Do new Fenders RELIC? How Long does it take?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

If you have a guitar you have played for years that has taken on some serious wear, let us know in the comments, and the story behind it!

[@delphinazizumbo8674]

you people are ridiculous "relic" a guitar you POSUERS make me SICK PLAY yer guitar, you fanboy hipsters the guitar doesn't exist to stroke your tiny ego but you jokers wouldn't know that: you're too busy saving up for a 5K axe that LOOKS like it's been used, nut, of course, YOU don't really PLAY guitar, you just HAVE guitars you make me SICK

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@delphinazizumbo8674 you realize what this video is about right? My Guitar in the photo was with me for over 2000 gigs on it that’s what we’re talking about, honest wear not relicing your own guitar. 🤦‍♂️

[@acatwiththreenames3658]

I've played my 1989 ultra strat with poly finish a lot since buying it new. I've worn through the paint where my arm touches the body. Other than that, it really doesn't look aged at all.

[@Great-Documentaries]

Only effing morons pay someone to pre-damage their instrument. You've doubtless heard of Stradivari. Dude (and his family) made the finest violin in human history. No one EVER asked him to relic one, nor has anyone ever relic'd one. That's because people who own them are not idiots. I just read a post over at The Gear Page about someone who sold a nitro guitar on Reverb that had no damage, but arrived checked because of the cold weather. We moved away from shitty nitro finishes starting in the 60s and everyone with a clue has never looked back. We take care of our instruments and poly protects them. Only an idiot WANTS their guitar damaged. Unfortunately the guitar world is littered with pot-smoking, tatted losers with no brains. The hate will continue...

[@quijahn8369]

I’ve been gigging an Eric Johnson signature since 2007. It was purchased brand new and now looks like a relic’d guitar. Lots of exposed wood, especially on the back. As long as it’s a nitro finish it will wear. I recently purchased a fender custom shop 63 strat and got one relic’d. I don’t want to spend another 20 years before I feel like I can pick up a guitar without babying it or gigging it without stressing. My Ej Feels and plays differently from the wear. I wanted that feel on my custom shop out of the box. The roasted neck helped make it feel like an older guitar as well. Very, very happy with it.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

those EJ’s are amazing guitars

[@Guitarjohn1]

I have a srv Strat . I don’t think it’s nitro. However the paint is coming off just like a nitro . I’ve had it for 15 years and it’s well gigged but it looks incredible now 😊

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

This is really interesting. I personally NEVER understood the attraction of "reliced" guitars. I am the type of person who takes care of his things. I bought a brand new SUZUKI VL800 "Volusia" motorcycle in 2001. I rode it ALL of the time in the summer, but each fall I washed, waxed, polished and "winterized" it. When I sold it, it was seventeen (17) years old, but looked like new! 🤗 The only brand new guitar that I have bought was a chrome red colored FENDER Telecaster HS. Its beautiful finish was covered in THICK, plastic polyurethane. I assumed that that would NEVER WEAR. 🤔

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Some of the wear (like the pearl snaps rubbing on the Strat in the video) or where the guitar sits on my jeans when I teach, or especially where my arm rests just happen over time, and I do take care of my guitars, I'm especially protective of the back of the neck. That Tele only got 1-2 dings in the neck over the years, and it drove me CRAZY

[@keithhumphreymusic133]

I bought an NOS Pink Paisley Tele back in 2021. Hundreds of shows later, the paint where my arm rests is completely gone on the rim, snap buttons from country gigs have taken most of the paint on the back rim off, so many chips and dents, and there is rubber worn into the finish where I loop my cable through my strap. I have plenty of other guitars, but this is my number one. In 10 years, I anticipate most of the paint on the rims being completely gone. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[@1148-w1d]

My 30 year old poly covered SRV Strat is showing arm wear. 10 years at the Sanctuary? So cool! I've been friends with Brian Meader since we lived in Virginia Beach and onto the Chuck Levin's days!

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Awesome! Yes working with Brian was awesome - just saw him a few days ago when we visited for Thanksgiving!

[@maxt774]

Great vid! I just got a used 2023 American Vintage II ‘57 Strat in vintage blonde back in August and am so excited to see it age with me!

