That was a fair and rational opinion from rhett even if I dont agree with it
@jojojojojojojojojojojojobАй бұрын
I agree with you on this video. Its more about being authentic and having stories behind the guitar rather than "stolen valor".. but yeah diff strokes for diff folks..
@nickl2883Ай бұрын
You should maybe look up what “stolen valor” actually is before throwing around terms like that. It’s music , it’s supposed to be fun. To compare someone who plays an aged guitar to someone faking military service is a little bit of a stretch.
@samuraiguitaristАй бұрын
@@nickl2883Man I know what it means. Americans and Canadians have a different relationship with the military thing...
@ronsheehanАй бұрын
@@samuraiguitaristmy take, it’s like getting a tattoo of a scar! 🤪
@neilfordanАй бұрын
We’re with you here, mate. 😉
@Briandnlo4Ай бұрын
The most important part of choosing a guitar is the nose, aroma and fragrance it gives off when the sommelier uncorks it.
@RhettShullАй бұрын
I’m getting notes of ash and leather
@SeeMick1Ай бұрын
And Natural, biodynamic Guitars are better than Conventional Guitars
@PaulMcEvoyGuitarsАй бұрын
@@RhettShull to me it's the taste of a true nitro finish that really gets me. People think I'm weird because I lick all the guitars I play, but to me if you don't taste the finish, you can't hear the tone. Dig? JK I'll be at the Fretboard Summit with some guitars I made, I'd be grateful if you'd give them the once over if you get a minute. They will not be super shiny.
@ZitherBeastАй бұрын
Nice. I think I laughed at that harder than I should have.
@Ashley-ji5hgАй бұрын
I like the smell of a good accoustic guitar or ukulele... 😂 my cocobolo smells different than my myrtle woods etc
@jaymichael3350Ай бұрын
I'll save you'all 10 mins of the click-bait title.... Rhett prefers satin necks and rolled fretboards, has really nothing to do with relic finishes but no one would get all pissed off and click if that was the title. ;)
@eglide73Ай бұрын
Fantastic summary!!
@jasongarcia5156Ай бұрын
Agreed!! Spot on Jay!! He also needs subscribers to his lesson plans!
@rcole3321Ай бұрын
He’s the clickiest of the click baiters
@harolddavis4138Ай бұрын
Thanks🎉
@BOSSenjoyerАй бұрын
The 10 minutes adds vintage mojo aroma and pixie dust
@tummy_frittersАй бұрын
I like the look of relic guitars, but I have to disagree that rolling the fingerboard and steel wool-ing the neck is relicing. For a guitar to be reliced, I think it has to give the impression of being a relic in all aspects--it has to show that it has significance as an instrument, which means it has to look like it was used a lot. Increased ergonomics like a rolled fingerboard and non-sticky neck, are just a development in production methods, and actually signify a later stage of production.
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
I am with you when we make adjustments to the neck those are performance enhancements. As for mainstream made relics outside some replica concepts I find most of them have 'tells' that anyone whose eye catches much detail will see and it destroys the vibe when those shiny new bits give it away or the relic process brings inaccurate results
@KenTeelАй бұрын
Well said.
@ignazioorru1254Ай бұрын
Relic or not, a good guitar is a good guitar, a bad guitar is a bad guitar, period.
@hmmmmm6034Ай бұрын
To you personally, sure. I might like a guitar that you might think is a giant piece of shit. What makes a good or bad guitar is subjective, just like relic-ing preference.
@The_CadaverАй бұрын
The only universal truth when it comes to guitars.
@jojojojojojojojojojojojobАй бұрын
IMHO I dont think so. Custom shop guitars wear out way way faster than mexican or american series guitars. So money wise, its not a good guitar to buy. You will spend more money initally and in the long run. Sonically its not miles apart than american strats. Imo its more like a scam. But each to their own.
@PaulMcEvoyGuitarsАй бұрын
@@jojojojojojojojojojojojob erm, how do guitars wear out? they need new transmissions or something?
@StupidGuitarАй бұрын
@@jojojojojojojojojojojojobthe copium is real
@dalejones4322Ай бұрын
I think we may be getting a few things mixed up together here, myself. "I" would suggest that rolled finger boards and rounded fret ends are not the same as relic guitars. Sanding the paint off and artificially aging the fret board is what I'd call a relic job. It would seem to be purely for aesthetics and have no affect on the playability. However, A natural or mat finished neck and rolled finger boards and rounded fret ends are all upgrades to a guitar that can be accomplished without artificially aging anything so that it looks old. Total novice here and this is just an observation that could totally be wrong. Thanks for a great video
@tuckermb6288Ай бұрын
I agree with this. If I install vintage wiring or put in old pickups because I'm looking for a certain tone, that's not a relic job, even though it's a modification to make the guitar play better or more like a vintage guitar. If I change the neck by rolling the fingerboard or sanding the finish because that's how I prefer the neck to feel, again, I'd call that a modification, not a relic job. However, if I change the aesthetics of the guitar, for the express purpose of making it resemble a vintage or older guitar, that would be a relic job. Things like yellowing the plastics or chipping/wearing the paint fall into that category. Of course, you can have relic jobs that also have the advantage of giving you a better feel, and you can make playability modifications that also have the added benefit of giving your guitar a cool look. But I would tend to separate the two things based on the purpose of the change. As Rhett mentioned, you can get rolled fingerboards and sanded or matte necks brand new and I wouldn't think that the manufacturers necessarily consider that to be a relic job. I don't have any problem with any of it. Modify to suit your taste, both aesthetically and with regard to playability.
@mantrachaitanyadas9049Ай бұрын
Absolutely 100% agree! Was going to make this comment myself, but you summed it up perfectly.
@Superjet113Ай бұрын
Right on man..
@devilsdoorbellАй бұрын
Absolutely agree. I just said the same in more words and less clear in my reply before seeing this. 'comfy as a design' without it being 'aged'.
@PaulCooksStuffАй бұрын
I think Rhetts point is that the fairly recent idea of rounded fretboards and satin necks came directly from the comfort and feel of a worn in guitar. The idea of prematurely rounding edges came directly from the relic movement. Even if you deeply despise everything about the relic visual aesthetic (as many vociferously do), if you own a modern factory fresh guitar with rounded fretboard edges then relic techniques have been applied to it. Relic is not only a visual thing - for some fans it's not even the primary thing - it's also a played-in comfort thing.
@davehopping7212Ай бұрын
Back in the day, the nitro-finished Fenders started looking relic-ed the minute they got gigged, and the maple fingerboards got divots if you even THOUGHT about playing them. Drove guitar players nuts and there were innumerable rattle-can refins. That is why there are so few original-finish Fifties Fenders left, and I suspect a lot of those are restorations masquerading as original. It's also why Leo went to rosewood fingerboards starting in 1958. It's ALSO why CBS went to poly in the early '70s. Rolled fingerboards and satin neck backs are ergonomically useful but can be part of new production without a banged-up body trying to impersonate an original. My take on relics is that by this time in history, no one now active remembers that once-upon-a-time your average-Joe player could make a decent living just playing music in the local bars, so today's dentists, accountants, and urban planners who do play have to make do with looking like they were real musicians.
