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My Opinion on Reliced Instruments
- Thread starter Aeronut
- Start date
I've had some old, worn instruments that seemed to have their own spiritual essence. Not sure if that was a result of thin aging nitro finishes allowing for a slow drying out of wood and more resonance, or maybe some other factor, but they just oozed tone.
I've got a 21 year old Gibson CS-336 that's getting pretty worn, and it's taken on an awesome tonal character over the years.
OTOH, I had an '80's Fender Made-in-Japan '54 Strat reissue that was finished in ultra-thick polyurethane and it always sounded a little too tight for my liking - kind of sounded a little constipated. This didn't change in the 40 years I had it, despite several pickup changes. (I've got a MIM Fender Player Precision Bass with a similar finish where the tightness seems to work in its favor - I dig it).
After owning many Teles and Strats over the years, and gigging in the '70's with a nitro-finished '62 Strat, I suspected there was something especially resonant sounding about those old aged-wood, thin-nitro finished guitars.
Problem was the old ones - and new custom shop ones - had become waaay too pricey for regular gigging.
When the Fender Road Worn series debuted in 2009, a used one came up for sale nearby (Seller discovered a Telecaster wasn't really a good choice for his Hendrix tribute band). I snatched it up immediately, replacing the pickups with something I'd used before and liked - best sounding, playing Tele I ever owned. Still playing it after 16 years.
About a year later, I snagged a Road Worn '60's Strat - Still have it - and installed a set of holy-grail Van Zandt Fullertone pickups in it. Reminds me so much of the old '62 - simply an awesome guitar.
Three years ago, I found a 2010 Road Worn Jazz Bass on FB Marketplace and pulled the trigger. It's my #1 bass. Yeah, I replaced the pickups on it too - what can I say, I've obviously got a problem.
Does it bother me that the Road Worns are fake-worn? No.
Do I love that they're super lightweight? Absolutely.
Are they insanely comfortable instruments? You bet.
Is it wonderful that I can take these instruments up on crowded stages and not worry about every nick or ding? Well, YEAH.
Has a BL or band mate ever commented on them looking ratty or inappropriate for a gig? Never. I look ratty and inappropriate for some gigs.
Has my wife ever given me crap about how they look? Other than rolling her eyes at each and every new instrument purchase, no.
Has my son ever given me crap about how they look? Of course.
Gratuitous pics:
I've got a 21 year old Gibson CS-336 that's getting pretty worn, and it's taken on an awesome tonal character over the years.
OTOH, I had an '80's Fender Made-in-Japan '54 Strat reissue that was finished in ultra-thick polyurethane and it always sounded a little too tight for my liking - kind of sounded a little constipated. This didn't change in the 40 years I had it, despite several pickup changes. (I've got a MIM Fender Player Precision Bass with a similar finish where the tightness seems to work in its favor - I dig it).
After owning many Teles and Strats over the years, and gigging in the '70's with a nitro-finished '62 Strat, I suspected there was something especially resonant sounding about those old aged-wood, thin-nitro finished guitars.
Problem was the old ones - and new custom shop ones - had become waaay too pricey for regular gigging.
When the Fender Road Worn series debuted in 2009, a used one came up for sale nearby (Seller discovered a Telecaster wasn't really a good choice for his Hendrix tribute band). I snatched it up immediately, replacing the pickups with something I'd used before and liked - best sounding, playing Tele I ever owned. Still playing it after 16 years.
About a year later, I snagged a Road Worn '60's Strat - Still have it - and installed a set of holy-grail Van Zandt Fullertone pickups in it. Reminds me so much of the old '62 - simply an awesome guitar.
Three years ago, I found a 2010 Road Worn Jazz Bass on FB Marketplace and pulled the trigger. It's my #1 bass. Yeah, I replaced the pickups on it too - what can I say, I've obviously got a problem.
Does it bother me that the Road Worns are fake-worn? No.
Do I love that they're super lightweight? Absolutely.
Are they insanely comfortable instruments? You bet.
Is it wonderful that I can take these instruments up on crowded stages and not worry about every nick or ding? Well, YEAH.
Has a BL or band mate ever commented on them looking ratty or inappropriate for a gig? Never. I look ratty and inappropriate for some gigs.
Has my wife ever given me crap about how they look? Other than rolling her eyes at each and every new instrument purchase, no.
Has my son ever given me crap about how they look? Of course.
Gratuitous pics:
Last edited:
D
Habing a reliced instrument is cooler, imo, if you did the relicing through using it.
