How to make your Bass look worn?????

[millsbass5]

Relic-Something that has survived the passage of time.

That's the definition of the word 'Relic.'

A few examples of relics:

Bo Derrick
Raquel Welch
Madonna
Demi Moore
Christy Brinkley
1957 Chevy Bel Air
1969 Camaro Z28
1969 GTO Judge
1970 Hemi 'Cuda

Just to name a few.Would you guys (or gals?) not want any of these "relics"listed above?Would you flame/trash these Tb'rs for owning or going out with one of the "relics"listed above?I don't think so.















Now do you guys like relics????Maybe Fender should call their "Roadworn Series" guitars "Relic Replicas".Would that be "politically correct" for all you haters?

Look,I have some highly desirable,very collectible,vintage basses.I make pretty damn good money,above the national average.If I hadn't obtained these said instruments,I VERY SERIOUSLY doubt I would go out and purchase these basses for an arm,leg,or testicle.There is nothing wrong with desiring a classic instrument,or car.......Or woman(!),for that matter!Don't sit here at your computer and say you've never wanted a "killer sounding,kick-ass" vintage Fender.AT LEAST,AT LEAST 95% of us have wished for one at one time or another.

Here is what I believe:There are a lot people who like to jump on the so-called "Bandwagon",and join the fraternity of people who think said basses aren't "cool".In other words, SOME,SOME,are followers,not leaders.I would probably bet my most prized bass on this scenario:If the Fender Geddy Lee Bass was "relic'd" just like his Jazz,would you still buy it?What kills me is probably some of the people on here bashing these basses have a Jaco 'replica' bass,or,a 'Closet Classic' bass,from the Custom Shop,of course.
Hey!!!!!I just realized something!!!That's why they're so mad!!!They paid the B-I-G bucks,as opposed to the price of the 'Roadworn Bass'.(STILL too high of a price,since the increase.)Don't wanna ruffle any feathers.Ah,hell with it,I know this will.Still,just my opinion.Remember,everybody has their own opinions AND desires.


Peace,Steve

*Sorry for the derail.I agree with the 'how to' post above.That's my 'on topic' answer.

 

[emor]

Oh yeah, and my neighbor thinks I'm nuts when I was trying to light a cigarette without inhaling -- not a smoker. Apparently cigarettes are now low smoldering and don't give you that cool burn mark behind the nut.

Freakin' hilarious.

 

[rezin]

What gets me is this: If I order a Custom Shop reliced '70's Jazz bass from Fender, they will charge me twice what my real, actual, no-phony-baloney, naturally-reliced '71 Jazz is worth. What's up wit' dat?

think about it, if it's not relic'd, they spray the finish and the clearcoat and the bass is done. otherwise on the custom shop stuff, someone who probably gets paid pretty well has to go through and age the bass by hand. so you pay for the labor. makes sense to me

 

[LCW]

soak the chrome in pee? thats gross lol

 

[Melodicgroove]

Here is what I believe:There are a lot people who like to jump on the so-called "Bandwagon",and join the fraternity of people who think said basses aren't "cool".

While others like to go to the store and buy a brand new hat, or pair of jeans that already have holes in them. Go figure.

 

[Jim Carr]

Relic-Something that has survived the passage of time.

That's the definition of the word 'Relic.'...

Yes, and no. Reliquae, the Latin root, means literally "left-overs." I can't resist quoting myself from another of these threads:

Dare I point out that basses don't know whether they have paid dues or not?

Now really, folks. This thread demonstrates how holy some of us hold these true relics. Understandable. Think about that word, "relic." Do you know what a reliquary is?

For those about to look it up, a reliquary is a case for a relic. In this instance, a "relic" is a bone or other physical object genuinely associated with a Saint or other important religious figure. It is venerated. The word relic refers to holy material that is often worshipped. Relics have been part of Western culture since pre-Christian times. I won't debate the veracity of claims made for and about them.

So knowing that, I wonder: Why are people so afraid someone would pose as an experienced bass player with an ancient Fender (relic) bass that is not really old? Ah ha, because such a "poser" is borrowing the holy authority of a relic with out permission. Forbidden faux mojo! How does one get permission? Pay Dues.

Who counts/collects the dues? Sorry, but IMHO, playing and playing only determines dues, not dings, worn nitro, or wear on necks. You HEAR the dues that were paid, you don't SEE them. Anyone can buy a "true relic," if they have the wealth to do so. No one can buy "paid dues."

Let's not be fools or fooled. Play the bass you love, reliced or new or neither. If you act as if the person who loves something slightly different from you is a liar or a fool, I think it harms you. It's just a bass, often in the hands of a kid who wants to learn.

Most or many of us would love to own relics. I myself not only AM a relic (LOL), I also have a couple. I have played one of them since 1973. So it may surprise you that I had it restored to almost new condition. Why? Because it had been mistreated by previous owners, and somewhat beat to crap by yours truely.

My point is that old or young, noob or grumpy geezer, we need to respect each others tastes, even when we think that there is something sacred being tampered with. What is sacred is the music.

It is the nature of time to render constant change and eventual destruction to all material things. Rejoice that we have our basses, that we enjoy them, and hold sacred the music which they can make in our hands, not the paint job.