@BigVik-hn6ug28 күн бұрын
Couldnt agree more!! Also we just use was „better“ materiell these days. My dad has a 1989 strat that he has been playing all his life, the thing Looks almost Brand new.
@j.aut.1275Ай бұрын
I'm 45, have played ~ 30 years. I can give all the reasons why I like relic'd guitars, but if nothing else, I enjoy them. I also have a new non-relc'd guitar that I wouldn't really want to get dinged up. Both have their place.
@shaunhughes2Ай бұрын
Yep, I feel the same way. Relic and non-relic both have a place. You don’t have to take a side; you can enjoy both.
@csharp57Ай бұрын
Couldn’t agree more. As long as someone isn’t trying to pass a relic’d guitar off as vintage, I have no problems with it. Would I personally relic a guitar, no. But if someone offered me a nice guitar relic’d at a great price, I’d take it.
@MarkCasey-ub8spАй бұрын
@@csharp57 In the unlikely event that I would pay through the nose for a reliced guitar, I would certainly be upset if it didn't maintain it's resale value.
@123Ir0nmanАй бұрын
I just have to clear this up because it bugs me. Polyurethane is the finish polyester is a fabric
@peterstephen1562Ай бұрын
Master luthier speaking here. No your info is incorrect. There are polyester finishes and polyurethane finishes. The two smell different are applied differently they wear differently. They each have a different reaction or lack of to finish strippers, they burn differently and crack differently on impact. They both are the enemy of pleasant aged appearence but will look new longer especially polyesters.
@rome8180Ай бұрын
A lot of these reasons you listed are why I only buy used guitars. They don't have to be vintage to be broken in. You can get a guitar from 15-20 years ago for much cheaper than a new guitar. And it will often be very comfortable to play. Sure, it won't be as worn down as a vintage or relic'd guitar, but it will have been played enough to get rid of the rough edges and sticky neck.
@timwhite5562Ай бұрын
I've been repairing guitars for over 25 years, so this isn't something i share really often, but personally i recoil from relicing. I don't think it's because in making it look old, they're making them look more valuable as much as it's imbuing it with a sort of manufactured character. There's definitely truth in the idea that they're more comfortable and lived in feeling, and that they tend to sound better due to the things that happen in the relicing process: thinner finish, lighter and dryer wood, etc. But there's nothing keeping people from building a new unreliced guitar with all of those same characteristics: the neck profile, fretboard shaping, thinner and harder finish (they changed the finishes more to last longer than to make it any safer. They add plasticizers and inhibitors to make it more mailable longer so it doesn't cheque and flake off, but there's still finish without them), etc. I get why people like them, i just don't ever see having a guitar built for myself and opting for an aged look. 🤷
@shanewalton8888Ай бұрын
spin it any way you want, but relics are still for posers.
@billysuterАй бұрын
What if I play my grandfathers guitar but I'm not that accomplished? I just enjoy playing... what if I'm given a guitar that's 50 years old and road worn? What if I buy one from neighbour? What if I buy one from ebay? Reverb? Andertons? Why draw a line?
@anniedarkhorse6791Ай бұрын
@@billysuter You have missed the whole point of this topic.
@kof867Ай бұрын
If it’s worn from actual wear and tear and not fabricated then it’s not a relic, nobody has a problem with using worn in guitars, just faking the aging and wear a guitar has is a bit silly
@rmaxtpmx11 күн бұрын
Are you sure it's not the gatekeepers who are posers?
@The_CadaverАй бұрын
Sanding down the neck, fretboard, or fret edges is just a MODIFICATION. The flaking paint and artificial fret gunk is a "relic" thing. IMO obviously.
@frag4007Ай бұрын
Rolling fingerboard, making the neck mate doesn’t count as relicing because it doesn’t look old. The neck doesn’t wear that way. Relicing is aesthetic and adjusting the neck is ergonomics. You should buy custom shop with intact finish and “relic” neck.
@strawsparky33Ай бұрын
Relicing isn't just about look its about feel too. Way to completely miss the point.
@frag4007Ай бұрын
@@strawsparky33 i didnt miss the point i rejected it in it’s entirety. Changing the neck finish and rolling edges doesn’t make anything looked reliced just ergonomic. Plus if thats all he cared about he could get a new guitar with intact finish a mate neck and rolled edges, and no one would call the reliced. Relicing is aesthetic
@DJFreshJuiceАй бұрын
@@strawsparky33Do you think one of the reasons of buying pre ripped jeans is "the feel"? Making a guitar feel nice is not relicing
@r.v.9005Ай бұрын
@@strawsparky33 You’re just arguing to argue, kiddo. By your argument, sanding is relicing. Which means, according to your weird theory, that every guitar ever made has been “reliced” during the building process. Relicing is a visual thing, kid.
@scottreynolds6317Ай бұрын
I prefer non-relic guitars 🎸. Every nick, ding, smudge and scuff is something that I have accidentally done to them. Just my personal preference. I agree with Samurai Guitarist.
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
I have a '96 MIM Strat has finger marks across the fretboard, cig burns on the headstock, cracks and chips across the sunburst finish and frets worn to the point that if it were played regularly would need them replaced within a year. It plays so smooth frets are worn but level its effortless to get clear chiming tones stays in tune even when you work the trem and has a great warm strat tone that is amazing for Ritchie Blackmore style solos. I grab it for a quick ride around the block every week or so it has plenty of life left I didn't do most of the natural relic myself but its easy to see why someone played it so much. You simply cannot manufacture that kind of vibe by artificially relic in my opinion
@csharp57Ай бұрын
I purchased a LP custom I found in a pawn shop in NYC in the late 90’s. I didn’t put all of the wear and tear on it so I don’t know the whole story of every mark. I can’t even remember what I put there from what the other owner(s) put there. So I can’t get on board with that whole notion. Doesn’t take away from the guitar at all. People who relic their guitars actually have more knowledge of every blemish on their new guitar more than I do with my vintage. So I disagree with Mr. Samurai
@_OlorinАй бұрын
I think most people's issue with relics is not the "broken in" part. It's the esthetic and the fact that you are deceiving people about the nature of the instrument and the time you might have spent on it. Yes, sanding the fingerboard and the back of the neck is a sort of "relic" that makes your guitar feel better. The finish being uncomfortable is not an argument for relic'ing, it's an argument against the finish. Does the finish feel bad? If yes, then why is it there? Find another one if you're gonna get a custom guitar. And making the guitar look like it was played even though it wasn't makes a prop out of it imo. I'm all for making your instrument more comfortable with strategic sanding and modding, that's absolutely a way to make it your own and improves your instrument. But that is not the argument against relic'ing for people who don't like it. I whole-heartedly agree with Ol' Sammy G about earning the ageing. The only reason for a relic look, as you admittedly argue after his clip, is that it looks like it's from the 50s because a newer one will never age the same way. It's a fetishization of the vintage. To each their own of course! Let's just be honest about why people like relics and pay (a big) extra for it, it's not the feel, even though the feel is improved.
