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Anti-Relicing thread

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#121
UncleBalsamic said:
How dare people want their bass to look different. I worked hard for the scratches on my bass and I don't want someone coming in here and "relicing" a bass, devaluing all my years of hard work!

This isn't a game, aesthetics is a serious business and I'm horrified that people should be allowed to do things that are not to my tastes. They've ruined something that I don't own and most likely will never see.

You're only lying to yourselves guys. Damn Charlatans! :mad:
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:D I like your sarcasm!!!
 
#122
mongo2 said:
I've been building and repairing instruments for about 40 years and the most often request I've had is to slick up the neck using precisely the method you mention. A light coat of Tru-Oil to seal the wood is all I use and then I buff it down with steel wool to knock that back some.


I also mod instruments to suit my or another's fancy. Recently I contoured a non-contoured Bronco body for a project using a Mustang neck. I just put a few coats of 3lb cut amber shellack straight from the can on the contours to protect the bare wood and more closely color match the neck tint. Here's that one:

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When I took it to the gig our guitarist (who has seen it prior to the contouring) asked why I relic'd it? That was certainly not my intent and I had to wonder if any non pristine finish will now be considered "relic'd"?
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Cool bass.

Shellac is highly overlooked by guitar and bass makers as a viable finish. It can really look and feel great if done well.


The term "relic" has really become such a generic term. You see people on Ebay selling a bass with one little ding as a "relic" in order to attempt to make more money from it. It's understandable, but it is kind of like the name "Coke" applying most any cola. It's become so mainstream that it is a simple and marketable way of making a statement that pretty much everyone understands.
 
#123
Darknut said:
For the people who think a thread like this should be banned: ...... isn't discussing things & giving opinions the whole point of a forum like this?

People are going to disagree ...
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That's what some people (like myself) generally think, but the unfortunate fact is that opinions are often frowned upon here at TB. Someone's feelings might get hurt in the process of discussion and we can't have that, or so it would apparently seem...
 
#124
OOPS! I accidenctly deleted my previous post:

Dark Horse said:
Just a personal preference, looks wise. As far as "feel", I prefer the feel of a neck (and body) that has been worn down to oils/wood. Of course this can be replicated without the instrument being a relic by using a finish like Tru-Oil or tung oil, but in the end it all really comes down to this : Relicing, just like a shiny new finish or a "oil on wood" finish, is simply a "finish option" - nothing more, nothing less. A great instrument will be great, and there are great relics as well as great "pristine" instruments.
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I've been building and repairing instruments for about 40 years and the most often request I've had is to slick up the neck using precisely the method you mention. A light coat of Tru-Oil to seal the wood is all I use and then I buff it down with steel wool to knock that back some.


I also mod instruments to suit my or another's fancy. Recently I contoured a non-contoured Bronco body for a project using a Mustang neck. I just put a few coats of 3lb cut amber shellac straight from the can on the contours to protect the bare wood and more closely color match the neck tint. I also hated the bright white pickguard so I Kiwi'd it to dull it up some. Here's that one:

Link Removed

When I took it to the gig our guitarist (who has seen it prior to the contouring) asked why I relic'd it? That was certainly not my intent and I had to wonder if any non pristine finish will now be considered "relic'd"?
 
#125
I'll bow to your superior knowledge then!
Relicing IS all about image, whatever anyone thinks - I've not heard of anyone who just happens to like the look of "reliced" suits, or shoes with holes in the soles, or cars that have dents all over them. Why not clean your teeth with Vim, and give them that "worn in" look?
Anyhing that says "tramp" or "poor" = not cool
Things that say "experienced", "hours of effort", or "illustrious provenance" = cool.
That's why you can't buy shoes with holes in the bottoms, but you can buy road worn basses.
 
#128
Jo6Pak said:
That's what some people (like myself) generally think, but the unfortunate fact is that opinions are often frowned upon here at TB. Someone's feelings might get hurt in the process of discussion and we can't have that, or so it would apparently seem...
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I think opinions are great so long as people express them with some respect. This thread is a great example of people having differing opinions, but for the most part being respectful in how they express them. It hasn't degraded into calling people "idiots, losers, etc".

One thing that happens a lot (which is probably part of the problem) is that someone will post a thread wanting to know how to make a bass look "aged", and instead of people either offering actual help (or just not answering at all), he poster gets berated for his opinion and for something that he would like to do.

The internet has a lot of great things to offer, but one of the bad things about it is that people act in ways that they would never think of doing in public. "Intent" is also sometimes tough to discern on the internet.
 
#129
Jo6Pak said:
That's what some people (like myself) generally think, but the unfortunate fact is that opinions are often frowned upon here at TB. Someone's feelings might get hurt in the process of discussion and we can't have that, or so it would apparently seem...
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I'm all for free speech, but the owners obviously don't want people to be insulted here. Besides which, going out your way to insult a bass' looks, and by extension the opinions of the owner, and offering no constructive criticism is pretty pointless. I'm not accusing you of course, but it's understandable why the mods want this place to remain a pleasant and civil place.

edit: Dark Horse responded better than me.
 