 

[blues_bassist]

Nope, a beat up guitar isn't needed but there's also nothing wrong with it. Or weren't you aware that Keith Richards was the person who first asked for the relic treatment from the Fender Custom Shop?

"An offshoot of Fender's forays into replicating the look of heavily worn instruments was the introduction of the Fender Relic series in the late 1990s. This idea came as guitarist Keith Richards of the British rock group The Rolling Stones told the Custom Shop that some replicas he commissioned for a Stones tour 'looked too new', stating: "Bash 'em up a bit and I'll play 'em". His statement catalyzed with the presence of Vince Cunetto and Jay W. Black at the start of the Custom Shop. Cunetto guitars have since become known for their high level of quality and artistry among the Custom Shop Relics. The Relic models aspire to perfectly replicate vintage instruments, both in terms of the parts, design and finishes used, as well in the varying degrees of wear that would usually be found on a 40-50 year old instrument. Fender tarnishes metal parts, purposely marks and scratches paintjobs, yellows and cracks plastic parts, and burns marks in the headstock (where it can be used to tell time during jam sessions and tripping, a cigarette might be about 8 minutes) in the process to faithfully replicate the overall look of a battered old original. This move caused a controversy among players who failed to see the logic in paying a premium for a deliberately damaged instrument. Fender offers grades of wear on the relic series, from light to very heavy 'wear', and has since introduced a line of 'NOS' (new old stock) and 'Closet Classic' instruments that employ the period-correct parts, designs and finishes but do not feature faux abuse, weathering or aging."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Custom_Shop

Just because Keith Richards wants one doesn't change my opinion. I am well aware that a lot of people want their new guitars to be worn, but I still think its a bad idea, and a little bit to fake.

 

[mongo2]

Good name for a faux vintage guitar/bass shop:

"The Reliquary"

 

[UncleBalsamic]

Charlatan's Emporium would be better I think.

 

[professor_bills]

Good name for a faux vintage guitar/bass shop:

"The Reliquary"

Now there's a business that's bound to fail in this economy

 

[Mr. Ray]

Gee, has everybody gotten their chance to ridicule the OP for something he personally "likes" , or would the Peanut Gallery like more time to make fun of his opinion?


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

All I can say is that seems a little extreme..again I could hardly see the font it was so small

 

[Bluesbob]

What gets me is this: If I order a Custom Shop reliced '70's Jazz bass from Fender, they will charge me twice what my real, actual, no-phony-baloney, naturally-reliced '71 Jazz is worth. What's up wit' dat?

think about it, if it's not relic'd, they spray the finish and the clearcoat and the bass is done. otherwise on the custom shop stuff, someone who probably gets paid pretty well has to go through and age the bass by hand. so you pay for the labor. makes sense to me

And I'm sure it makes dollars & sense for FMIC, too.

I know a guy who ordered one of the first Custom Shop relic Teles in '96 (I think). The thing was, although it looked like an old, beat up Tele, it played as well or better than any Tele we'd ever had our hands on. The Fender Custom Shop really got a boost in reputation as well as general awareness from the early relics, just because they were such nice-playing and sounding guitars, not necessarily because they were reliced.

 

[JimiLL]

This kind of reminds me of a saying me and my buddy have.

Whenever someone asks us If we have tattoo's, we say no way, we have scars. (Workin, ridin dirtbikes, fights, you know...)

We then proceed to tell them that unlike tattoo's, scars are earned, not bought!!

Hope you can relate this to the topic at hand!!

 

[JimiLL]

Also, I want to see a show of hand how many of you would take a split window corvette, in mint condition, and have it sent out to be "relic'd"

Makes about the same amount of sense

 

[emor]

Bondo = cool

 

[Jim Carr]

Also, I want to see a show of hand how many of you would take a split window corvette, in mint condition, and have it sent out to be "relic'd"

Makes about the same amount of sense

Really? No one is suggesting buying a $12K pre-CBS P-bass to have it relic'd. I think we are talking hypothetically about an inexpensive bass.

However, Fender CS will build you a $5k relic if you really want them to.

 

[JoeyZ]

I have a "reliced" 06 MIM Jazz...

If by "reliced" you mean beat to hell, complete with dings, scratches, and chips of both paint and wood missing. I love it!!!
No real wear out spots, but tons of imperfections.

 

[fourstring44]

I like new and I like old. I did not like the pickguard on my cheap SX P-bass, so instead of having a custom made guard for the same price I paid for the bass, I aged the bass and now I'm comfortable with it. On the other hand I have a new American standard P-bass that I didn't like the pickguard on either, but I opted to put a nice mint guard on it and not beat the hell out of it. Each to his own, there is no right, they are my basses, my choices.

 

[Jim Carr]

Cool bass!

 

[JimiLL]

Really? No one is suggesting buying a $12K pre-CBS P-bass to have it relic'd. I think we are talking hypothetically about an inexpensive bass.

However, Fender CS will build you a $5k relic if you really want them to.

ok, how about someone that want to buy said corvette, but only if it is beat up and weather torn?? For the same amount of money as a new one??!!

Relic's are kinda like rat rods....