@MrWill9894Ай бұрын
“Fetishization of vintage” is basically Rhett’s whole channel lol
@toddbaxley7789Ай бұрын
"The finish being uncomfortable is not an argument for relic'ing, " Yes, yes it is. You can like everything else about the guitar, but the finish can be uncomfortable.
@dezertson2011Ай бұрын
That’s all wrong. You’re projecting your own imposter syndrome on everyone else.
@jmay1975Ай бұрын
@@toddbaxley7789yes but sanding the finish/edges down doesnt necessarily make it more of a a relic bc its more of an ergonomical preference that i would say most guitarists share. As rhett says, they make regular new guitars with these techniques. I dont think anyone specifically buys relics because they feel more beat in.
@charlesbolton8471Ай бұрын
@@dezertson2011 Well, at least Relic fans aren’t control freaks who want to force their “superior” opinions on everyone else.
@gb1978gbАй бұрын
Grew up dirt poor in the 60s and 70s…all we could afford was “relics “…😂 they were in a barrel with 3 rusty ‘relic’ strings and warped necks in the back or hanging from a wall next to the automotive parts in the pawnshop….hey, if it makes you happy and play better I’m all for it…😊
@wolfgangritter9277Ай бұрын
I have three main guitars, I did sand off a bit of the shiny lacquer on the neck on two of them (Ibanez Artcore AF75, Harley Benton TE70) and I do appreciate the fact that my No. 1 (Music Man St Vincent) already has a nice soft finish. This is adjustment to personal taste, but I wouldn't call it "relicing", as I did it right away after I got them. But then, this may be just different wording. But I just cannot grasp the fact that someone's willing to pay around 5600 Dollars for a Telecaster with a relic finish. This is just beyond me. I get it, quality wood, quality tuners, well-crafted pickups, exact measurement, acute craftmanship in putting the components together. But it's a freakin' Telecaster - literally the prototype of mass-produced guitars. I don't mean this in any derogatory way, I love the simplistic design, but incredibly variable tone. But paying effing 5600 Dollars for a Telecaster with all the ingredients of a 50s design plus "relic" is just ridiculous, sorry.
@JacobR.88Ай бұрын
My favorite aspect of having a lightly reliced guitar is that you don’t care if you get a ding or scratch. With a shiny new guitar, the first ding is a travesty, with a reliced guitar, it adds character. You’re 100% right about a reliced guitar feeling way, way better
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
Those are called used guitars. Plenty of them on the market without needing to pay to take a new guitar and scuff it up
@shaunhughes2Ай бұрын
@@I.am_Grootsometimes it’s hard for people to sort out whether it’s been “used” or “abused.” You can buy a new relic with most of the benefits of a used guitar, and know for sure it hasn’t been abused.
@tsunami6082Ай бұрын
I dinged my R9 shortly after buying it. If I paid a lot extra for a Murphy lab you could argue that I improved it!
@lazvt8469Ай бұрын
Yep, finally got my first Fender Custom Shop...used and lightly relic'd. So glad...can play and handle it with NO worries.
@JacobR.88Ай бұрын
@@shaunhughes2 Exactly my thoughts. And it goes double for buying online and there’s no chance of trying it first
@Drew_GliebeАй бұрын
Im going over to the gear page and starting a scathing thread before I watch this. brb
@RhettShullАй бұрын
Be sure to tag me 🫡
@timothyappling9172Ай бұрын
LOL. There are people on some of those forums that go nuts on certain subjects.
@Paul-DАй бұрын
@@timothyappling9172its hillarious and deeply concerning in equal measure 😂
@JeremyAndersonBoiseАй бұрын
@@Paul-Dbig +1 😂
@ericolson326Ай бұрын
For me the sweet spot was Fender's short-lived Road Worn Player series. Neck finishes were nicely broken in but an even, consistent fashion over the entire length without patches of extreme wear/ discoloration.
@jeremyadler1Ай бұрын
So true! When I bought my tele, I had no intention of buying a reliced guitar but fell in love with how a reliced one felt. 7 years later, the neck on that guitar still makes me happy every time I play it.
@scottheinsАй бұрын
The most important advice on guitar buying I ever got, from my first teacher, when I was 16: You need to buy the guitar with *looks* that inspire you most--it's what will get you to take it off the wall and play more, which is how you improve.
@BillyTheKidsGhostАй бұрын
In 50 years people will say - ''It just doesn't wear like a Polly finish''. I'll be 90 years old doing this... 🙄
@Fabh83Ай бұрын
The worn jeans example is so funny to me when 99% of the jeans people buy are already washed and worn when you get them. Yes even the 501, even your cowboy cut wrangler. Everything that’s not raw denim is “reliced” to make it comfortable to wear out of the store. And I’m not even talking about the stone washed ones…
@MrWill9894Ай бұрын
So if the “wash for better comfort” is a common feature on non-reliced jeans, kinda like a matte finish neck with rolled fretboard edges… then logically the “reliced” guitar is akin to the jeans with more aesthetic wear to them for fashion purposes, no?
@Fabh83Ай бұрын
@@MrWill9894 A heavy relic would be akin to a distressed pair of jeans yes. But rolled edges or mat finish on the neck is like a washed pair of jeans. Light relic would be something like a stonewashed pair of denim, without the holes and distressing.
@pmsphotoАй бұрын
I have a Sonic Blue 1960 Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop relic which can happily sit out on a stand and be played ANY time without worrying about damage, discolouration, nicks or dings. It plays beautifully. I also have a Mint- Alpine White 1987 Gibson Les Paul Custom with Tim Shaw's. It also plays beautifully, but it lives in its case in the attic for fear of damage, discolouration, nicks or dings... This is why I love a 'relic'. I've also got two other 'road worn' Telecasters which can sit out on stands - the Joe Strummer 2007 and Chrissie Hynde 2022. They stay out on stands, whilst my Mint Pink Paisley CIJ Telecaster is forced to hide like a recluse in its case. I'm not trying to fool anyone, but for me it's the smoothness and feel of playing these relics, but mainly because they can be ACCESSIBLE at all times. As for the naysayers - "That guitar didn't earn its damage" and the "You're just a poseur" all I can say is "I don't give a f**k what you think !!"😄
@msspi764Ай бұрын
Of all the reasons for relicing this, to me, is the best. No one wants to see the first ding on their brand new custom shop guitar. If it already has plenty of dings and scratches the next one just adds to the cachet of the guitar. Whether it’s worth the cost of relicing is a personal decision. Not really for me, most of mine are used anyway so they weren’t pristine when I got them.
