I don't hate pre-aging/Relics...

[sailri]

I'm not a fan, but on a nitro finish it can be done tastefully. I agree that the poly ones look ridiculous. Poly doesn't really wear through like nitro does. Chip, dent, crack and sometime shear off in big chunks, yes.

But wait I thought all the haters think you just have play in the wear and it will look just as good?

 

[KenB]

The etymology of entomology is entomon (greek for insect) and ology (greek for study of).

DOH!

Not a word nerd, obviously.

(Actually, I think it was autocorrect. I know the difference. Just not paying attention...)

 

[St_G]

Fair point. You've convinced me.

PS: etymology.

Can you give me an example of a verb in English that ends in C that doesn’t require a K when adding a suffix?

Picknicking, panicking, panicked, trafficking. Even in D&D: a wizard who uses magic is a magicker.

So relicking. Even if it looks creepy.

I don’t think the entomology matters.

 

[Cuzzie]

Basses that are genuine road worn ones have real stories connected to the dings...
Pre-reliced' basses have stories like, "that ding was from my screwdriver and that one over there was from a little too much from the sander and that one there is a cigarette burn that I made with a soldering iron."

Hey, if you like it, fine. I just think it is silly.

What if the older ‘genuine’ bass happened to be relic’d that way, not intentionally, but by an overzealous DIY enthusiast who stores his bass in his workshop?

 

[4001]

Which model

No silly is you telling us that after you look at 1000 photos of either true vintage instruments or expensive custom shop relics you can tell the difference 100% of the the time because the stories tell you. Gruhn should hire you. Think of the savings in labor costs because you can tell if a pot was resoldered without looking just because the stories told you.

Levi 505 Red tag U.S. made. Dark blue, soft and NOT worn. Awesome.
And, I still think that making your guitar look as if it is old and road beaten is silly. Sorry if I upset you.
I'm not too P.C. and I'm entitled to my opinion no matter what the P.C. rules here are.

 

[4001]

Yes, it means so much more when you accidently bang your bass against a kick drum. Now you have a memory to cherish for a lifetime. Something you'll have to remember to tell the kids. Yeah, good times.......

Maybe you did that. I don't play my bass at the ankles.

 

[4001]

I’m not even talking worn Levi’s. I’m talking color. Of new ones. Most are not even deep (synthetic dye) indigo color. Because after they make them they fade the colors to the preferred shade of blue.

I guess I got lucky. Mine are a pretty dark blue. They fit perfectly and will get road worn over time.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

if I needed a bass and the phoney relic sounded and played best I’d probably buy it

That's what a Guitarist friend of mine did. He hates relics, hates pink and hates teles but his #1 is a Fender Custom Shop pink Telecaster with a light relic finish. He bought it because it's the best neck he's felt on a guitar ever.

I'm the same way. I want certain things but if the perfect bass (or tuba) comes with a finish I don't like, I'll just close my eyes when I play it...or look at my audience.

 

[4001]

What if the older ‘genuine’ bass happened to be relic’d that way, not intentionally, but by an overzealous DIY enthusiast who stores his bass in his workshop?

Accidently dinging your bass is one thing... and if you ruin it because you're a dork, well, that's still not intentionally making it look "beat up".
Trying to make it look like you have played that thing all of your life, like you're some old seasoned pro in his 70's now with that same old guitar, is just more of the same thing I expect to see these days of gotta have it yesterday without putting any real work into it and the acceptance of more and more fake things, like, trying to convince me that Greta Van Fleet isn't ripping off Zeppelin all day long while saying "there's nothing to look at, move along"..
Sorry, we're living in a world filled with people that get upset and offended if you say anything other than positive things or disagree with another person's idea or opinion. ... and I couldn't care less who's upset.

 

[4001]

If you decide to refinish your reliced bass, would that decrease the value?

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Accidently dinging your bass is one thing... and if you ruin it because you're a dork, well, that's still not intentionally making it look "beat up".
Trying to make it look like you have played that thing all of your life, like you're some old seasoned pro in his 70's now with that same old guitar, is just more of the same thing I expect to see these days of gotta have it yesterday without putting any real work into it and the acceptance of more and more fake things, like, trying to convince me that Greta Van Fleet isn't ripping off Zeppelin all day long while saying "there's nothing to look at, move along"..
Sorry, we're living in a world filled with people that get upset and offended if you say anything other than positive things or disagree with another person's idea or opinion. ... and I couldn't care less who's upset.