[@joeltunnah]

It will take 1000 years. The AVii has a thick poly finish with a "nitro" (it's not) overspray. It will never check and wear like a 50s guitar. I know, I stripped my 2023 AVii '57 Strat.

[@maxt774]

@@joeltunnah it’s a poly clear coat, no? Kind of like fullerplast? So even if the nitro on top wears down to the clear poly, you’ll still see wood I assume, right? Also, can you explain what you mean by it not being nitro? I’m curious, this is the first I’ve heard that!

[@joeltunnah]

@maxt774 the poly undercoat is matte actually (I scraped off the "nitro" first with a heat gun). The poly coat is impervious to heat and tools. The only way to get it off is a lot of aggressive sanding. I suppose if you buff it out it would be clear. As far as the "nitro", many people online have noted that they changed the formulation to meet California laws and to avoid warranty claims for finish checking and chips/wear. I attempted to artificially check it with freeze spray, and nothing happened. It has plasticizers added to it to keep it from ever fully hardening like the old stuff. I will say the AVii '57 neck appears to be real nitrocellulose lacquer, on top of an orange color coat. I'm not certain what that is because I didn't strip the neck, but I was able to add finish checks with the freeze spray.

[@satura5848]

I have a 2002 Blue Agave MIM Strat with a black pickguard (named Bumblebee) which has accumulated a variety of dings and scratches over the last 22+ years. It's very special to me, resonates so well and feels so comfortable. It's been with me all over the place and has been played to the point where the thin poly finish on the fretboard has worn through in a few places. The poly has also browned along the edges of the neck and at the base of the headstock where my thumb and fingers have rubbed. The non-contoured side of the body has a heavily damaged area where it was banged against an amp each time I put it down at rehearsals, and occasionally 'bounced' against the floor at gigs. Bare wood showing. I'm fond of the wear and tear, as it never fails to remind me of the decades spent playing and the experiences tied to making happy noise.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

9.5" on that Tele!

[@TheTaxman62]

I built a replica 1964 Airline ResOGlass out of wood a couple years back and im slowly starting to wear through that. Another guitar that’s been in my family for a long time is an original 1958 Silvertone U-1 Copper and man does she look good with a relic. Just got passed down to me 3 years ago. Can’t wait for many years to come!

[@denbodg9311]

I have a 1982 ‘57 two tone sb Vintage reissue Strat, bought in 2008 with some playwear & dings. My only guitar until 2022. Lots of natural 42 year wear now. Looks cool. More than that, the tone is amazing!

[@wizardofdoom]

I bought a Fender Strat MIM back in 2013. I took real good care of it, had a proper guitar polish to clean it everytime I change strings roughly about every 3 months. 11 years later with the same care, the paint still cracked and chipped on the parts that frequently makes contact with skin. I'm not a fan of reliced guitars, but a guitar that is naturally worn by you is beautiful.

[@yyoolloo_chan9108]

i love how smooth that drive sounded in the intro

[@gr637]

I like the idea of growing’ with my guitar. Getting grey and wrinkled together, yet appreciating and realising that real beauty shows with time.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@@gr637 exactly! Getting to know every part of it and develop a relationship. It’s a beautiful thing!

[@GavinEhringer]

I built a custom Jazzmaster using a USA Custom body and neck in 2009. I painted in with ReRanch nitro-cellulose lacquer (about five color coats, 20 clear coats, polished to 2000 grit sand paper). The paint is now checked and changing color - the Daphne blue has a yellow patina. There are lots of chips in the headstock area showing a Lake placid blue undercoat and a white primer. There are similar body chips that show the white primer, and the water slide decal between the two pickups, which was heavily oversprayed with clear coat, is wearing due to pick friction. I'd say it's more of a closet classic than a relic, as I try not to abuse the guitar. It's definitely my favorite guitar that I play 90 percent of the time, despite owning a nice Reverend and an ES-335 clone. Mainly, it just have the best tone.