@seefoe5Ай бұрын
Relic-ing is way more about the aesthetic of aging a guitar's finish and other cosmetic elements. And if you only sand your neck and roll your fingerboard edges, you're not really relic-ing your guitar. 100% it's about image and stolen valor.
@PeterLindelaufАй бұрын
Nope. I'd never pay for faux-jo. I've got a few beaten up vintage lap steels but otherwise I prefer new guitars in near mint condition because I haven't beaten the shit out of them and called it mojo. Which is as pathetic as fake ripped jeans.
@BobEstremeraАй бұрын
I can’t agree that filing fret ends smoothing a neck finish to play smoother falls into the ‘relic’ description. As you show, many guitars are built with nicely rounded frets and minimal fishing on the neck to play smoother. Performing those tasks is merely bringing the guitar to a performance spec that is not intended to make the guitar look like something it isn’t.
@SlimFatmanАй бұрын
To improve the quality of this video, release it in sepia tone. Ridiculous.
@RadRumblingsАй бұрын
Rhett one of the biggest (at least for me) advantages to a relic guitar is that you dont have to handle a finely made instrument with kid gloves. I had an ES335 that i left in the car on a cold night accidentally that ended up checking in the cold in a weird way and it basically was a $1000 mistake. My Novos I bang on stuff all the time and it doesnt matter because no one can tell what was intentionally done and what was accidentally done
@larsheukerАй бұрын
I like relics but man 90% of them look like shit in real life
@kb39295Ай бұрын
So relic necks feel better to play which is why they should relic the body?
@Foe1971Ай бұрын
I love a relic job that mimics years of lovingly accumulated honest play wear. That tele’s finish looks like it’s been subjected to abject abuse, vandalism and neglect. Not the same thing.
@iDominic42Ай бұрын
The guitar feels nicer because it has a rolled fingerboard and the neck is satin finished, not gloss (and sticky) Anyone can do these jobs on a new guitar - but there are also a load of new guitars that already do these things anyway without faking a guitar to make it look 60 years older than it is Maybe if you are in some sort of Tribute band and you look like and play like Rory Gallagher, then you might actually want a Strat that looks like the Rory Strat, then fair dos I mostly dislike the blatantly artificial look of the wear on the fretboard, specifically on strats with maple boards. They look so blatantly like someone has just taken a grinder to just take off the finish / lacquer. They probably look a lot better after they been played every day for a couple of years, but the brand new ones look so fake... So this is click bait It's not a relic guitar that you like, Rhett It's a guitar with a nice neck feel. The rest of the guitar does not need to have artificially corroded parts, or an angle grinder taken to it, does it?
@RichLopp2 күн бұрын
Ok I can understand wanting the neck to feel worn in because that will genuinely have an impact onhow you play… but chipping the paint off of the body is just stupid. That just makes it ugly and has no impact on how you play.
@fellowshadeАй бұрын
How come nobody relics a PRS premium top ? Would play so much better.
@victorstillwell9893Ай бұрын
Totally ruffled. I put my own scratches/dents in my stuff thank you very much. No upcharge either.
@ragnakakАй бұрын
I can’t think of any other word than “poser” for people that buy relic guitars. “Relic” it yourself by playing the hell out of it for several years. Use it as a tool and not an art piece.
@Plexi417Ай бұрын
“People don’t want to wait for 40 years playing a guitar every single day for it to wear in and feel like a great pair of jeans.” - a direct quote from this video.
@BLBlackDragonАй бұрын
The relicing treatment on the neck and fretboard server to alter the feel and playability of the guitar. In that sense, there is a mechanical function being served. Relicing the body, as far as I can tell, is more about aesthetic. (I'll happily concede this point, as I'm not an experienced player. It's just what I currently perceive) Both are completely valid. If you want a worn-in neck, so you have a slightly smoother feel as you play, then by all means, go to town on the neck. If you want to put up an older "feel" to your show, then you wear grubby older clothes, you let the stubble grow in so you look rough around the edges, and you relic the body of your guitar, to match the image. Do either of these effect the tone of the guitar? Not as far as I know. Do they effect the feel of playing it? Absolutely.
@reidracАй бұрын
I don't know, I don't see it. I understand making a guitar more comfortable, but is that ageing? Not in my book.
@kennethdismukes1942Ай бұрын
Over 20 years ago I walked into the Fender Custom Shop room at the Dallas Guitar Center and played just about all of the Strats in there. Most were relics but a couple were NOS models. The NOS models felt noticeably stiff compared to the relics, which felt wonderfully broken in and also sounded great acoustically. Ever since then I have preferred relics. I don’t really like the overdone heavy relics so much as what they now call a journeyman relic, which has a few dings and dents and a very broken in neck. The feel of the broken in neck is really what I like the most about relics. Also, I don’t worry in the least about bumping it or scratching it on something. I’m not trying to deceive anyone and it doesn’t matter to me what anyone else thinks about why my guitar looks the way it does. It is purely for my own enjoyment. I would gladly tell anyone how old it is if they asked me. I’ve been playing guitar for more than 50 years and don’t have anything to prove to anyone else.
@RedLion88Ай бұрын
Nailed it. I have two Nash relics and one from the Fender Custom Shop and they’re amazing in looks and in feel. Nobody is into these because they’re trying to trick people. We just aren’t going to live long enough to relic a new poly guitar.
@bazilbrushrocksАй бұрын
“Fake memories” - Tom Bukovac
@WendigoSotomonteАй бұрын
Who?
@KJ4VGAАй бұрын
Tom Bukovac is a great player and ive taken a lot of his advice and considerations on playing, but his opinions on anything outside of actually playing the guitar dont carry much weight to me.
@aviaduvdevanАй бұрын
Every guitar goes through sanding in production, sanding the neck to your desired feel doesn’t seem to me like “relicing” the guitar. If it’s comfort you are after, i believe there are a lot of options to choose from in 2024. Other than that relicing is purely vibe and looks (which is totally fine, I just don’t see the reason to hide it with functional reasons)
@loopie007Ай бұрын
I love the feel, but hate the look. Pre-worn jeans, I love. Pre-ripped jeans, I hate. Everyone likes pre-worn equipment. Baseball gloves, Motocross boots, guitar amp speakers, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. I had to sell my PRS because I was too afraid to scratch it. I only played when I was in a room by myself. It was too beautiful and too expensive. It never broke in and was always "just for looks". Same for Rhett, he looks pretty worn-in, and plays like it!