#131
Hullaballoo said:
I'll bow to your superior knowledge then!
Relicing IS all about image, whatever anyone thinks - I've not heard of anyone who just happens to like the look of "reliced" suits, or shoes with holes in the soles, or cars that have dents all over them. Why not clean your teeth with Vim, and give them that "worn in" look?
Anyhing that says "tramp" or "poor" = not cool
Things that say "experienced", "hours of effort", or "illustrious provenance" = cool.
That's why you can't buy shoes with holes in the bottoms, but you can buy road worn basses.
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I like my shoes with holes, it makes my feet breath.
Personally, I like my old t shirts more than new ones.
I like my rusted car.
I like my beat up basses.
I like my holed jeans.

Am I a poser. Maybe, Maybe not.
 
#132
Also, what about relicing an otherwise pristine vintage instrument. The wood and all that's aged, it's just not beat up. It's as good as a fabled vintage basss then.

It might be a financially silly thing to do, but if the owner likes it, who cares? That said, I would be sad if people destroyed historically important things, but that's a different issue altogether.
 
#133
stflbn said:
Do you only wear dark blue perfect condition jeans? I'm sure you don't buy or wear pre-faded cloths on stage at all...
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No, I don't. Faded and pre-worn jeans have been either sand-washed or stone-washed, meaning they are essentially pre-worn and will wear out more quickly. I buy new ones that look new and break them in myself, because I get my money's worth that way. Exceptions would be when I can find Ralph Lauren Polos at Ross for $16. I've never spent over $34 for a pair of jeans in my life...and that was for brand new Levis 301s that I would shrink and break in.

On stage I wear a Hawaiian shirt (surf band) that looks nice and presentable, and whatever jeans look best that day. if they're new, they're new.

And I have S-K hand tools my dad bought for me in 1968 that I still use, and aside from plating wear around the jaws of the open end wrenches, they look new.
 
#134
Pilgrim said:
No, I don't. Faded and pre-worn jeans have been either sand-washed or stone-washed, meaning they are essentially pre-worn and will wear out more quickly. I buy new ones that look new and break them in myself, because I get my money's worth that way. Exceptions would be when I can find Ralph Lauren Polos at Ross for $16. I've never spent over $34 for a pair of jeans in my life...and that was for brand new Levis 301s that I would shrink and break in.

On stage I wear a Hawaiian shirt (surf band) that looks nice and presentable, and whatever jeans look best that day. if they're new, they're new.

And I have S-K hand tools my dad bought for me in 1968 that I still use, and aside from plating wear around the jaws of the open end wrenches, they look new.
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Good for you. It would be silly for me to care, or get offended by it though. Again, I'm not attacknig you :)
 
#135
UncleBalsamic said:
Also, what about relicing an otherwise pristine vintage instrument. The wood and all that's aged, it's just not beat up. It's as good as a fabled vintage basss then.

It might be a financially silly thing to do, but if the owner likes it, who cares? That said, I would be sad if people destroyed historically important things, but that's a different issue altogether.
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It is ultimately up to the owner, of course. They could throw it in a wood chipper and post the video on here if they wanted to.

Anyone dropping serious coin on something like a pristine pre-cbs fender just so they can relic it might need to have their head checked though. Something like that should be considered an investment. Of course though..that is just my opinion!
 
#136
akaTRENT said:
I happen to be one those hand me down people. And i have stated my case earlier as have others. A vintage guitar has the sound of worn in wood that can only be had by aging. Relics just look like them on the outside but lack the true guts on the inside.
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I understand the sound could be different, but do you feel fake at all?

I am not trying to be a jerk, just understand from my perspective where someone said you are a fake because you don't wear it in. Can anyone post a sound clip of a real vintage instrument and a new, "relic" instrument so I can hear this difference that you are speaking of?
 
#137
ExaltBass said:
I have a 69 P-Bass that was refinished with a poly finished in the 70s because the paint was totally trashed and relics were definitely NOT IN STYLE. Now, the neck has decades of actual wear and mojo - in spite of being carefully taken care of... stuff happens.

I have stripped the poly - will be having the J rout filled and repainted the original color. IMHO, if I don't have the body appropriately aged (light wear - showing the age) I think it will look incongruous with it's maple neck and all the gigging wear I have put on it for 34 years. I will be putting on the original hardware - naturally aged. I just want the bass to look consistent - so I think this is an example of appropriate 'relicing.'

Another examples of appropriate relicing are artists (Eric Clapton, Pino and others) who have their original authentic road worn instruments replicated for touring use.
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Sting and Keith Richards come to mind, too.

Concerning the restoration of your '69 P-bass, you may find this of interest. It is about the restoration and light relic treatment of my 1955 Fender P-bass.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=325380
 
#140
Somebody say AMEN!

Can I also add I do not get people that ware the pants below their butt crack. That statement is directed at all walks of life male and female alike.

WRT relic'd instruments... I cannot believe the premiums that Fender gets for a worn looking instrument. I just got a P-bass which looked warn and it saved me money. I looked at it and said myself...to somebody that wanted a relic job this is the bass! It should cost more! Incidentally I traded the P-bass but that is only because I am just not into Fender's these days.

So me a relic hater no. Would I rather have shinny new instrument and do it the old fashioned way yes.

Great thread.

69limeRev said:
I don't get it. But then tongue pierthing theemth a little thtrange to me, too.

...John
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