[@RememberTheRegs]

I bought a 1995 Fender Mexican Standard telecaster two years ago. It had been looked after but had some nice natural wear and a nicely played in neck. In my 2 years I've just started to wear through the neck finish of the maple fretboard while the body is showing very little signs of wear. It's an all poly finish but the first time I've seen one starting to wear but it's also one of the oldest guitars I've owned. Absolutely love the guitar and feel I'm putting my own mark on it.

[@User57186-y]

I think in many ways having a beat up guitar, particularly from natural wear is somewhat of a badge of honour/right of passage for certain players, and ultimately bragging rights to tell their stories. There is nothing wrong with pre-relic’d guitars, I’ve seen many people ignorantly state that only posers would play relic guitars, whereas majority of customers that buy them are very experienced pros, stop the hate! One of my main guitars is an 85 MIJ Telecaster just after the JV series and I believe is poly, I have still work the neck down through that finish which feels awesome and that just from 10 years or so of owning It (and Australian heat)

[@Great-Documentaries]

Only effing morons pay someone to pre-damage their instrument. You've doubtless heard of Stradivari. Dude (and his family) made the finest violin in human history. No one EVER asked him to relic one, nor has anyone ever relic'd one. That's because people who own them are not idiots. I just read a post over at The Gear Page about someone who sold a nitro guitar on Reverb that had no damage, but arrived checked because of the cold weather. We moved away from shitty nitro finishes starting in the 60s and everyone with a clue has never looked back. We take care of our instruments and poly protects them. Only an idiot WANTS their guitar damaged. Unfortunately the guitar world is littered with pot-smoking, tatted losers with no brains. The hate will continue...

[@LucasHaneman]

I have a 94 fender Strat plus (thick poly). That Guitar has fallen off of stages, fallen out of cars, been on the road, been on stage with me when I had the honour of opening for the late great Jeff Healey and let me tell you it’s got some ware. I started playing super young and I was obsessed with Guitar at age 6. Got into electric when I was 10 and over the course of a few short years purchased that Guitar used off my guitar teacher when I was 12. It’s been with me ever since. Honestly it’s not a great guitar compared to other instruments that have come into my life more recently, but it tells such a story that I can’t sell it. I’ve contemplated selling it a few times as I don’t play it all the time anymore, but I just can’t. It has major Mojo, and it’s all my own. :-) I think it’s on its third set of Fretz now and those are starting to get pretty worn out. It’s at the point now, though if I refretted it again, there really wouldn’t be much of a neck left, it’s already a lot thinner than I wish it was, much thinner than it was when I got it back in the early 2000s

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

How did that thick poly age?

[@LucasHaneman]

@ not like nitro, it’s more dings, scrapes, and such all over the guitar. The dings are from pretty significant impact, but some of the scratches, etc. just seem to happen overtime. The back of the neck is very interesting as it has lots of hairline cracks, even though it’s a poly finish. It’s interesting for sure. I haven’t seen any other poly finish guitars with quite as much as this one. If you’re looking at the Guitar head on, you don’t see a ton but as soon as you look at the sides, it’s very obvious. Oh yeah, and the headstock is very interesting as well. Lots and lots of wear from knocking it into microphone stands, etc. I’m visually impaired so I have knocked it into quite a few L O L.

[@timsellsted521]

I have a 1987(?) - '57 RI Strat. I had the neck refinished and refretted. It was a horribly thin neck after. I found an SRV neck on Ebay and put it on. It is perfect for my hand. I've gigged it for a long time and travels everywhere I go.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Nice - did you gig a lot in the 1990s?

[@timsellsted521]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar A couple times a month. In a few different local bands. Never learned theory or the fretboard. Just learned songs well enough to play out.

[@mishakildager]

Two comments: 1. I remember taking lessons with you YEARS ago in MN and you had that Tele then. A huge reason as why one of my main guitars today is my custom Telecaster. 2. I still have my first guitar, a blue first act in a LP JR style. I replaced the pickup with a Vig P90 and made a variety of other upgrades to keep it playable. I still gig with it on occasion too

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Wow!!! How have you been?

[@mishakildager]

@ I’ve been great! Long and short: I got a degree in education, and teach music full time now. I also front a band and play guitar and bass in a couple of other projects in the Twin Cities. Been doing tiktok guitar content and might shift that over here. I hope you’ve been well! Keith from Five Watt World mentioned you in a video and I was like “No way!” Glad I found your channel!

