NON "fender" relics

[tdogg]

i just had a thought pop into my head: "why are all (or nearly all) relic jobs done on fenders or fender copies? have any of you done a relic style finish on another type of bass? gibson, rick or other? what about a relic type finish on a bass of your own design? please post pics!

[stevetx19]

fender and fender copies are more prevalent. They are also more of the defining instrument of the era that is being copied. Also, fenders today are much cheaper, and therefore easy to destroy(...hm, i mean 'relic') than a gibson or a ric.
my guess, anyway

[McHaven]

It seems like Fenders are more of a "workhorse" bass. Gibson and Rickenbacker seem more "artisan" basses, and as such, people baby them. Fenders are that working man's tool, so they look good beat up. No one tends to like a really beat up Gibson or Rickenbacker.

[grifff]

The paint? Isn't a nitro finish more prone to wear than a poly finish? I don't know what the Rics or Gibsons are painted with but I always thought it was the paint.

[southshoreconor]

not so much ricks, but i like the look of an old naturally worn gibson.

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by grifff

The paint? Isn't a nitro finish more prone to wear than a poly finish? I don't know what the Rics or Gibsons are painted with but I always thought it was the paint.

this makes sense. anyone know what compounds were used to paint old rics/gibsons?

[Rocky McD]

The old Nitro finishes were very thin and wore off pretty easily. The poly finishes are super tough and thick, it is very unusual to see paint worn off from friction and prespiration, but they will chip and scratch.
Rocky