@devilsdoorbellАй бұрын
I'm in the camp that thinks relic as an aesthetic looks dumb over 99% of the time. Case in point: When Rhett first got that Tele, he said it looked ridiculous, and I agree. I get the point that a relic'd guitar 'feels' better and thus, is the reason, and can appreciate that. I guess my gripe or disagreement is the neck example - got a poly coated neck? Scrubbing it with steel wool, to me, isn't a relic as much as it's just fixing it - doing it right, vs. artificial aging. If the industry could stop doing that to necks, and just do it lighter or choose a different method (but not charge us for 'less is more') then the guitar would be fixed - not relic'd. The example of the pre-worn guitar that doesn't look like it is great, but if they charge a premium to just do it right - build it more comfy as a standard, that's where I feel like they're taking advantage. More labor to make it like that? Sure. But if it wasn't such a high falutin feature, and just what was done during assembly as a standard, it wouldn't get what is likely a higher price for it. Build a comfy guitar for a comfy price, instead of guitars that aren't comfy, or take work to complete it after you paid too much up front. The video is great, and covers the argument well, But if they were all built with comfort features for, say, a Fender American Standard price, without the extra aesthetic, that'd be great.
@dylanadamsguitarАй бұрын
Agreed. The anti-relic crowd thinks it’s about deceiving people into thinking you bought a new shiny guitar and played the crap out of it for years to make it look aged, when it’s not about that at all. It’s a way to get the feel and character of a VINTAGE (as in already old and worn when you first come across it) guitar, without having to actually buy a 5 to 6 figure (and often high-maintenance) vintage instrument
@ericbitzer5247Ай бұрын
My Gibson has been played hard for 35 years and yeah, the gold is worn from the hardware from where my hand and arm go and there is a couple minor dings and the finish is yellowed. But it doesn't look abused like these reliced guitars. I want my old guitar to look new, and not a new guitar to look old.
@MrWill9894Ай бұрын
You can buy vintage guitars that are actually broken in for a LOT cheaper than that. I have a 40 year old Ibanez with real, actual battle scars that I got for $500. There are plenty of well-loved guitars from the 70s and 80s that will run you less than a grand and will be unbelievably better value than these brand new, fake looking $5000 fenders and Gibsons
@bkmeahanАй бұрын
It's funny the mental gymnastics people do to claim "relic guitars are better". I don't know which group makes better gymnasts, the relic crowd, or the tonewood crowd.
@charlesbolton8471Ай бұрын
There’s absolutely no “mental gymnastics” with me. A Fender Custom Shop Relic is (realistically) as close as I will ever get to having the best guitar I ever played. That best guitar was a 1953 Telecaster that I played once in 1992. The store wanted $10,000 for that guitar and knew I couldn’t afford it, but the owner still asked me if I wanted to play it. It’s everything I have wanted in a guitar since, and I also fell in love with the amp I played it through (an original tweed Champ). The first Custom Shop Relic Nocaster I ever saw (three years later) was $7,500 less expensive and absolutely close enough to the real thing to satisfy me. However, at that time I couldn’t afford the Custom Shop Nocaster either. Today, the Custom Shop Relics are around $5,000 (although you can find used ones close to the 1995 price) and an original 1953 Telecaster is closer to $50,000.
@AndiPickerАй бұрын
I think the mental gymnastics for most people go as far as "I like it" - all the way until someone else decides that it's somehow their business to challenge that preference and demand that it has a justification.
@MrWill9894Ай бұрын
@bkmeahan “a fool and his money are easily parted”
@aepoc66Ай бұрын
@@charlesbolton8471 So have you been able to get a Custom Shop to scratch that itch!? Curious minds want to know 😎
@k1ttyF158erАй бұрын
The do look "cool".... But when you look at guitars owned by the biggest bad-ass guitar players out there, none of them look as beat up as the relics. (Even Keith Richards old Tele or Sex Pistols guitars look less "road worn").
@jeffthompson1869Ай бұрын
There is a company called RUF who use a manmade material called RUFFAINE to make their guitars - and what makes it special is that - RUFFAINE can be altered to mimic any density of wood - so that you can custom make any sound profile you want. I would argue that the coating of a guitar has very little to do with the actual sound - and that the most important is the pickups on electric guitars. There is a resonance and sustain profile - but it is small as well. The next in impact are the strings that are used. And then the material. AND if you are focused on the feel of the instrument - why not get an unpainted partscaster ? $5000 for a relic Guitar - is a placebo effect. It places the idea that someone played the hell out of an instrument so it must be seriously good sounding. And it might be seriously good sounding - but I think it comes more from the pickups than anything else.
@peterstephen1562Ай бұрын
Density itself has less to do with resonance than stiffness by about three to one. Isaac Newton did a deal of research on that subject.
@SlyRyFryАй бұрын
Artificially relic'd guitars just feel like cheating imo. I get the aesthetic I just think it'd look way cooler and it's 1000x more fulfilling if it happens naturally after years of performing with it. I've never personally had a problem with a neck getting sticky or anything even remotely close to that with any kind of finish on a neck, and I sweat a ton. I have necks that are very high quality with what looks like no lacquer, and ones that look like they were made in a lollipop factory. But I've never experienced the "sticky sweat hands" like what seems every other guitarist in the world is prone to. If a guitar comes artificially relic'd I get that, but don't go artificially relicing good instruments because you don't know how to wash your hands properly lol Plus 9/10 homemade relicing jobs look absolutely atrocious, so do your research if you're considering it
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
Good points. I appreciate the art in a good relic and some of the reproductions of famous guitars could be cool but it does feel like cheating lol. I don't often find necks sticky either and sweat a good amount myself but some Classic Vibe necks and certain era Gibson's are very sticky and I would absolutely sand them playable if I was going to own one.
@SlyRyFryАй бұрын
@@I.am_Groot Yeah I've seen some decent relic jobs and I don't mind good recreations. My main problem is with the body relicing, the neck stuff makes total since if it's an issue. My only caution is for hobbyists to be careful with their more precious gear, test it out on something cheap and see if you get the desired effect first. Not that people should be afraid to work on their gear, but practice never hurts cause wood doesn't come back easily lol People should get what they want tho I'm just lucky to not have to worry about it
@hmmmmm6034Ай бұрын
People getting upset over relic guitars is by far worse than owning one. If its not your thing, just don't buy one lol pretty simple.
@SCreed-ep2ceАй бұрын
Agreed,it’s a bit silly but still mildly entertaining to watch.
@PaulCooksStuffАй бұрын
Its like pineapple on pizza intolerance Gestapo. What other people want on their OWN pizza is up to them.
@mojoredfootАй бұрын
Free market is a beautiful thing. Some people forget that.
@maxwellblakely7952Ай бұрын
I love pineapple on pizza, but if someone doesn’t like it that’s fine too…
@user-jv6uj6eo1nАй бұрын
Relic neck yes, high-quality relic of the body to include finish checking yes but a large portion of the finish having been worn off or removed or whatever that is you have on that telly is a no for me.
@strawsparky33Ай бұрын
Cool go buy something else
@user-jv6uj6eo1nАй бұрын
@@strawsparky33 you first
@strawsparky33Ай бұрын
@@user-jv6uj6eo1n dont need too. keep complaining about guitars youll never own or be able to afford my man. theyre not for everyone.