[@farwoodfarm9296]

I have a 98' MIM Cyclone, I've had it since 2000, was a daily player for 5-6 years then sat for awhile. Over the last year or so it's bee a daily and It's finally starting to show some wear, also a few drops have dinged it up. I love that guitar IMO nothing beats the offset body.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Is the Cyclone basically a Mustang body, or is it slightly different?

[@farwoodfarm9296]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar Mustang body but 1/4" thicker, its also made out poplar and not basswood. Its heavier than a Mustang and since mines a first get it has a Texas Special single coil in the neck position and a Fender atomic humbucker in the bridge. Also has a 24.75" scale length instead of 24"(Mustang) So its Les Paul length and not strat or tele scale.

[@karpczonisko]

Unfortunately not every poly finish guitar will worn out. I have for 16 years my first guitar, Ibanez RGR in piano black. It was my only guitar for 11 years (it survived first gigs, regular rehearsals, a lot of exercising and carrying around), so there are a lot of scratches, dinks, neck binding is not white anymore, but paint is not wearing out because it's too thick. And it's still guitar that I use a lot, when I have idea for a song, or solo, this is first thing that I'm going to grab, it's just feels like home. BUT I have Hamer Vector with poly finish, but it's very thin poly finish. At this moment this is my main guitar in band (V's are looking so cool on stage) and this finish IS wearing out after year of regular rehearsals. Of course it's slower process than in my Gibson, but it's getting that "old worn jeans" vibe.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

love when that happens! Come to think of it, I don't know if I've ever seen a RG with natural wear - designed to handle a bomb-blast, maybe?

[@karpczonisko]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar I have seen some slighty reliced old RG's, but for a 35 years old guitars, that was nothing. So probably you are right, RG finish seems to be indestructible ;)

[@StephenCameron]

I have a bunch of Ibanez RGs, the oldest is a 1991 RG570 that I bought in 1992 and it has a bunch of little chips and dings in the paint along the edges of the body where it's been bumped into things over the years, but the paint doesn't seem to wear through on RGs. Same for the clear tinted colors on the various flame maple topped RGs, I have a RG3120 I bought new in 2000, and it has little chips in the finish along the edges, but no wear through.

[@kristinaluckett5591]

I bought a new 2017 built 'closet classic' Nocaster back in 2018. I'm an older intermediate player (with plenty of bad habits😂) and play pretty much every day including lots of noodling unplugged when I'm watching tv with my wife. It's wearing quite rapidly now. Thanks for the videos by the way, Rob.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@@kristinaluckett5591 very cool!

[@skullstjohn]

Mine is a '65 Strat purchased from a classmate in high school in '75. Practically brand new when I got it. Pre CBS by one day! Was stolen in 2009 and recovered in 2012. I don't play it out anymore, (for obvious reasons) but has a ton of play wear.

[@Guitarjosii]

I have a Gibson SG Special from 1968, which has been almost my only guitar for the last 12 years. I've taken it to every gig, every band rehearsal, every session. Although it's still really old nitro lacquer without plasticizers, without poly undercoat and stuff like that, the guitar simply hasn't aged a bit in that time. That's why I can hardly believe what you say in the video and how much your guitars have aged. Respect, you really seem to play an incredible amount. 😨

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

I’m on my instrument between eight and 10 hours a day between gigs, teaching full-time, sessions, practice etc.

[@tmmuscics2753]

I have a 2017 fender Stevie ray Vaughn Stratocaster. I’m the second owner of it, when I got it, it was dead mint, barely played. I’ve owned now for about 1 year and it now has a ton of fret wear, dings, dirt and scratches.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

That’s the beauty of owning a guitar that gets played regularly!

[@sendjamin]

i built my guitar out of a squier California series strat, refinished it in nitro lalke placid blue from nitorlack, relicced and nitro tinted the neck, and specced out the electronics to as close to 60s spec using cheap parts. i finished it over a year ago and its the best guitar I've played, nitro hasn't checked or faded yet, just a few chips here and there, looking good

[@smautomat]

I have a heavily modded 2004 MIM Telecaster. Its polyester finish has chipped in a couple of spots along the edge of the body, yet for the most part, the primary evidence of wear is a very noticeable reduction in the glossiness of the finish in the area where my forearm comes in contact with the guitar.

