Who likes the relic look?

[light blue bass]

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

Thanks. I'm glad you like it the other way.

 

[kbakerde]

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I like the look (an old , well used instrument) but I think the underlying concept is lame.

 

[lordradish]

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

Hate it. It's fake. No history to it, nobody earned that wear.
Plus, I just like basses that look well-cared for.

 

[Revolver]

Naturally worn, no problem . . .
Deliberately reliced = 'poser' instrument

 

[Sid Fang]

Naturally worn, no problem . . .
Deliberately reliced = 'poser' instrument

That's a little over the line and personal, dude. And I say that as someone who basically agrees with you.

 

[nonohmic]

Naturally worn, no problem . . .
Deliberately reliced = 'poser' instrument

Yeah, nah.

I see nothing wrong with paying to get a 'worn in' feel on a new instrument. Why should I dislike the feel of my bass for years until it's worn in, just to satiate some chinstroker like you in the crowd.

 

[burpgun]

I get why some folks would want it, but relicing is dumb. I briefly owned a JMJ Mustang bass. While I returned it because I didn't click with its sound, I founded the battered finish really distracting. The bass felt good, it felt well worn in, but there was just something fake about the whole thing. I'm lucky enough, I guess, to own a bass legitimately battered by time and playing, and while I'm not a vintage freak, there's something to honest wear. In a perfect world, relicing would soften the instrument's finish up a bit. I could get behind that. But denting and chipping, on industrial scale, it's pretty silly.

 

[crankypants]

No poll?

 

[Adhesive_X]

I love relics, I equate them to a single cut. It looks cool but you better be able to
play or people are going to give you a hard time.

 

[Meaculpa]

The relic job on a bass should be earned through time not given at manufacture.

That's how I like it.

 

[Gibson Victory]

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

Nothing like throwing a can of gas on the grill, is there. Good Job! Amen x2! Wait because it's a grill, the expression here should be "Well Done".!

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I like it, I have basses that have the actual mileage. Relic jobs are cool, but only when they are realistic. I've seen some that look real bad though

 

[Gibson Victory]

No poll?

I am truly surprised myself. C'Mon OP, get the poll going! Just kidding, best to all as always.

 

[bcbassman]

The only issues I have with the relic look is:

1, It is inherently dishonest. - It is adopted by many manufacturers to give their basses an implied pedigree that they don't deserve.
2. To wear out a bass to that degree, naturally is actually abusive. Most of the real ones don't have finish dents right next to the bridge or inside of the lower horn. Places where a bass is not likely to be hit.
3. It dilutes the history of the Fender basses that were actually made in the 50's and 60's to the point where many of you will never play an actual bass from that golden era yet think that you have because of a Custom shop, Roadworn or outright imitation that says it is something that it is actually not.

Other than that- Go buy what you want to play and have fun doing it.

 

[Jackcrow]

I don't mind it on a new bass just for the fact that I don't get upset if it gets a ding or a scratch.

And I'd also say that buying a old used bass that has a natural "relic" isn't much different than buying a brand new one with a professional relic job.

Of course, it's always up to the person dropping the cash for the bass. To each their own, people are free to buy whatever they want.

 

[Jared Lash]

For me it comes down to this - I can dig relic'd instruments but only when the wear is in the same place as where I would wear them down. Otherwise it just doesn't feel like "my" instrument.

That said, all of my current instruments (4 Stambaughs basses and 2 EBMM guitars) all have poly finishes without a single major ding or noticeable signs if wear.

But I am giving a lot of thought to ordering a guitar from Novo Guitars. I love their relic jobs.

 

[Tommy V]

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?

i wouldn't pay anything for it.. all of my antique gear was sold over a year ago.. now i play nothing but new Indonesian crap.... lol

 

[getBAK]

Relic'd finishes are earned, not purchased

 

[Element Zero]

This topic always trips me out with how many people think YOU shouldn't like something just because THEY don't.

"it isn't earned" lol. What a ridiculous argument.