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
Yeah no sorry you can talk a mile of words but this 'feels already worn in' argument is just a fancy way of saying 'well it looks vintage so now I can feel some kind of way' which is saying YES in fact it is all about aesthetics. No shame if you love a relic guitar but let's not pretend if actually plays better because somebody scuffed the paint and hardware a bit.
@dustinrieseberg8707Ай бұрын
I have a Carson Hess broadcaster that is indistinguishable from a real broadcaster. I even have a 1950 champ lap steel pickup in the bridge and the old wiring harness. I love it even more than my real 1957 and 1966 telecasters.
@jts3339Ай бұрын
The best guitars have been well-played AND CARED FOR. Some of my own guitars that are 50 to 60 years old were purchased new, had the hell played out of them, but were wiped down and put away in the case. I’ve needed refretting a time or two, have honest neck and body wear, naturally “rolled” fingerboard edges, but very few dings or missing finish. Wearing the paint off of your guitar was never cool - it’s just ignorant to destroy your valuable instrument - especially in the name of relic’ing it. It’s like taking a pretty girl and giving her acne and rotten teeth to artificially age her - a really bad idea.
@mrkiks32Ай бұрын
Well i have reliced 2 squier strats…I love it. They feel good, they look great and guess what…I will keep relicing guitars for fun, because i enjoy playing a broken in instrument and they look dope❤ 100% with you Rhett. But I also have my Gibson LP Studio that I got as a gift back in 1996. That one I leave it as it is which is also 30 years old and I will let it age acordingly. ❤
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
This right here I vibe with and do appreciate the aesthetic of a good relic just not on something like a Gibson LP or USA Strat. As a partscaster concept for sure it would be cool I just don't see any value in letting someone else scuff up a pretty new guitar if the idea is that you want a banged up guitar take a Squier and go off lol
@mrkiks32Ай бұрын
@@I.am_Groot That’s what I did😉
@Nick-qq2nqАй бұрын
Fenders relics don’t really look or feel vintage if you’ve played real examples. That said, they do still feel better than a non relic’d version.
@TopCatAlleyАй бұрын
I refer to relic my own guitars by playing them. Next you'll saying relic cars are better.
@chopdoc11Ай бұрын
A relic guitar is posing. It didnt earn the damage nor does it have stories to tell. Its simply posing.
@reverbautopsy9093Ай бұрын
Earn the damage, looool!!!
@dezertson2011Ай бұрын
This is factually incorrect. I guess if you buy a John Mayer strat it's so everyone will believe you play like John Mayer? You're projecting your own feelings of insecurity and imposter syndrome on everyone else. There are pros that play relic'ed instruments, and they play thousands of hours on stage. Grow up.
@chopdoc11Ай бұрын
@@dezertson2011 tell yourself whatever you have to hear to make it thru the day. But I am curious, are you so ate up that you keep your "relic'd" guitar in a case so it doesn't get scratched for that is the pinnacle of asinine.
@dezertson2011Ай бұрын
@@chopdoc11 I don’t have any relic guitars.
@user-dh5bn2fe4bАй бұрын
No guitar tells stories and there's nothing romantic about bumps, scrapes and scratches accumulated over time. It just means the owner's been clumsy or careless.
@photobouphАй бұрын
When I play a new guitar I’m paranoid to scratch, but when it’s a relic you just go wild 😂
@MrFelo17Ай бұрын
I bought a vintera telecaster back in janueary and yestarday accidentally made a tiny scratch on the headstock and went nuts about it. Now I'm ok with that because my guitar has character 😉
@photobouphАй бұрын
@@MrFelo17I bought a vintera Strat a few months ago, I’m still learning and had a small dent and cried for a week but now it gives the guitar character 😂
@pomodАй бұрын
I think people like relic'd guitars because it looks like they've played longer than they have.
@danb3524Ай бұрын
It’s weird that people hate on relics. It’s like hating EV cars…
@mcmotohistory8770Ай бұрын
Fake wear is the stupidest concept that's EVER been introduced to the world. What a part of FAKE Don't you get?
@charlies328711 күн бұрын
Nothing more satisfying than spending thousands of dollars for a guitar pretending to be something it is not. Truly amazingly ridiculous.
@jj-su5gmАй бұрын
I agree Rhett. Less fear of scratching or denting frees me up to play them. I typically prefer the feel. Maybe I’m too nice to the new ones. I’m also 56 years old. I’m not going to see 60 more years of natural aging in my bar gigs. Finally, you get vintage feel, better reliability at a tenth of vintage cost.
@bretrich2 күн бұрын
I don't think altering a guitars physical feel by rolling edges and lightly sanding the neck is for relicing purposes. Yes, it might simulate wear and tear over time, but many guitars come with that spec new from the factory. If I swap pickups, am I relicing the guitar by simulating a dead pickup that needed to be swapped out? I only use this example to demonstrate that we're walking in a gray area. That said, I see nothing wrong with somebody owning a guitar with a relic job done to it. Whatever is the right tool for you is the one to go with. We're artists. We're finicky when it comes to things like aesthetic muses.
@RichLopp2 күн бұрын
Relic it by putting forth the time and effort to wear it down naturally.
@bldallasАй бұрын
Why I’m not watching this video and it’s ridiculous premise.
@LuizEduardoSr.Ай бұрын
Nope
@RhettShullАй бұрын
Yep
@SlimFatmanАй бұрын
@@RhettShull That "relic" exposes more Toan Would, doesn't it?
@javierservigonАй бұрын
I stopped playing guitar for about 10 years (life got in the way) and one day I saw Fender’s road worn series. I thought what a cool looking guitar and I swear I felt the calling. It was like that guitar was telling me I need to get back on the saddle. Now, from the industry point of view, since then, I’ve brought 4 more guitars, amps, a bunch of pedals, cables, strings, etc, etc so it’s a definitely win for them.
@bxsoupАй бұрын
My counter argument IS : Everyone has different acid and oil levels in their bodies . So everyone’s degree of relic will differ . We all hold the guitar differently , so the touch points will age in different areas . I come from a saxophone background and some people like unlacquered horns because of the relic look . But once you touch an unlacquered saxophone , your body acid/oil will stain the metal and no two horns will ever look the same . The difference is that a new saxophone’s unlacquered brass will look relic as the individual touches it . I have 3 unlacquered saxophones and they all look different after being exposed to the elements.
@MegarobotsquadronАй бұрын
To me the ripped jeans analogy is a strawman argument. A more appropriate analogy is a worked in baseball glove
@shaunhughes2Ай бұрын
Ooh yes that’s great.
@brendonwood7595Ай бұрын
no it's not. In what way does taking the finish off a third of the fretboard make the guitar more playable. Rhett even made it clear that there are functional modifications that can be made that are completely separate from the relicing for aesthetics as proven by the new looking guitars with those features.