[@jjerkamillo]

I have a 20 year old USA MusicMan SUB bass that I took on the road for years. The black finish around the headstock edges is gone as well as portions on the back of the neck itself. I ended up having to scrub off the clear coat from the neck because it was so spotty it made the neck inconsistent because some spots were "sticky" and others were smooth. The body has a matte finish so the dings and scratches on that aren't very noticable. It was in storage for a number of years because I needed to replace the pickguard, nut, tuners, and pre-amp. All got damaged over the years, but I finally fixed everything a few months ago and it plays just as good as it did when I got it. It's a bass I will always hold dear because my Dad who recently passed away bought it for me when I was in highschool, and all my successes in music were achieved with this bass in hand.

[@sonnywolfblues]

Actually Fenders from 1968 til 1982 had a Polyester undercoat with a Nitro topcoat on the body and Poly finished neck except for the headstock face which was Nitro and typically ambers more than the rest of the neck with age. In 1968 they decided to shoot a Poly undercoat on the body and spray Nitro over it which explains why Tab Benoit and Walter Trout's Fenders aged the way they did...a full Poly paint job would never age the same way. By 1983 Fender was using full Polyurethane finishes on their USA guitars (except for the reissues) and those guitars have not aged the same way due to the more plasticky texture of Poly. Look at Malmsteen's yellow 1970s Strats....those were Olympic white originally but the nitro clear coat yellowed quickly and turned the guitar yellow. Just a clarification about those 1968-82 Fenders.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Excellent info, thank you!

[@darwinsaye]

I think a lot of the issue with modern poly finishes is simply the thickness. I have three budget Japan guitars from the late 60s to the early 70s, a Harmony, a Silvertone, and a Kay; I’m almost certain these guitars would not have had nitro lacquer on them because of the expense, so I assume they are painted with some kind of plastic based poly finish. But it is MUCH thinner than what you see on modern day poly-finished guitars. They will scratch fairly easily, and where there is a scratch/chip through to the wood, you can see that the edge of the finish is paper thin, not millimetres-thick glossy plastic.

[@TheWitchingHourBand]

I bought a 1970 univox phase 2 hi flier last year. It has several chips and dings, and I’m pretty sure it was in Korea at some point because of initials on the back. Plus the initials ov in the front so I call it ovi. I kept with tradition and carved my name too.

[@mbfyyjderhjkVvv]

8 months into my new Strat and I have 2 dings and the pick guard is scratched 💪

[@rockerbuck967]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Special that's been my #1 for 20 years. I got it used in Pittsburgh. I though Specials had P-90's in them, but this one has regular chrome covered humbuckers in it so this one might have been modded. It's been through a lot, and has a few battle scars. But I know every ding and chip on it, and which gigs I got them from (Well, most of them lol).

[@ianclevenger9714]

My main guitar is a 2010 squier affinity Stratocaster in candy Apple red after I got it back in 2022 it has been my number one and out of all 8 of my strats it was the best playing and sounding the white pickgaurd yellowed a bit and it has a few chips and rings and I've naturally wore the satin finish neck up to slick smooth feeling

[@ianclevenger9714]

I mean to say dings not rings

[@mokeyxmokey]

Great content!

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@@mokeyxmokey thank you!

[@doomwreckertelevision3527]

I have an SGJ from 2014. Has been one of my favorite guitars, taken it all over on the road, used in many gigs and recordings. It just feels right. Frets and neck amazing. Pickups, great. Just a great guitar. Had some finish issues when I got it, picked it up for 420 dollars. It is a "natural relic" at this point. I recently had a brush with death and now im sort of thinking about selling most my gear and keeping maybe a handful of guitars. Life is too short to mess around with a bunch of cheap guitars. I also dont have any kids, who am I gunna give this shit to? Why am I collecting things? Welcome to my second mid life crisis.

