Relic Processes - what are they actually doing?

[Jim Carr]

...I have to guess that all the 'reliced' instruments are factory seconds that they then "relic" further, slap a label on them and call it cool. Why would they do anything else? It's just makes sense.

Harry, the only problem with this somewhat cynical analysis is that if the Road Worn relics are the "seconds," where are the nitro finished "firsts"???

 

[wysiwyg248]

One thing for sure that is done to nitro finished instruments is to keep them in a chamber at cold temperature and expose them to a rapid temperature change. This creates a lot of checking due to the different expansion rate of the nitrocellulose and the wood.
The checking generally is perpendicular to the instrument length since that is the direction of the most significant expansion...and is pretty much like old instruments -that had not been carefully taken care- look.

 

[bucephylus]

It seems to me that to answer this question, you need to find someone with two Fender Custom Shop basses of the same model, one a Relic and the other NOS, and have him compare them.

As it turns out, I own two Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz basses. One of them is a Relic, the other NOS.

I also own two Fender Custom Shop '59 Precisions. Again, one is a Relic, the other is NOS.

All four instruments are incredibly resonant. And in both instances, the NOS is no less so than its Relic counterpart. So while there are doubtless numerous factors that make these instruments sing like few others--wood selection, nitro finish, et cetera--relic'ing, IME and IMHO, isn't one of them.

Good post Hobo. That is interesting and pretty much torpedoes the relic process as a factor.

 

[Flintc]

Went to a GC that just got in a shipment of these things - about 4 of them. They were unpacked and put up together, and the first thing we noticed is that the "wear" on these instruments was absolutely identical on each one. So there's nothing randomly abusive about it - they've got the machines doing the deed, carefully programmed to do them all alike. Just slightly different programming in the finishing stage.

They all sounded just fine, though.

 

[Dark Horse]

I just took about half an hour typing out various properties of wood, tolerance of electronic components, properties of the metal used in hardware, pickup winding info, etc - and TB logged me out, so I went to post it and the info is gone. GRRRRR.....

I don't feel like re-typing it now, but maybe later. It pretty much explained why the vintage style CS instruments sound "right" to us (the RWs as well)

 

[Dark Horse]

Went to a GC that just got in a shipment of these things - about 4 of them. They were unpacked and put up together, and the first thing we noticed is that the "wear" on these instruments was absolutely identical on each one. So there's nothing randomly abusive about it - they've got the machines doing the deed, carefully programmed to do them all alike. Just slightly different programming in the finishing stage.

They all sounded just fine, though.

Keep in mind that the finish is so thin that the owner will put quite a bit of wear on them quickly, and since every player has slight technique differences, the wear will be different.

Think of the aging on a RW guitars as a "kick start" - not a "final result".

 

[MNAirHead]

The true high buck relics are sending USA bases overseas. they'd hire out of work artists to beat the snot and sand the snot out of them.. then bring them back.

The "USA" is the country of mfg.. not country of beating.

relic fenders are as convincing as a blow up doll.,

 

[tplyons]

Most relicers I know do not dispel the secrets to their craft.

I've heard stories of everything from steel wool, to actually tossing a bass body into the back yard for a few days.

 

[willsellout]

I played a couple of these at a GC. A P bass and a J bass. The P bass was meh, but the J bass was very nice. I'm not willing to pay the price for a pre-beat bass, but it was nice. I do agree that both necks felt very nice and both basses were light in comparison to the newer US models.

 

[elgranluis]

Went to a GC that just got in a shipment of these things - about 4 of them. They were unpacked and put up together, and the first thing we noticed is that the "wear" on these instruments was absolutely identical on each one. So there's nothing randomly abusive about it - they've got the machines doing the deed, carefully programmed to do them all alike. Just slightly different programming in the finishing stage.

They all sounded just fine, though.

flint, with all due respect, this is absurd. Or maybe you were joking and I thought this comment was for real? Anyway, guys just grab your car and make it south of the border, get to the fender factory (pretty large facility), and at around 3:30 pm, 2:30AM and 6:00AM you'll see boatloads of employees making their way home (3 shifts). Just ask around for someone who does relics, you'll be surprised....

