Who likes the relic look?

[jeffb28451]

I got nutthin' else to do right now so...humm, relics: include me out. I spend enough money trying to buy credibility, I don't need this particular version of that sickness...flame on.

 

[TonyP-]

It's cool...I like it, but not everyone will.

 

[Danny O Danny]

I have owned naturally worn instruments, and artificially relic'd instruments, and pristine non-worn non-relic'd instruments. I don't care, as long as the instrument is comfortable, plays well, and sounds good.

One conundrum I had: I recently sold a Fender Roadworn P bass (wonderful instrument) and in the listing I described it as in "like new" condition, which it was for a Roadworn series, meaning it looked like it wasn't.

Here's an interesting little video clip in which bassist/producer Don Was claims that relic'ing began as a result of a suggestion he made to Fender about a guitar they wanted to give Keith Richards:

 

[LT131]

i don't mind it, if i did it.. but damn buying something that looks like it fell out of the van, without the heavily discounted price that comes with an instrument that fell out of the van.

If that instrument fell out of the van in '69 you'd still pay a ton for it.

Personally, I'd buy a used relic in a heartbeat but probably would not buy one new. Is that strange?

 

[Hahaha]

I'm a fan of the "relic" look when it happens over the course of ownership through wear and tear. Has anyone paid extra for a pre-wrecked car?

When I was a kid my grandfather bought a brand new Ford Bronco and the first thing he did with it was take it out into the Arizona desert and get as many scratches on the side as he could. He didn't want anyone seeing him driving it and thinking that he wasn't a true rugged outdoorsman. Some time later we were driving through a canyon during a violent thunder storm and a rock tumbled down from the canyon wall and hit the roof of the Bronco. When we got home he checked the roof for a dent and was disappointed when he couldn't find one. Pretty silly. He reminded me of grandpa on The Real McCoys.

 

[fretno]

I never put any kind of finish wear on an instrument . If I want that look I have to buy it pre-worn . I love the worn look though .

 

[Fender_Bender]

Several have commented about "sameness" of wear on the roadworn series. It would be nice to have a little bit of variation in the wear patterns, but the results of Jose and Lupe being given free reign to go nuts on the finish would be too erratic, and surely result in dealer complaints.

 

[light blue bass]

i don't mind it, if i did it.. but damn buying something that looks like it fell out of the van, without the heavily discounted price that comes with an instrument that fell out of the van.

Yah, for example buying a fender jazz bass is like 1,000 dollars at the most but a "relic" bass is in the 3-5000 dollar range!
Like buying ripped jeans for more money when your missing some of the pants.

 

[Jim Carr]

Or, how does a shop determine what makes a blemish on a relic. I see shops selling Road Worn basses at a discount because they're "blemished." What does that really mean??? How does one tell??? Why is one ding part of the "relic" and another a "blemish???"

Huh? Where? when? I'm serious.

 

[light blue bass]

WOW for my first thread this has grown large...

 

[JRA]

Who likes the relic look?

 

[light blue bass]

It's a continuum though, right? Unless you are wearing raw denim jeans right now (which is a thing, I have a few pairs), your jeans were "reliced" a bit, some more than others.

I'm with you on the "destroyed" jeans look being a bit over the top, and I'd say the same about some extreme relic finishes I've seen on basses. A certain amount doesn't offend me though. In basses or jeans. Also, some companies do it better than others.

I totally agree.

 

[fretno]

My '72

my '68

a '18 Pittman

'2019 Roscoe

'19 Pittman ( r.i.p. Paul )

I have a few more around here somewhere

 

[light blue bass]

I don't get the big controversy about this.

Do what you want with your own bass.

Don't look down your nose at what other people choose to do with theirs.

Exactly. I hope there isn't too much controversy. Im merely looking for some entertainment from being indoors too long!!!

 

[Danny O Danny]

And yet there exists a trend of intentionally rusting (real and faux) cars.

Those cars look kinda cool. Reminds me of the current trend in building exteriors of rust coated wall panels.

 

[JIO]

SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

 

[RTL]

I wasn't a fan at all (especially the roadworn Fenders) until I got my hands on a Nash JB-5. I don't know how they do it, but it look/feels/sounds legit. It just feels like an honestly worn in old bass. It's the least expensive instrument I own these days, but it's the only one that is irreplaceable to me. It's absolute magic.

 

[Jim Carr]

WOW for my first thread this has grown large...

You know, this has been discussed ad nauseam. The same cliches all have appeared, so why not add mine:

A relic is just a finish. Get over it. There is no such thing as honest wear, or "the stories it can tell," because instruments can't lie or tell stories because they aren't people, they are just objects.

Rather, people tell stories, and a few of them might be true. Instruments are for making music. Making music with an instrument can tell stories, whether or not the finish was artificially worn. Almost all jean are "worn" in the factory by enzyme or physical processes. Ratrods have been a thing since the 1920's and aren't going away soon.

Spending way too much time on talkbass is for fools like us, LOL! Long live relics, good or bad! Make music, not silly arguments about paint jobs. I once had a relic refinished and then had the nitro finish relic'd. Hope that infuriates you.

Random pics of some of my relics:

 

[Durham52]

Exactly. I hope there isn't too much controversy. Im merely looking for some entertainment from being indoors too long!!!

Don't worry about it, this topic always draws the same responses, some like relics, some don't and some don't care one way or the other, but at least here on Talkbass debate is usually pretty civilized. (If you want to see fireworks try this topic, or any debates that include comparisons between nitro and other finishes, on Strat and Tele forums. )

I agree with the comments here about some relics looking what might be described as unauthentic, (wear marks and dents in odd places etc.) or all mass produced relics looking exactly the same, not such a good look perhaps? But if some folks like them and are willing to pay for it good luck to them.

I'm not adverse to taking the shine and sticky feel of a neck, but have never though about whether that qualifies as relicing?

I've never built an instrument and reliced the finish, partly because I can't quite bring myself to attack a finish I've spent a couple of dozen hours on and partly because doing a relic job well requires a lot of practice and I'm not willing to stuff of enough bodies to become proficient. .

 

[wes stephenson]

I personally love the worn-in relic look of basses. Like the Bass of Doom. Or Fender custom shop heavy relic basses. But that's just me.
Fender 1960 Precision Bass Heavy Relic - Aged Black

That's a big no for me. That being said I'm glad you like it.