[@ghostex7304]

I have a 2019 Les Paul Traditional. I bought it lightly used in 2020, and I've been gigging with it for 4 years now, and every ding and dent has a story. It's a Nitro finish which I love. I always wear a belt when I gig, and it has some serious buckle rash which is all by me. The guitar was pretty much brand new when I bought it!

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

That’s what I’m talking about!

[@randygumaer282]

My guitar is a 1990 Stratocster Plus deluxe natural with a poly finish it has tinted but polyurethane is really tough and doesn't check like nitro it takes a very long time with constant use.

[@nieko3038]

I have my fathers Strat. Frets are worn. Finish not so much. It’s a 1994 MIJ. It’s been living in its case for the last 12 years or so. Shame poly doesn’t age or wear. Did a refret on my mate his 2001 Epiphone. Looked like new. Frets were gone. Only 2 small dents at the lowerbout. He gigged that thing a lot.

[@Sapprz93]

i have a 2011 mexican telecaster that is starting to chip and yellow, edges of the fretboard are worn and the frets themselves are completely knackered but its my only guitar

[@Drygreenproductions]

I have a 2017 fender duo-sonic bought it brand new played it almost everyday for 7 years looks the exact same as when I bought it minus a few dents on the bottom from accidentally dropping on my pedal board

[@GrandOld-Parr]

1996 Fender telecaster thinline blonde crafted in Japan purchased new and still in mint condition (although I've recently noticed i need to work on the intonation).

[@Ottophil]

The difference between fender and gibson is I will throw the fenders harder at the end of the set, they can take it. Gibsons are more fragile, but looks cooler dented than the poly. Either way. I’m putting play wear in addition to aggressively ending the night. My number one never gets thrown but it has 20+ years of wear

[@Ray-Angel]

I have an 07 Hwy1 Strat. It has a nitro finish, and it's worn in beautifully.

[@CJZM7777]

Rory Gallagher's guitar was stolen and he had an Irish TV station put out a story to ask the public to look out for his guitar and return it. Stratocasters were so rare in Ireland at the time, the thief freaked out and dumped it. Gallagher got it back after a few days later when someone found it outside in a muddy ditch. Rory called it his "lucky charm" after getting it back. I wouldn't advise leaving your guitars outside in a ditch to age them though. I do have a 1997 Heritage H535. The hardware is a bit burnished and the finish has very minor checking and ware but nothing really substantial. My other 4 guitars are between 1 and 6 years old and no real wear yet.

[@sonicase]

if you watch video of his concerts you'll see at the end he's throwing around the guitar and sliding it all over the stage...do that every show and it'll look like rory's guitar

[@sboy1955]

My 2011 AmStd Tele (poly) paint is not relicing but does have obvious wear and dings, also need refretting..

[@tims4677]

So timely... I have one of the trash nitro finish Fenders... getting ready to assemble it thinking if I should dork around with it.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Hi Tim, how have you been?

[@tims4677]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar - well no longer gigging 400x a year... that's ok. Actually, your posting about the beginner to mediate guitar player is timely. Totally missing playing with you --- few folks can break apart stuff to the "right sizes" like you do.

[@tims4677]

magically, this thread caught my eye as I put in hours on a personalize of a nitro Pbass... ... I didn't fake relic it... just darkening (it's the amberburst) the blemishes (used copier toner) ... I put in a few hours trying to see what legit nitro looks like as it's abused. As you'll remember, 99% of my gear is all high-polish poly.... Styling a fender for the country gigs.... I may steal your idea and get my name cut into the back. Thank you for posting this.

[@tims4677]

so... honest question... when plating has gotten better (and less nickel) any thoughts on dorking chrome?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Never tried it myself!

