Relic-ing

[BlackFenderBass]

I plan on relic-ing an SX Jazz I just bought for the first time. It would be great if you could lead me in the right direction on where to begin the process, seeing as, well, I'm a noob at this stuff.

Thanks all.
Kyle J

 

[spaz21387]

no just no dont do it you will realize once you get started you dont like your relic job and then your stuck with it

 

[BlackFenderBass]

no just no dont do it you will realize once you get started you dont like your relic job and then your stuck with it

I'll consider your seriousness, but if there's a specific topic or something on here that I can read if I was REALLY interested that would be great.

 

[thobbinghotrod]

Uh-oh - here it goes. If you like reliced guitars, search the net or here for tutorials.

 

[tangentmusic]

Tons of threads here on the subject. Use search function.
My take: Play it everyday, gig with it for 30 years and let it get roadworn the old fashioned way. Then you'll have lots of stories to tell your grandkids

 

[plangentmusic]

No prob -- here's what you do...

First of all, does it show any wear? If so, follow those lines. Just as an artist would draw a hill in the direction that a hill would go, make the wear, where it would be -- but more so.

Also, copy some pics of vintage instruments. WHere are they worn out? Where are scratches likely to be. Some "relic" instruments scream of phoniness.

Use a medium sandpaper to take off a lot of finish and a fine steel wool to smooth it out.

You can also take a chain and just randomly bash a few spots. (Obviously, without pu's and knobs on).

ANd of course, only do this on a nitro finish. They're the only ones that tend to show that kind of wear. I've never seen a relic'd MUsicMan, unless it just abused -- and that ain;t a good look.

Go for it. If you mess up, well, that's what happened. Relicing is years of mess ups. There are no wrong dings.

Good luck.

 

[5string5fingers]

Tons of threads here on the subject. Use search function.
My take: Play it everyday, gig with it for 30 years and let it get roadworn the old fashioned way. Then you'll have lots of stories to tell your grandkids

Too bad 30 years even on an SX would just leave you with some chips. If an SX can last 30 years..

 

[tangentmusic]

Too bad 30 years even on an SX would just leave you with some chips. If an SX can last 30 years..

True that

 

[mongo2]

If an SX can last 30 years..

Let's hear your explanation of why it wouldn't.

I have more delicate instruments that have already lasted nearly 50 years and more.

 

[5string5fingers]

Let's hear your explanation of why it wouldn't.

I have more delicate instruments that have already lasted nearly 50 years.

I said IF I never said it wouldnt. It'd hard to say how long any bass will last. It all depends on how well the instrument is taken care of.

 

[tangentmusic]

Let's hear your explanation of why it wouldn't.

I have more delicate instruments that have already lasted nearly 50 years and more.

I had an SX Jazz a few years ago.
It didnt last too long.... with me anyway.
I didnt like it much. I gave it away after about a month.
Saw it 1 year later in a pawnshop window

 

[mizzou541]

I searched in the Luthier's Corner forum and found this link...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Stilettoprefer]

My take: Play it everyday, gig with it for 30 years and let it get roadworn the old fashioned way. Then you'll have lots of stories to tell your grandkids

+1 I tried relicing an Ibanez and it just looked like poop. So I refinished it.

 

[mongo2]

I said IF I never said it wouldnt.

Got it.

When you said:

Too bad 30 years even on an SX would just leave you with some chips. If an SX can last 30 years..

It looked like all there would be left of the bass would be some chips, when you actually meant there would only some chips in the finish.

My bad.

 

[Ric5]

If you are going to relic a bass then better an SX instead of an expensive Fender.

 

[bolophonic]

If you are going to relic a bass then better an SX instead of an expensive Fender.

This. Still, I won't be surprised when the purists get their panties in a bunch because someone relic'ed a cheapo bass.

 

[johnk_10]

i have a friend that's so hard on his instruments that if you loaned it to him for 6 months it would come back looking like it was medium reliced.

to do it where it looks good (real) is an art unto itself. i've done a few for my friends that look completely authentic, but that's because i've been servicing guitars and basses since 1973 (10's of thousands of them) and have seen every type of player wear from light to extremely heavy. the trick for me is to do it a little at a time and not get carried away or rush the process.

 

[mongo2]

This. Still, I won't be surprised when the purists get their panties in a bunch because someone relic'ed a cheapo bass.

I'm in the middle of relic-ing a cheapo bass but so far it's taken me about 40 years and it's still not finished.

 

[CostaBass]

A poly finish doesn't really relic well IMO. It just chips and breaks away. I think poly was designed to withstand the age of time. Nitro on the other hand will relic nice and will give away much quicker.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I was impressed by this job. So subtle, I think it worked perfectly.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=601399