you and people that agree with you. The fact is relics play nice and some people want that finish.

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No no and no