why are some fenders made like this

[king_biscuit]

I'm on board with this much of the statement above. I always have been.

If you want your instrument to look worn, do it the old fashioned (and real) way: EARN it.

What about the guys who inherit money or who have parents who buy them expensive basses, are they fronting that they worked and earned an expensive bass? Should they only play a bass they earned? The whole relic thing is just cosmetics and it is no different than tattoos or stylistic clothing. Any finish on a wooden bass is "fake," btw.

 

[Freddels]

The only one that I'd really consider is the Pino Precision bass. I'd much rather have it without the relic job and let the mojo occur naturally over time. They could knock a grand off the price and sell a lot more of them without the relic.

Of course, that's where the AVRI's come in.

 

[king_biscuit]

Also, what about all of the young guys like Justin Meldal-Johnsen who have bought old Fenders recently; is this posing? Those Fenders are worn in pretty good, but not by the current owners. Are they allowed to play a worn bass they didn't "earn?"

 

[pacojas]

play one and be AMAZED!!!

i'll be plunking down the cash for a relic'd Fender some day. regardless of anything, these models simply out-play that shiny, sticky finished stuff! i've tried the Road Worn and CS Relic series and they are sooo much more fun to play. (i also LOVE the beat-up look)

 

[Hevy T]

Get it new and create your own stories. Sure some of them look cool, but you can't tell the story of how you used your p bass as a baseball bat against a beer bottle with a replica now can ya!!

 

[shrimpflea]

Also, what about all of the young guys like Justin Meldal-Johnsen who have bought old Fenders recently; is this posing? Those Fenders are worn in pretty good, but not by the current owners. Are they allowed to play a worn bass they didn't "earn?"

Not only that, but how do you know all that wear is legit? Maybe back in 1968 someone decided to rough up their 64' Fender a little....so now you have a vintage bass that has a relic job......or what if your the original owner and you did that back then.....are you still a poser?

 

[jschwalls]

Alot of the VINTAGE instruments you think the guys are playing on stage are actually copies. And it makes sense.. would you want to take a chance to damage a vintage guitar that is worth a large amount of money...

I beat the piss out of my basses, because to me they are just a tool to create music.. I typically sand ALL the finish off the back of neck and it becomes filthy from sweat and dirt within a few weeks. Because it feels better to me.

I have never owned a pre-beaten instrument until recently when I had a replica of Billy Sheehan's WIFE bass built. I play it because I have always wanted to play it and luckily it turned out to be the best sounding bass I've ever played. Only bad thing is there are some gigs that I can't play it because of the way it looks. Am I a "posuer" sure, I don't care.. I am 41 and I play 8 shows a week for tourists on a cruise ship and it's all cheesey cover tunes. I do retain a little self-respect cause I refuse to wear any cheesey hats !

One thing I can tell you about playing a beaten up instrument, it actually draws LESS attention. People overlook it and usually, for some reason, seem to avoid it. ( probably because it looks dirty, lol ) My guitarists just bought a new Mayer strat and he gets alot of people talking about how pretty it is.

 

[Mr.Fingers]

Surely image is a big reason, but you should never underestimate the feel. Some people really want the "worn in" feel of the neck. Not that shiny high-gloss neck, but the feeling of virtually raw wood, with the pores filled with grease.

 

[Pilgrim]

What about the guys who inherit money or who have parents who buy them expensive basses, are they fronting that they worked and earned an expensive bass?

Absolutely. Money doesn't buy expertise - which is part of the implication of an apparently worn instrument. A rank beginner with a beat-to-hell looking instrument is still a noob.

If you inherit the instrument, that's one thing...at least someone put in the work to create the wear. But going out and trying to buy credibility by spending humongo-dollars on a fake instrument is still fake.

Should they only play a bass they earned? The whole relic thing is just cosmetics and it is no different than tattoos or stylistic clothing. Any finish on a wooden bass is "fake," btw.

I agree, it's cosmetics - but there is a CONNOTATION to those cosmetics. They imply that the owner put in the work to create the wear. let's face it, relics are- at some level - an attempt to represent yourself as having done a lot of playing. This is often true, but more often, it's just buying a fake.

Actually, it's somewhat self-exposing. If you have a worn-looking bass and play it like a noob, the fakery is on display for the audience.

I am quite aware that neither of us are about to change our minds on this. I'm glad to say that there are many things which you and I DO agree about!