Yes, yes let the dark side take hold...

Joking again. I feel somewhat the same way but have learned to just let people make their own mistakes. If somebody wants it NOW, NOW, NOW... let it be. You will find your own way and life/God/karma will take care of the rest.

 

[Cuzzie]

@4001 no worries buddy, I don’t get offended, unless you actually try to offend me!
It’s all tongue in cheek from me, as I took your comments to me - things like levity get lost in translation via typing on the inter web.

My view was simple - did I like the specs of the bass, did it play nice for my hands and ears despite my hamfisted attempts at whatever I am doing, is it well made, and customer service top notch?
Sandberg ticked all those boxes for me.

Next - did I like the look? Yep I do, one mans Megan Fox is another mans John Merrick.
My personal view is that these relics are not trying to pass off as fake mojo, or for years of playing. It’s just a look, that to me seems ok.

I’ll play it and it will relic further and devalue or not - no plans on selling just yet, I never buy a bass on resale value thoughts.
But because the relic is finished after the relic, if you then refinished it after stripping it back, no one would probably know - and it may increase in price!!

If I have an un-relic’d neck I like to use 0000 wire wool to take some of the tacky feel off the back - does this count as artificial relic?
Should they not do it and just play it to wear it out?
If you record a looped track and play it through a new cab to wear the speaker in before taking it out on the job, is that artificially breaking in the equipment?

I dunno - none of my comments are meant to be confrontational, just questions on a theme.

Cheers

 

[4001]

@4001 no worries buddy, I don’t get offended, unless you actually try to offend me!
It’s just a look, that to me seems ok.
Cheers

I don't try to offend anyone.. that just sometimes happens on internet forums.....it's all good.
Yes, it's a look and I like the look of a road worn instrument.
Making it look that way, to me,... I should have said that in the first place.. is silly.. and there are plenty of people that will try to tell you that the guitar is better after ruining, ur, relicing it. That's when it gets stupid.
I want to see someone take a screwdriver to their Alembic to replicate any real dings in Stanley Clarke's bass.

 

[Cuzzie]

Think we may have to compare relic’d basses to meat.

To get a nice bit of steak, you hang it, let it age, maybe smoke it a little, take it down and before cooking tenderise it by smashing it with a hammer - and then it tastes gorgeous.

Definitely better than the nag that’s been hanging around for 50 years, and the other smeared in sauce...!

 

[Cuzzie]

@4001 ha! I would pay to see that and eat into my budget only allowing me to buy a non relic’d bass!

 

[Cuzzie]

And fair dues - live and let live buddy

 

[fretno]

Its just a finish option homies. As long as some fool doesn’t try to pass one off as vintage and scam your grandpa we are safe.

 

[KenB]

Google "rat-rod."

I'm talking about the manufacturer selling NEW trucks and Jeeps as relics!

Would probably work on tools, guns, hiking boots, etc.

 

[Rib 13]

I would only only buy a relic'd bass for two reasons:

1) Its a used instrument
2) I really really love how it feels, plays, and sounds

I would never buy a new one (and I wouldnt even take it off a showroom wall to test drive to see if criteria 2 above applied) and I also wouldnt relic a bass on purpose

this is a very taboo TB subject: If a Relic'd bass brings you joy because you think it looks cool, Im happy for you and dont worry about what other folks think. Play it and be happy --- this subject becomes a problem when you pro Relic folks try to convince us folks that think its stupid that it isnt stupid. Understand that there is a possibility that you are arguing with us because you are trying to justify it to yourself

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

It’s definitely a “look”. A look that I happen to like (a slightly beat up up looking instrument) and yet there’s that part of me that says “is it really worn or relic’d?”. Does it matter ? A bit of the don’t ask don’t tell as far as I am concerned.

What does the look project - mojo, history, road work . . . call it whatever you want. But if it’s a relic’d instrument then there’s the “deception aspect”. I guess that’s the rub for me, but playability and sound matter most so it comes down to “whatever, let’s move on”.