@timhallasАй бұрын
I wasn't a fan until I played one. Went into Coda Music to try some guitars, played a relic guitar and was instantly converted. Walked out with a CS Jazzmaster
@trevorgorard4763Ай бұрын
I was in my local Harley Davidson dealer once to collect my '64 Panhead. A guy came in to buy some riding gloves and the dealer showed him a selection. "No", he said, "These all look too new, I want the aged ones." That's easy the dealer replied. Buy these new ones and go and put 10,000 miles on your bike. Aren't guitars the same? Rory Gallagher's strat looked like it did because he played the shit out of it every night for 20 years. Peter Green's 59 Les Paul the same. The idea that a cosmetic stylist gives instant cred to the player so he or she appears like they've been gigging for years makes no sense to me. Love your channel Rhett but can't agree with you on this one.
@05645ci2 күн бұрын
Because most people value taking care of their most cherished possessions as opposed to beating them up. Nobody relics their car or their house.
@ThaTurdBurglarАй бұрын
I would make a distinction between performance enhancement (rounding/wooling the neck) and relic (aesthetic "blemishes"/aging etc)..
@EdgeofBreakupАй бұрын
I can’t wait for the Internet to explode over this (I’m with you Rhett)
@Amish_TrivediАй бұрын
Ginger get the popcorn!
@DutchVaiАй бұрын
Ka-Boom !!!
@Dave-fh4jwАй бұрын
Dude, doesn’t like the tube screamer and now he’s making an argument for this well….
@KJ4VGAАй бұрын
People have opinions. I know that may be hard to swallow, but its true.
@Rockfish66Ай бұрын
I think the word “relic” part of the problem. A relic by definition implies old and valuable. A guitar that is trying to look old, and thereby valuable - either monetarily or as street cred - is inherently artificial. But you made it very clear you can get all the improvements in comfort without making a guitar that looks old. So they are in fact separate things. A relic look is an aesthetic choice just like sparkle, pointy guitars, or stickers. I don’t think we have to justify it as functional any more than we have to condemn it as dishonest.
@pyromaniak678Ай бұрын
I hate seeing a wall of relic'd guitars that are all relic'd identically.
@tompoyntonАй бұрын
*checks date* oh wait this isn’t a joke
@RhettShullАй бұрын
Good tone is no joke brother
@seanbeadles7421Ай бұрын
@@RhettShullmore scratches = more toan
@norseman61Ай бұрын
Up until a couple years ago, I was one of those guys who thought relicing was just a cosmetic thing for posers. Then I heard the arguments about the ultra smooth feel and playability.. However the most compelling argument was the fact that with a relic you can have a top-notch guitar that you don't feel afraid to wail on. All of that being said, I would NEVER pay $5K for a guitar. Not because it isn't worth it; I just don't have that kind of money to spend on a guitar. A couple years ago I bought a Sire T7 "Tele" for $450.00 brand new. The fit and finish is perfect... not good, not great.... perfect. But mainly, Sire rolls their fretboard edges just like a $5K relic, and it is INCREDIBLY comfortable. Plus, they use an ultra-smooth matte finish on the roasted maple neck. You would swear you were holding the neck of fantastic relic.
@bjlofbackАй бұрын
Very much agree with your take on this Rhett! I used to feel this shame to like the broken in and beat up look. Now I truly see the work these custom shops are doing as art in its own right. It’s beautiful and anyone that takes issue with it I feel has some issues they need to deal with. I actually have a couple vintage guitars and while I love the honest wear, it’s not MY wear and I never really feel like the guitar is mine, at least not for some time. This doesn’t happen with the custom shop stuff. I feel instantly at home and I’m happy to let my additional bumps and bruises make it mine as we go. You guys can keep the pristine ones, relic mine and relic them GOOD!
@k53847Ай бұрын
You could have Fender and Gibson save a lot of money by not painting the guitar at all and then Rhett will be happy.
@jkinz12345Ай бұрын
I waited to finish the video before I went to comment. I still respectfully disagree. I think the difference is negligible. If the feel of a guitar is the deciding factor for whether or not it’s worth the premium of relicing then I would have to say it’s not worth it. As long as a guitar is built properly, has decent hardware and is set up properly, I think fixating on the feel is reading too much into it. To that end the point of relicing to me is mostly aesthetic and therefore imo goes back to the argument samurai guitarist brought up about “stolen valor”
@stevewhite8178Ай бұрын
The idea that how a guitar feels in your hands isn’t important is pretty crazy.
@I.am_GrootАй бұрын
Good points. Really his argument about how it 'feels' is more how someone feels playing it which is all based on the looks of it as very little that a relic job actually does affects how a guitar plays. I do think there is a common theme with relic clothing in that one reason someone would want pre-ripped or stained pants/shoes etc is we don't want to wear other people's used clothing. In my experience most fans of relic guitars can't stand the idea if playing an old used guitar with lots of wear unless it is a vintage collectible which most of them can't afford to buy. It is a cool factor which is fine we all 'eat with our eyes' most of the time but on some level to me it feels like Chibson's for a different crowd of player
@jkinz12345Ай бұрын
@@stevewhite8178I’m not talking about playability or the size/shape of the guitar. Rhett is talking about something more nuanced that the average guitar player won’t/can’t notice.
@jeffryburns22063 сағат бұрын
If I pulled out a guitar that looked like that, I'd just be disappointing people who look at it than think I put my time in, only to realize I'm only in it a year and not that good yet
@druwkАй бұрын
Glad this weeks post is non controversial! 😂 I bought a ‘66 Telecaster in the late 80’s that was truly worn in. No finish on the back of the neck, checking, dings, chipped, worn, rust, stains etc. Have no idea if it was all real? Part of the reason I bought it…REGARDLESS, I wasn’t the one who had put those miles on the guitar! That guitar had a whole life before I got it. I didn’t feel bad for playing it, or guilty for not being the one who put the miles on. In that same time period people were already making their guitars less pretty (think PUNK ROCK), abusing the finish, adding stickers, taking the finish off, routing the “wrong” pickups into the “wrong” guitars. SRV, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Strummer and countless others fucked up their guitars on purpose, with purpose or just ‘cause! I think relics can be very cool. FYI, I would never look at that Tele and think it’s a real ‘52.
@sundaynightdrunkАй бұрын
What I find funny is that Jimmy Page's #1 Les Paul has been extensively toured around the world and been around for 50+ years, yet it looks nowhere near the "heavy relic" we see on some of these instruments today. I've never seen a touring player have a guitar that looks as heavily reliced as that Tele. SRV's Strat wasn't even that beat. Fact is, most people would have had a guitar that looks like that Tele resprayed at some point, just because it protects the wood and the guitars start to look beat.
@potterman83Ай бұрын
I think most players know this. A lot of vintage examples are not that worn in as some heavy reliced guitars we get it… it’s just a feel thing and to me is a form of art on instruments.
@sundaynightdrunkАй бұрын
@@potterman83 I can appreciate that. Enjoy what you do. I just find the bare wood going a bit too far.