[@rinkydinky-ob9pe]

soak a test piece in a solution of vinegar and water overnight and it will dull down the nickel

[@ofir_likes_beer]

I have a mexican strat (EOB), gigging and abusing it and it's pretty much new

[@sagebeltran]

Nice vid Corey! I recently purchased a Fender AVII (American Vintage II) 1961 Strat for myself as a present for graduating college. Since only having from late June until now, I can already see light wear in the body and the back of the neck getting a smoother (satin) finish. It is very slight, especially in the neck, but based on how much I've been playing it (1-3 hours daily usually) I hope it 'molds' to my playing. Just one question, if you are experienced with actual 60's Strats, how does the nitro differ from the real deal? I also have a Martin D-18 and its nitro finish has reacted way more heavily in the short time I have also had it. I understand Fender has undergone a lot of modifications in its original recipe for environmental and safety standards, so does this 'modern' recipe heavily differ? I have also heard on my guitar in general the finish is heavily sprayed compared to how thin the finishes were back then, similar to how they spray fat poly finishes on all the modern/standard lines. Thanks.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Hi! I have never owned an original vintage Strat, so I can't compare unfortunately!

[@rustydelorean6405]

I always thought it was just me with the fret wear issue. I never hear anyone mention frequent refrets on youtube. Almost all of my guitars have string “dents” on the first and second frets of the B and high E strings. Frets wear out way faster than the paint.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Sounds like it’s time for a fret dress! If you play all the time, you can wear them out pretty quickly. On my main gigging guitars (4 gigs a week 4 sets a night) they usually only last about two years before needing a refret

[@rustydelorean6405]

@@KoreyHicksGuitarI have a 2016 Gibson worn/faded SG that I bought new. The upper bout of the body where your forearm rests got real shiny then started to wear through. It’s my only guitar now and probably has about 800 hours play time on it. I noticed the fret wear about last year.

[@viper2148]

My daily player is a 1994 Carvin TL60, all Koa body and an ebony fretboard. To be honest, after a coat of oil it looks like the first day that I brought it home.

[@ChrsGuit]

It should be noted that 'poly" is a misnomer... You mentioned players with "poly" guitars... Those are Polyurethane... but Polyester is ALSO a finish material... The late 70's were the era of Polyester finishes... They WILL NOT wear or relic... they're essentially plastic They will chip and crack off in chunks... You can't remove them by sanding... the only way is to heat them with a heat gun and scrape it off with a sharp chisel... I have a 1999 strat I bought new as a teenager... no frets left, yet the finish is pristine... That's almost 30 years of playing, and it is still as glossy and nice as it was new... it's a bit yellowed, since my family smoked, but that's it... I feel any in the "just play it if you want it to look worn" should understand that finishes are different

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@@ChrsGuit understood, but I suppose I’m talking about buying a vintage reissue or a custom shop reissue that is NOS

[@emdblues]

it depends on the thickness of the nitro. I have a 2019 LP Jr and its not reaalyy worn. just has some cracks

[@Lasaration]

Wise words.

[@Nicholas-dreamlove]

Rory had a rare blood type which his sweat caused his '62 , 3 tone burst Stratocaster wear away like that.

[@asw7696]

🤣

[@csharp57]

Keyboard was always my main instrument, but I’ve kept a Strat and LP nearby for at least two decades. Sorry but not much wear. They have lived protected in hard cases and gigged sparingly. Now that I’ve converted to guitar, let’s see how they wear. I do have a 70s nolin era LP I bought early 2000s, but none of the wear and tear was my doing. It looks great though. I always wish I knew who owned it before me.

[@Tyler_Wilson]

Why did you sell that Tele after all those years? I feel like if I put that much mojo into a guitar, I’d keep it forever.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

It’s a long story, but I was born with an extra rib that caused me to get thoracic outlet syndrome, and I had a pretty intense surgery in 2017 that if it didn’t go well would’ve ended my playing career. I was looking for a fresh restart after the surgery With a new instrument.

[@Tyler_Wilson]

@ oh wow. Well, that certainly changes things. Thank you for sharing your story!

[@Sammywhat]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar The Strat is definitely the best ergonomic guitar in my opinion. Uncle Larry said if you build a guitar in the air space under a guy just sitting there, you'd get a Stratocaster! It's easily my go to guitar and always will be.

[@wiseguy9202]

They're literally encapsulated in plastic, no way they'll wear(if you get a typical run Fender. Not a limited thin skin). They will crack with damage and the paint will chip off, but that's about it. Checking can't happen with these, they can only crack.

[@joeltunnah]

100% correct. Their "vintage" finishes today are "nitro" with plasticizers added to it, over a thick polyurethane finish. It's as tough as a bowling alley.

