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Artificially aged (relic) basses, what's the point?
- Thread starter gazzatriumph
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To me, it's all personal preference and freedom of choice.
IMO, quilted-maple/coffee-table/gold hardware basses are gaudy, and not to my liking. But I understand that many do, and I'm happy for them to exercise their free will without being bullied by haters.
I personally would like a relic so I don't feel so bad every time I knock it against something!
IMO, quilted-maple/coffee-table/gold hardware basses are gaudy, and not to my liking. But I understand that many do, and I'm happy for them to exercise their free will without being bullied by haters.
I personally would like a relic so I don't feel so bad every time I knock it against something!
I have never had one, though what some have said about not caring about small dents, chips, and scratches makes complete sense to me after reading this. That first mark on a new shiny is always a kick in the teeth, but then you tend to unclench a bit. It would be more relaxing to not have to remember to take your belt off from the start.
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(Internal thought process of bass player)
BASS PLAYER: If I get a relic, people will think it was worn down by my thousands and thousands of hours of practice and performances. Heck - I won't even need to play it! People will look at my bass and KNOW I'm a bad a$$ player.
WIFE OF BASS PLAYER: (rolls eyes)
BASS PLAYER: If I get a relic, people will think it was worn down by my thousands and thousands of hours of practice and performances. Heck - I won't even need to play it! People will look at my bass and KNOW I'm a bad a$$ player.
WIFE OF BASS PLAYER: (rolls eyes)
I don't like seeing people being careless with their gear. I try and transport my basses in hard cases, and I take pride in treating them well.
At the same time I'm loving seeing how my Telecaster is slowly wearing down as I play it. It is a Mexican Fender with a poly finish, so it will never get the SRV look. It has picked up some dents and scratches, and the pickguard has a lovely pick rash on it. The edge of the bridge is picking up pick rash as well, the control plate is scratched up slightly, and there is a drift of dust and finger grease on the bridge.
The appeal of all of the wear is that I did it myself. I put those miles on my Telecaster. I've had it for maybe four years, and it is my go-to six string guitar.
My Mustang bass has only been in my possession for about six months, but it has been gigged a bit and is generally my practice bass. Again it looks very clean and new, but it is picking up marks and scratches as I go.
I think the appeal of a relic is that it looks like the guitar already has miles on it. It looks more intriguing, and time-honoured. Nobody relics frets or electronics on guitars and basses, so it is only an aesthetic thing. I think a bass made to 1964 specifications should look like it has been around for all those decades. You can get a modern Japanese '60s P bass with no wear and tear on it, but it doesn't look like it was made in 1964. It will be too shiny looking. It won't look like any music was played on it.
I've bought basses new and pristine. I've bought used and abused. Doesn't matter to me it's all about sound and feel. If I found a reliced bass that was right I would not think twice.
However that does raise a question. Is a reliced bass in good nick or bad nick. This is important cause somehow buying a new bass in bad nick sounds wrong. A used bass in good or bad nick is no problem. Should I use the search function?
However that does raise a question. Is a reliced bass in good nick or bad nick. This is important cause somehow buying a new bass in bad nick sounds wrong. A used bass in good or bad nick is no problem. Should I use the search function?
the problem is that when you buy anything new like a bass, once you get one little ding it HURTS, and you feel like it's diminished, and that can kill your "mojo". I remember getting a dent in my bass and just being fixated on it. Then i started buying everything used/vintage, and little scratches and dents just add to the character
There was also a original survivor show for cars that are not restored in anyway. Some huge money involved in those cars as well
Does an artificially aged bass ACTUALLY feel more broken in to play? I guess I never thought about it, but my instinct would tell me that it feels like a new bass but looks old.
Also, people try to pass their fake aged basses off as truly aged? I'm not against fake aging, but faking like it's real aging is... strange.
Also, people try to pass their fake aged basses off as truly aged? I'm not against fake aging, but faking like it's real aging is... strange.
Depends on whether the relic is just cosmetic or not, or what "broken in" means. Also faking aging IS faking like it's real ageing. My problem is people who try to fake like it's fake ageing. Because they don't exist.
So what happens when one of this "relic haters" buys a vintage bass full of wear they did not put one ounce of effort into wearing in? Do they post a sign in front of the stage warning people that the wear the audience sees was not due to the current bass player?
Should this not go in the same category of "stolen valor" (which is quite possibly one of the most absurd comparisons i've seen in awhile) with new off the shelf relics? both people paid for the look of their bass and had no part in its creation
Should this not go in the same category of "stolen valor" (which is quite possibly one of the most absurd comparisons i've seen in awhile) with new off the shelf relics? both people paid for the look of their bass and had no part in its creation
TLDR thread, but probably the same reason someone buys a red bass instead of black or white instead of sunburst.
It seems like the popularity of relics have declined in the last 5 to 10 years? Is that the consensus?
It seems like the popularity of relics have declined in the last 5 to 10 years? Is that the consensus?
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Thanks. It's a wonderful bass. Long ago stripped of its frets. I got a good deal on it because of the crappy crackle finish, but then spent another grand on the refin. It just looked weird in the in-between stage when it had been refinished but before the relic job.
because it gives them artificial street cred. Like buying pre-ripped jeans. They are typically nice instruments but...
I like actual vintage instruments with play wear. I like newer instruments where the owner plays it so much the finish is wearing. I don't like an instrument that looks like it's been dragged behind a car or dropped down a fire escape.
Thankfully - there are flavours for everyone.
I like actual vintage instruments with play wear. I like newer instruments where the owner plays it so much the finish is wearing. I don't like an instrument that looks like it's been dragged behind a car or dropped down a fire escape.
Thankfully - there are flavours for everyone.
^^^This. Looks...and/or feel.
I've never actually purchased a relic'd bass, and tbh up until not too long ago I, like the OP, wasn't sure why anyone would.
But in the last year or two I've become especially enamored of a particular vintage of Fender bass: Old enough that the nitro finish on the maple neck & headstock had yellowed significantly, and just beat up enough that it looks like someone actually played the hell out of it every night, rode it hard and put it away wet. Those basses just look so comfortable and funky to me.
And then it occurred to me: There are a finite number of instruments that old in the world. And it's a seller's market.
As someone astutely noted back on page 1, I don't have 50 years to wait for a brand new 2018 Fender to take on that patina...so if i want that look/feel and I don't want to pay the going rate for "vintage" [sic] instruments, a relic'd bass seems like a pretty cool idea.
Good points. I can see where an artificially worn in neck would be a practical change. What other "breaking in" is there?
Fwiw my roadworn does indeed feel different under the hands compared to my other basses that by and large are shiny poly finishes in immaculate condition. I have never had access to "the real thing" to compare it against though. Sure seems to nail the vintage vibe to me though. Is it the fact that it's lacquer, or the fact that the entire instrument has been subtly de-glossified is not something I can answer for sure. The last sentence gives some clue to why they are more expensive. There's not really a single square inch on it where some attention to detail has not been paid to it.
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