I just bought a 07 used 1960 relic for 1500 bucks. I didnt have an opinion one way or the other on the subject but I have to say I really like this guitar and the best thing is that I dont fuss over it at all. I dont have to polish it or worry about finger prints or scratching it. It's the most fun I"ve had playing a new guitar ever. Total liberation from the anal dont touch my Strat guy. Seems like resale value on these isnt real good. I've seen a few on ebay that are 1 or 2 years old going for 1800 to 2000 bucks. They sell for 3k new! I'm probably going to get another used one. Love not having to worry about the finish. I wouldnt pay 3k for one but the used ones are reasonable. I may go for the closet classic look next. The with the checked nitro finish.

For me- No. I don't even want time to relic mine. I hate when my Guitar gets a ding or scratch. Or worse, losing a paint chip. I love shiny Guitars with nice finishes.

For everyone else- I'm glad reliced Guitars are there, but it's definitly an Art and not a Procedure. Nothing looks worse (I Think) than an obviously hand weathered guitar, but when Reliced by someone with an Artist touch, it looks cool.

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"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training

Well, CCs are a good compromise for the shy ones.
Some are really attractive and very slightly aged.

I'm such a wall flower eh?

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No no and no

Personally I don't like the finish on the bodys being chipped and such, but I do love aged necks, all yellowish and whatnot...

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What time is it??

Time to Rock!!!!!

Guitars , over time, will not require any help in aging. I spent my life caring for instruments, and having them serve me better and longer. I had no idea how much Fender makes on all this folly until I asked a Masterbuilder about the whole thing. They love the extra dollars, but hate beating them up the way they have to in order to meet this market's demand. What a shame.

Next time you buy a car, ask the dealership to take a hoe and a rake to the finish and charge you 10% more for that car. How cool would that be?

" No dear, I wasn't in a wreck...this is RELICED...and it didn't even cost me very much more than factory finish!"

There are some good sites for relicing your guitar yourself if you really want. I have taught myself how to do it, but I also do painting so if I didnt like it or got tired of it, I could always just repair the dings and repaint it. You dont really have to go overboard like the Yngwie model, but some light wear on the contour where your arm rests and maybe a bit around the edges will give you the look of "starting to wear down" and it also helps along with speeding the wearing of the paint, depending on how much you play or gig out. Personally, I like the look of relic on sunburst or vintage white only, solid colors are just too sweet looking to fake relic.

I relic my own stuff by playing it. I'm not interested in buying (and paying extra) for "factory special" chips and dings.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Hey when you go on stage with a shiny Strat ...
How does it feels ?
With a CC or a relic , for the regular venue people whatever you play you look more Pro. Aint you ???
Just my own experience over the last 10 years.
But this has never been a point in buying one
I own Relics, CCs,NOS...
To each its purpose ; but when I'm on stage, the Relic rules
But I play ...

I dont like fake reliced guitars, original reliced ones I respect

Instant gratification. That's all it amounts to. That's it. Simple as that. Nothing to do with " more pro looking.." and Alain of all people ..you should know better than that. Pro ,my $@!...if you have to beat up a guitar to make you look pro, what a freaking pretender you are.

What's a CC?

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"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training

A guitar is a tool for the musician, like a hammer to a carpenter. I use mine and play lots of bars. Since i bought them, they ought to be mine to dent and ding. Don't get me wrong i take care of them, and if i want to collect one ,it goes in the case and not on the road, but I aint paying Fender or any other company to do what I try to keep from doing. This aging thing will happen over time with weather and temp changes, playing out, bar smoke, sweat and numerous other things. Give it time and enjoy your guitar. Lots of this "old " hype came from prices being pushed so high on vintage none of us can afford the "older" guitars selling for tens of thousands. Just remember, some of your favorite players that used strats prior to being famous bought a used or off the rack new one in the store, only 20-40 years later did that guitar become old and interesting. I know some people dont like waiting for tree's to grow over time they want old and seasoned now, so may i sugest buying the oldest used strat you can afford or a custom shop that may have better wood.

Personally I don't see spending that much money on something you can do yourself...I love the way a reliced Strat looks, so I reliced my 2 Strats:



....It's not all that difficult to so and if you like that look you'll save yourself a ton of cash.

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-Damien Azrael
www.damienazrael.com
www.myspace.com/damienazrael
www.myspace.com/damienazraelmusic

"I play a modded Highway One Strat...Original Floyd Rose and soon to have H-S-H pickup configuration"

That's pretty much on the money.