What do you like the relic or the mint look on a Fender Strat ?
Being a Vinny Pop allows me to be able to appreciate it both ways. I love my 62 Ri 2005 because its mint placid blue nice colour but would also love to have a relic which I dont at the moment or even maybe if I could learn to do it but I admire the relic of Rory Gallagher look, I would love that too, he was a great blues guitarist. Does a reliced Fender make you play better ? The mojo of the look does it really help us to play better. And should a relic be preserved with lacquer or allowed to relic even more ?

YES!

Yes what rapza please answer thanks.

definitely not a fan of road worn/relic guitars....nothing appealing about a faked history.

i love a brand new guitar.

i like the reliced finish. looks more raw! but im not such a fan of the road worn series. no point in having a worn out gitar thats identical with hundreds of others. it must be worn naturally.

I wasnt talking about road worn fake relics I meant the real ones and yes the real ones I like too. I would choose a real relic over a newie as long as the guitar is vintage, like theres nothing worse than a guitar under 10 years old thats been beaten up

Hello Vinnypop,

The nicer they look,
the better{for me}.
I choose the one in the red.

Cheers.

The only thing that is going to make you play better is PRACTICE. I do not like the relic look I like the look of a broken in guitar but not something that looks like it has been dragged around the block chained to the back of a car. If anyone here started to see rusting on the bridge of there guitar they would freak out,or if they dropped it and gouged out a part of the finish they would not be able to sleep for a week. Yet they will pluck down a few grand on a guitar that comes this way. I will never figure it out. I am telling you the straight up non playing collectors are the real reason for this whole thing and if it ever goes out of style theres going to be a lot ugly axes not worth very much. How many known guitar players play a made relic I dont think you could fill one hand worth of fingers.The only thing that I could appreciate is the feel of a broken in neck period. But I know a lot of guys like them so beauty is in the eye of the beholder or is it just the cool thing to have at the moment. On ebay,craigs list, guitar forums anywhere I see guitars sold the first question is how is the condition of the body and neck. The more damage the less the guitar is worth. So I am missing something somewhere.

I played a road worn tele recently and it felt great, but the looks of the instrument are a big turn-off. I definitely prefer a new guitar look when I've paid a new guitar price. Furthermore, if the guitar is "worn in," I like to be the person wearing it in. Just my personal preference.

I did!

I Like 'em both. no need to waste your time in my opinion mr Vinny. They're both Stats!

Yes Bill Godbless Farah Fawcett shes nicer than any strat anyday. And rapza you are a cordial gentleman and your opinion is highly valued thankyou.

I like 'em all.

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

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Hey Fender Benders-

This topic keeps coming up- Relic or not looks are secondary to playability. I take pretty good care of my Strat. Not a ding or scratch on her (Knock on Wood)- She plays like a dream and if...God forbid she did get a blemish....So be it. She is still my baby.

I personally dont see the big Whoop in a pre reliced guitar...kinda like giving yourself a scar and telling people it is a "War Injury" when you never were even a boy scout. Does anybody realize how many years it takes to rub off a Nito finish? ..... How much blood sweat and tears?

Differnet strokes for different folks....but when it comes down to that first riff in your opening piece at a gig- You chops better be real...no matter what you guitar looks like- Keep it real folks and you will never go wrong.

The Freeze

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There's Always Room For MELLOW !!!!

2000 MIM Stratocaster, Midnight Wine W/Texas Specials
2000 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1969 Fender Vibro Champ

I like breakin 'em in - I have a Squier Tele from 20 years ago - never had a case, looks like a relic....cause it IS!

Mint. I cannot fathom why someone would prefer something which one way or the other got the living 'fecal matter' beat out of it. I doubt anyone would pay top dollar for a house, car, TV, etc. in this kind of condition, have every intention of leaving it this way and on top of it all, take pride in such a shabby, tattered appearance.

As to this whole, "I like the broken in feel of the neck" shtick, the same overall feel can be achieved with a pristine neck while still keeping its looks intact.

I just don't get this whole, "Relic" or even, "Closet Classic" business. I never did and I never will, especially when you have to pay quite a bit extra for what used to be a price reduced, "floor model" or, "demo". At least the mileage on these were unique unto each of them and didn't have the identical 'wear' exactly like all the other millions circulating, regardless of color.

All I can say is, "To each his (or her) own."

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