@jeffsquires6620Ай бұрын
I got a custom shop masterbuild last year, the Blungeon. Ordered it before the prices went up. Custom shop guitars now cost what I paid for the masterbuild. This guitar made me a better player all around.
@DouglasRosserАй бұрын
"My middle-aged ass looks so much cooler when a grungy, dinged-up guitar is hanging in my office than a shiny new one that I obviously never play".
@BrnSndАй бұрын
I bought a Fender 52 Hot Rod Telecaster Butterscotch Blonde used about 15 years ago. I love the feel of vintage gear, worn necks and dings, you know, the character thing... Well, rather than just outright relicing it, I accidentally dropped it once and it got a good dent in the edge of the body all the way to the wood. Since then I just use it and abuse it. The thing is a tank and I just throw it around and kinda neglect it and never polish it -- drop my keys and tools on it when I change strings, and scrape the edges with a pocket knife, and run green Scotchbrite on the neck to keep it nice and smooth (the neck had a satin finish but now it's gone where my hands travel on both the fretboard and the back). So, I play the crap out of it and gig with it. It looks like I have put 40 years of wear on it so far and I just love the way it looks, feels, and plays -- It has some serious mojo.
@QuangNguyen-nh2ocАй бұрын
What I really feel on this is: guitar companies should roll their fretboard and provide satin nitro-like necks and bodies options as part of the standard offer with standard price since many players prefer this, instead of producing guitars that do not feel great to play when new, then charging players an obscene price that only the rich and stupid can afford just to get a guitar that feels good to play. Until then, take your new guitar to a tech to get the fretboard rolled and neck sanded if that's what you like, especially if you're those who are afraid that the holding an expensive relic guitar is like wearing a "rich, stupid, fake, and shallow" badge on your forehead.
@JoePesosАй бұрын
Relic is purely aesthetic, in the video the claim that it is functional is not really accurate. One of the example mentioned was the laquer used on the neck, that is the manufacturer doing something poorly or not to your liking, sanding it down isn't relic just like sanding down a poor fret job with snagging ends is not a relic job. That is fixing a problem or defect with the instrument (not to mention can be done without any visual change). Relic as it is used by almost everyone I have spoken to is just making a guitar (or part) appear a certain way, just like the jeans and car example. Any functional change is simply a repair. The people that I have heard dislike relic specifically dislike superficial cosmetic aging, not repairs or functional customizations.
@exp-eri-mentalАй бұрын
Each to their own but I will never be convinced by anyone that buying a brand new car that has been deliberately rusted, scratched and scuffed is ok. Now on the other hand, an actual vintage car that has been used and has natural wear and tear over the years, yes, fine.
@CaptainPantysАй бұрын
I love relicd guitars man. I sort of get the guys who say wear in your own guitar. HOWEVER, screw that. I didn't relic that old ass sg I got at a guitar sale.... I bought it cuz it looked cool as hell. That's all you need.
@ericwobschall8410Ай бұрын
Rhett, I love your stuff but have to call BS on your choice of terms while agreeing with some of your general argument. If a guitar maker (or repairman after manufacture) adjusts the fingerboard edge roll or carefully finishes the fret ends more carefully, or leaves the neck finish off entirely to make it play better that's craftsmanship, not a relic. I even understand the nitro finish choice in that it does wear differently and arguably more desirably. I can see where you would want to replace a part on a vintage guitar with a used part if you could find it so it matched the age and appearance. I guess the next best thing would be a repro part that was (gulp) distressed in some way. But that's restoration. Guitars that wore naturally? All the respect. When I see CS guitars with Rhode Island size patches of finish missing, it just looks silly. Putting parts in corrosive chemicals to age them... what a hoax. Besides, of you want metal to corrode you would call my friend Guillermo and just have him touch the parts. He once placed his palm on the hull of a battleship and it sank 20 minutes later. That's why he uses Elixers. I agree with the Samurai guy that artificially creating the appearance of age and use is dishonest and contrived. This reminds me of the movie Crossroads when the Willie Brown guy told the kid that he probably bought his guitar because he thought it looked beat up. Let's also remember that our heroes generally played new gear, especially after they were famous. Hendrix played big headstock Strats eventually. Most of those were horrible. Pre-CBS was a term that was already being used in the mid 70s. To young people, those are old guitars and the next thing to be called vintage, but as a made in 1962 guy, I'll tell you we had no respect for guitars of that era, and time hasn't changed that for me. I think 1962 was the peak year for Fender guitars and basses, so maybe that's not a coincidence. I bought an 1964 L-series Jazz Bass from my gym teacher for 140 bucks in the 70s. I sold it to Stan Jay a long time ago for 2K and i'm sure I got some nice things with that money. I loved that bass, and it made the Jazz Bass (model) my forever number one. But I wouldn't pay the going rate to get it back because modern reproductions of those instruments are fantastic / better. That golden era Jazz Bass of mine had a pick guard screw going in at an angle. So they drilled out the bevel to get it to go in further and be less noticeable. That would never have passed modern QC. I have a big instrument, amp, mic and recording gear collection and a few of the things I have are actually old. Most guitars I have are relatively modern because if someone is crazy enough to pay for my vintage things, I'll go along with it. Minus a few sentimental favorites, I replace them with similar looking modern tools. But even the vintage instruments I have look new. You see, when I bought something, I used it, but took care of it. Don't confuse that with not getting played. I love finding closet instruments because I like things to look new. But after that, they're in the pride parade because I want to show them off. Do I have a few dings on my most used instruments? YES, but not many, and not on purpose.
@seanzingerАй бұрын
Not to mention you can resell a relic and claim it’s MINT. No one will know the difference.
@MrZigzag333Ай бұрын
FYI, dried Nitrocellulose, itself, is NOT toxic, nor does it have an odor, but the solvents and some of the modifiers used in the lacquer can be.
@saddle8bagАй бұрын
I like the oiled neck idea. That seems to be the part that makes you comfortable. Making the finish on the body of the guitar to look like it survived an inferno doesn't add a thing for me.
@shaunhughes2Ай бұрын
The oiled and roasted maple neck on the Fender American Ultra has an insanely great feel for a production guitar. It just smells horrible to me 😂
@jamesemerson4102Ай бұрын
Thank you for making this video. I've always wanted to clear this is up. See, buying a relic has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else. It has to do with how YOU like a guitar to feel in your hands. People who have been playing for 20 or 30 years are not interested in trying to deceive anyone about the age of their guitars. They just aren't, guys. If you've ever played a really good vintage guitar, they feel great. They have a certain mojo and a vibe, and for me, when a guitar feels worn in, I just want to sit and play the guitar and not think about anything else. A lot of that is in the neck but it is also psychological/visual. You're often looking down at the guitar while you're playing, and so the visual aesthetic of the body does contribute to that worn in "feel" of the guitar. Many people simply like the way vintage guitars feel and look, and a relic feels closer to a vintage guitar.