Larry Hartke Gets into the Relic Game

[Larry Hartke]

Billy IV Bass and Jimmy Miller both have it right; this is not a relic nor was it meant to be. A relic is a simulation of wear that might have happened over time (and I like them), whereas this is what happened all at once...in my backyard. Fire is the artist not me, I'm just the initiator and enabler. I torched the first one because I wanted one for myself, but now I'm getting many requests to torch basses, people bring their basses to me at the bass lounge and ask me to torch them but I can’t do it. I mean suppose they don’t like it. “I asked Larry for medium rare and he gave me well done!” Never send a bass back to the kitchen! I may torch a few and make them available at some point but right now it’s just for me and a few friends. Here’s the latest one that I torched for Ted Nugent bassist Greg Smith

 

[barrybass33]

Bass has takin new art...
This is way out there. Kind of cool...

 

[Lee H]

I like it... being a fender is the only thing that really limits the artistic expression

 

[TN WOODMAN]

String it with flats, add a tort pickguard and you're done.

 

[Rockbobmel]

Just saw this..... I'm inspired! I'm gonna pour some gas on my bass and light it. It should be ok to to that in the living room, right?

 

[rockinrayduke]

Not one of his best ideas. That looks pretty bad and certainly not reliced just abused.

 

[LowEndOperative]

I'm a relic myself and have been torched more than once.

 

[Kevin Stafford]

This belongs to Greg Smith, probably one of the greatest bassists that ever lived. The name didn't stick? Wow!

 

[two fingers]

The fact that it's just another P bass bothers me more than the weirdo relic job.

 

[pie_man_25]

I hear burning off the finish in places can really open up the tone of the wood, yet darken it at the same time.

I've heard it's great for really hot, almost toasty overdrive.

 

[P. Aaron]

String it with flats, add a tort pickguard and you're done.

Add a ‘torch’ pickguard and you’re well done.