Not sure if anyone has already echoed these sentiments, but here's my basic take:
- I don't like to pay extra for artificial wear or looking like it was worn away by someone famous;
- But I also don't like pristine instruments because the anxiety of marring them drives me to not actually using them;
- So I tend to like naturally worn and fully functional gear with authentic signs of use more than anything else;
- I've seen awful examples of "purposeful relic" jobs (including big names in it) and would rather avoid them.
My current favorite player is an 84 Ibanez RB950 that has definitely seen a lot of use in 41 years. I don't mind if it gets another ding or scratch and it sounds and plays so nicely that I don't think about anything besides the actual playing of it and fitting in the groove, when it's in use. That seems to free my mind up to some degree.
- I don't like to pay extra for artificial wear or looking like it was worn away by someone famous;
- But I also don't like pristine instruments because the anxiety of marring them drives me to not actually using them;
- So I tend to like naturally worn and fully functional gear with authentic signs of use more than anything else;
- I've seen awful examples of "purposeful relic" jobs (including big names in it) and would rather avoid them.
My current favorite player is an 84 Ibanez RB950 that has definitely seen a lot of use in 41 years. I don't mind if it gets another ding or scratch and it sounds and plays so nicely that I don't think about anything besides the actual playing of it and fitting in the groove, when it's in use. That seems to free my mind up to some degree.
I have a naturally “reliced” vintage 59 Fender Precision Bass. It sounds incredible, but I can’t definitively prove that a nitro finish checking and flaking has any Impact on the sound of the bass. It sounds pretty much the same as it did when I purchased it in 1975. If it really made a huge difference folks would be making reliced Martin D-24’s and I haven’t seen much evidence of that. Essentially , it’s up to the individual who buys the instrument to want they wan’t, but IMHO it’s evolved over the years, into a marketing scheme to sell more instruments. When I see “reliced” Lakland 55-94’s I just have to chuckle. Just my take however
I think some relic jobs look awesome. Some not so much. I don't feel one way or another about them to be honest. Its your money to use as you wish and I pass no judgment.
Yeah, some look natural. Some look very bad.
But I’m also drawn to some of those more ridiculous ones where it’s trying to show wear through three different color layers. There’s something for me about crossing so far into insane that it becomes more of a work of art than just a bad relic job.
Playing a well worn bass is just like putting on your favourite old pair of jeans or that torn to shred sweatshirt you simply can't throw out because it feels like home.
My home...
My home...
I use great care when not playing my basses and always case them & keep them clean & playable but after the bands I've been in got busy, I still kept the basses playable but, wear & tear showed up to the rehearsals and shows too. It's just part of use. I hate the peg head dings more than anything else but, tight playing spaces, proximity to drums and or other onstage gear, it happens.
I'm just surprised my Precision V & Dimension 5 aren't more scuffed.
I'm just surprised my Precision V & Dimension 5 aren't more scuffed.
I actually like relic'd basses...doesn't really matter what others think, of course.
If I ever see this one for sale, I'm jumping on it.
If I ever see this one for sale, I'm jumping on it.
I like relics on fender type of basses. I have a P 5 and i reliced it myself. I hate to play a bass that looks exactly like 1 millon others around.
Well, there are other ways to modify your bass visually, that would make it considerably more unique.
I’ve seen some pretty cool art on pickguards - truly unique and interesting, and easily reversed if you have the art on a spare. Of course, changing guards, knobs, jingle bobs hanging from the headstock, scarfs, etc. I’ve seen all kinds of cool stuff. Nothing wrong with putting fake wear on, if that’s your thing; but I agree it’s far from unique at this point.
I’m always reminded of a friend’s dad who was a boot and saddle maker I worked for during summers as a kid: He had contracts with some swanky buyers in Aspen, Jackson Hole, and other places where “Cowboy” was the kitsch. He would pull out this mini-Rangers bat that he had driven nails, staples, and all kinds of crap into - looked like a torture device. Every time he’d whack my hard work with it, he’d laugh, “there’s another 5 bucks…”. Never saddles, chaps, anything real cattlemen and cowboys used; just fashion stuff. Lost him in a car accident 10 years ago, but I think of Buddy all the time when I see stuff with fake wear. That was the 90s, so the trend of buying stuff that was already torn up was pretty new, I think - at least it was in rural Texas!
Yeah, my instruments reflect my playing level, not my income level. I COULD afford an Alembic bass, or a prewar Martin D-28, or a custom this or that, but I'd feel like a doofus bringing it to play my rudimentary cowboy chords.