 

[Jim Carr]

...Anyway, guys just grab your car and make it south of the border, get to the fender factory (pretty large facility), and at around 3:30 pm, 2:30AM and 6:00AM you'll see boatloads of employees making their way home (3 shifts). Just ask around for someone who does relics, you'll be surprised....

If you could interview a few of those folks, no names of course, and post their comments, it would be most interesting--even if all they can say is "I signed an agreement not to disclose what we do."

 

[Dave Vader]

That youtube video is very similar to the accidental relicing processes that went into a couple of my guitars. My strat fell out of my sisters crappy car boot and slid a good 400 metres down a hill when I was 15, left a few dents and scratches, and my pbass got used as a bat in a game of cricket with an MXR flanger after a very drunken band practice. Not a real fender, don't worry.

 

[slackdaddy]

Sorry if this has been posted before but I came across this website:
Link Removed

It is in Russian but at the bottom of each page there is a button to go to the next page.

I do not go in for relic jobs myself as it seems like cheating but I did have a good laugh at the lengths this guy went to with this project.

 

[Woodwolf]

The process is duplication from an original example, by a computer program...so I'm told by a Salesman who seemed to know his stuff. It isn't random. I was led to believe that every detail we see is there on purpose due to actual Vintage examples. I have heard tonal some differences in some of these Processed instruments. Again, exceptions are out there, but the bottom line is whether the buyer feels the Relic Process has improved the tone and Playing/Feel experience. In some cases...Yes. It has.

 

[Delta_Petra]

Sorry if this has been posted before but I came across this website:
Link Removed

It is in Russian but at the bottom of each page there is a button to go to the next page.

I do not go in for relic jobs myself as it seems like cheating but I did have a good laugh at the lengths this guy went to with this project.

Yeah, this is pretty ridiculous. I think the best word to describe this is: OVERKILL!

 

[WoodyG3]

flint, with all due respect, this is absurd. Or maybe you were joking and I thought this comment was for real? Anyway, guys just grab your car and make it south of the border, get to the fender factory (pretty large facility), and at around 3:30 pm, 2:30AM and 6:00AM you'll see boatloads of employees making their way home (3 shifts). Just ask around for someone who does relics, you'll be surprised....

Of course there are people in the plant, that doesn't mean that the people aren't running machines that produce a programed pattern of wear on each instrument.

 

[Doc Halo]

Good post Hobo. That is interesting and pretty much torpedoes the relic process as a factor.

Thanks, bucephylus. I'm glad that you found it helpful.

Went to a GC that just got in a shipment of these things - about 4 of them. They were unpacked and put up together, and the first thing we noticed is that the "wear" on these instruments was absolutely identical on each one. So there's nothing randomly abusive about it - they've got the machines doing the deed, carefully programmed to do them all alike. Just slightly different programming in the finishing stage.

Although Fender doesn't explicitly say that the relicing on the Road Worn series is done by machine, it doesn't go out of its way to hide that fact either--as your experience suggests, when you compare even two RW instruments, it's perfectly obvious. Each Custom Shop instrument, however, is relic'ed individually by a living, breathing human being and therefore unique.

 

[Tom Howland]

I dig relic basses.
i've owned both Nash, and the new Fender Roadworn.

I have a Nash 57 P-bass.
And a new Fender Roadworn Jazz.

I like the Lollar pickup in the Nash.
But I thing the Fender has a better relic feel.
The Fender neck is killer.

Plus the fender is about $500.00 less that a Nash.

I was told buy the Fender dealer, that the roadworn series was a direct
response to the Nash basses.
That Nash was selling to may basses.

 

[DerHoggz]

Sorry if this has been posted before but I came across this website:
Link Removed

It is in Russian but at the bottom of each page there is a button to go to the next page.

I do not go in for relic jobs myself as it seems like cheating but I did have a good laugh at the lengths this guy went to with this project.

Haha. Crucifiction, automatic weapons, Tonka trucks, Jimi Hendrix, fire, and brimstone. That is how it is done boys

 

[Jim Carr]

Haha. Crucifiction, automatic weapons, Tonka trucks, Jimi Hendrix, fire, and brimstone. That is how it is done boys

I loved the funeral and burial.
Don't leave out the swamp, mud, and power tools!