[@rinkydinky-ob9pe]

i hear Rory i click like

[@mcmotohistory8770]

Genuine wear fantastic I have done it with my own guitars but fake wear is just fake and will always be fake someday people are going to look back and go what the hell

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Exactly

[@MarkAHolloway3954]

I’m sure I put a ding on that Strat somewhere…

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Careful, Mark! 😆

[@Sixstringsecrets]

Bad Penny…… Nice!

[@joeltunnah]

To spite their false advertising, no Fender production guitar today has a real nitrocellulose finish. The American Vintage ii series claims this, but it's false. I know because I stripped mine. It's a few coats of "nitro" with plasticizers added to it so it won't ever chip, check, or wear like a vintage guitar. Then under that is a very thick extremely hard poly finish. In fact you could strip off the "nitro" topcoat, and buff out the poly underneath and you'd still have a full 70s style finish. So this will never wear like a 50s or 60s vintage guitar. You can't even artificially relic it in any believable way. For $2200 they should be ashamed. I found all this out the hard way.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

The pure vintage reissues such as my Stratocaster in this video is from the 2012 to 2019 I believe and those will relic as you see on my Strat.

[@NenoUnCHAINED]

They should rename it to Berkley College of KZbin.

[@monsterram6617]

There's a big difference between nitro wearing off from years of play and outright neglect. When I see a guitar covered in years of dirt, rust, and hand-slime it just tells me that the owner is unhygienic and their guitars are likely a biohazard. It's not cool; it's gross.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

totally.

[@swampscott2670]

I’m going to reframe this: no, if you take decent care of your gear it won’t “relic” or look beat up and abused. Two of my main guitars have been with me and travelled with me for over thirty years now and and have very few dings and wear. I prefer it that way. I have an old 50s vintage guitar that has lots of wear - which made it more affordable at the time.

[@brettlac]

My tele turned to dust and blew away.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

😆

[@Tonetwisters]

If it is coated in polyurethane, it will stay new forever. If it is coated in Lacquer, it has a little better chance of aging ... not sure what all they even put into that stuff ...

[@justaguy2365]

Play it frequently, play it hard, don't treat it with kid gloves

[@pptemplar5840]

Ngl, I don't really like the idea of factory/custom Relics I get the stylistic appeal of a worn guitar, it's holes in bluejeans of the guitar world, but a lot of relics just look pretty bad, and DIY relics done in someone's garrage or something somehow usually look worse? Like I said I get the appeal of the look, but I feel like it's a lot harder to pull off and if it's not done well you have basically just put an innocent guitar in their equivalent of an iron maiden for no reason lol.

[@endorphinstudios2023]

Back in my day we had to hide our weed in our guitars and we liked it. Young people today with their legal recreational Vapes have no idea. In fact, the generation x guys pioneered many of the things that young people do today. Now stay off my lawn.

[@JakelikejakefromSF4936]

If you want to relic your guitar, then treat it like crap

[@gr637]

PS. I have ten guitars; does this make me a polygamist?😂

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

😆

[@johnnybongshow5257]

didn't like the relic guitar at all, had a 2017/1963 stratocaster relic kept scratching my head if fender even made that guitar? it was a brand new guitar

[@dewey7330]

I’m sorry. I’ll never understand. And don’t get me started about how it breathes and lets the guitar come alive. I say. Show me proof. And the nitro now is NOTHING like it was in the 50’s and 60’s

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@@dewey7330 it’s more about developing a personal relationship with an instrument over the years and decades that I’m after, I could care less if my playwear makes it sound better.

[@dewey7330]

@ I get that. But what I don’t get is the relic guitars and the marketing behind them. Especially the Murphy lab stuff. I mean hey it’s your money. Have fun!

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@ but you realize the Guitar I’m talking about isn’t a relic. I it looks that way after playing her 2000 gigs and using it every day - I’ve never owned a relic!

[@dewey7330]

@ I do realize.

[@GallowayJesse]

guitars don't relic in real life

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

False. Did you even watch the video?

[@delphinazizumbo8674]

this is one annoying moment after another fanboy hipsters