 

[2meterbassman]

Alot of the VINTAGE instruments you think the guys are playing on stage are actually copies. And it makes sense.. would you want to take a chance to damage a vintage guitar that is worth a large amount of money...

I beat the piss out of my basses, because to me they are just a tool to create music.. I typically sand ALL the finish off the back of neck and it becomes filthy from sweat and dirt within a few weeks. Because it feels better to me.

I have never owned a pre-beaten instrument until recently when I had a replica of Billy Sheehan's WIFE bass built. I play it because I have always wanted to play it and luckily it turned out to be the best sounding bass I've ever played. Only bad thing is there are some gigs that I can't play it because of the way it looks. Am I a "posuer" sure, I don't care.. I am 41 and I play 8 shows a week for tourists on a cruise ship and it's all cheesey cover tunes. I do retain a little self-respect cause I refuse to wear any cheesey hats !

One thing I can tell you about playing a beaten up instrument, it actually draws LESS attention. People overlook it and usually, for some reason, seem to avoid it. ( probably because it looks dirty, lol ) My guitarists just bought a new Mayer strat and he gets alot of people talking about how pretty it is.

Does this bass look like that, because it was used as a bat for "educating" Katie Holmes? ROFL

 

[jschwalls]

Does this bass look like that, because it was used as a bat for "educating" Katie Holmes? ROFL

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dude, I have sweet tea ALL over my monitor, keyboard and ME !!!

 

[Munjibunga]

However, the one saving grace of a modern relic is that you don't have to worry about it getting a ding.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Road Worn and Relics are just like a colour option. There's nothing wrong with them if you like that sort of stuff. Every Road Worn bass I have tried has felt and played very nice. I am nor for or against relics, so if it plays, sounds and feels good, it is good.

 

[wvbass]

Road Worn and Relics are just like a colour option. There's nothing wrong with them if you like that sort of stuff. Every Road Worn bass I have tried has felt and played very nice. I am nor for or against relics, so if it plays, sounds and feels good, it is good.

+1.

It is a shame that several of you can't talk about not liking these basses without bashing those who play them.

 

[fjadams]

I wouldn't buy one, think they are silly. But since other people do seem to like them, and they are spending their money and not mine, whatever.

Personally I think people buy them so they can look just a little cooler on stage while doing their "Rock Star" poses.

 

[happyg]

What is easier to get by your significant other.......A brand new Am Standard or some old beat to hell and back pbass? I believe my next bass will not get a second look.

 

[tjh]

Flak, smack, there's no way to defend owning one of these abominations other than "I want to look like I really worked this bass for decades" or "I want you to think I own a pre CBS bass or guitar". You can buy the same guitar without the faux wear on it if you are not a poser.

I usually avoid these RW rehash threads like the plague .. but its 95 degrees outside and killing time before I need to go do yard work, so I ended up in here ...

... just a quick question before this thread gets shut down .. would you care to direct me to WHERE I can find 'the same guitar without the faux wear on it' for anywhere near the same money??

... BTW, I have owned several of the Classic Series 60's Jazz, played '62 AVRI's, and even owned and toured with an actual '66 oval tuner Jazz with dots/no binding back around 1970... and for the life of me, I haven't been able to find what you are telling me I can ... so if you could direct me to it, I would be happy to pick one up, just so I didn't offend anyone that presumptuously thought I was trying to imply/pretend that I might have actually owned/played the real thing 40+ years ago ... thanks

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Relic instrument tell me : I don't take care of my bass at all as long as it make a noise I'm ok.

 

[Jazzkuma]

I don't like the roadworn style either... but I'm assuming some of the reasons people buy them are 1. Jaco, 2. Any person without knowledge of the roadworn series would be impressed since in their minds a "roadworn" bass means "this guy has been gigging a lot!"
To each his own, back in hs when I used to skateboard some people used to intentionally scratch the paint out of the skateboard making it look used.

 

[kenfxj]

Because posers have more money than most real musicians. I will come out and say it, political correctness to the efing wind, If you buy one of these you are a poser, I don't care how well you play. It's as bad as wearing fake tatoos or scars to make you look tough. If you didn't put the wear on the ax or buy it well used then don't try to fake it. Those who appreciate the real deal can spot these fakes from a long ways away and we are laughing at you!

No difference in my mind to buying well-used and buying reliced. Either way, you didn't earn those scars so therefore you, by your own definition, are a poser.

For the record I don't own any beat up instruments, real or fake. I don't care one way or another if someone else does.