Relics - a serious question

Hattigol

I was at the Thirsk Guitar Fair last week and saw a guy wandering round with a knackered old guitar case. I was immediately dying to know what was in it (it was a '66 Les Paul).

But it got me thinking. How come relic guitars still come in lovely shiny cases? Wouldn't people prefer them if they came in a case that was similarly beaten up? Or are firms doing this already and I'm behind the curve? Maybe  I should make some and get on Dragon's Den...

This isn't a pisstake about relics or an invitation to debate their worthiness. Think that's been done to death.

darthed1981

You could chuck it down some really long stairs?

I'm watching the remembrance commemorations and Elizabeth tower currently has a staircase all the way up in the scaffolding, that would do it.

Brize

A '66 Les Paul? Don't think so.

Hattigol

Brize said:

A '66 Les Paul? Don't think so.

Or so I was told. Unlikely, granted...

terada

I'm sure I remember a peach video where they show reliced Gibson cases for some instruments. 

To be honest though you only have to look at the lifton ones the wrong way to start the process off 

GoldenEraGuitars

I age my tweed cases for full builds. Not majorly, just enough and no more.

guitars4you

Hattigol said:

Brize said:

A '66 Les Paul? Don't think so.

Or so I was told. Unlikely, granted...

I didn't see it but was told before the show that someone was going to bring in a 68 LP - I forgot about it until you mentioned this blog

Ref aged cases - valid point and I don't know why - I've seen some aged by customers, but can't recall any factory aged

Brize

guitars4you said:

Ref aged cases - valid point and I don't know why - I've seen some aged by customers, but can't recall any factory aged

The aged 'True Historic' Les Pauls came with factory-aged cases:
 
https://www.themusiczoo.com/blogs/news/new-gibson-custom-shop-aged-true-historic-cases

Iamnobody

What does a reliced case look like - a few scrapes or...

3/4 of the hinges completely corroded and fucked and so cardboard thin that it offers zero protection for your £5k guitar.

For that reason I won’t be investing!

guitars4you

Brize said:

guitars4you said:

Ref aged cases - valid point and I don't know why - I've seen some aged by customers, but can't recall any factory aged

The aged 'True Historic' Les Pauls came with factory-aged cases:
 
https://www.themusiczoo.com/blogs/news/new-gibson-custom-shop-aged-true-historic-cases

I'd forgotten about these, but when I was typing my comment I had a Fender head on me

fandango

darthed1981 said:

You could chuck it down some really long stairs?

I'm watching the remembrance commemorations and Elizabeth tower currently has a staircase all the way up in the scaffolding, that would do it.

No, you give it to the Manchester Airport baggage handlers.

Voxman

fandango said:

darthed1981 said:

You could chuck it down some really long stairs?

I'm watching the remembrance commemorations and Elizabeth tower currently has a staircase all the way up in the scaffolding, that would do it.

No, you give it to the Manchester Airport baggage handlers.

I'm laughing ...but it ain't funny for those folk who really have had their luggage and instruments wrecked by baggage handlers

Bridgehouse

Voxman said:

fandango said:

darthed1981 said:

You could chuck it down some really long stairs?

I'm watching the remembrance commemorations and Elizabeth tower currently has a staircase all the way up in the scaffolding, that would do it.

No, you give it to the Manchester Airport baggage handlers.

I'm laughing ...but it ain't funny for those folk who really have had their luggage and instruments wrecked by baggage handlers

I wouldn’t worry - mine do it on their own on the stand in the house with nobody about!

GoldenEraGuitars

Iamnobody said:

What does a reliced case look like - a few scrapes or...

3/4 of the hinges completely corroded and fucked and so cardboard thin that it offers zero protection for your £5k guitar.

For that reason I won’t be investing!

As is the case with any ageing I do... it’s all cosmetic. No actual structural damage is done 

Whitecat

Brize said:

guitars4you said:

Ref aged cases - valid point and I don't know why - I've seen some aged by customers, but can't recall any factory aged

The aged 'True Historic' Les Pauls came with factory-aged cases:
 
https://www.themusiczoo.com/blogs/news/new-gibson-custom-shop-aged-true-historic-cases

Only since 2016 though. My 2013 CC10 has a pristine brown case and I did always find that a little amusing...

richardhomer

Hattigol said:

Brize said:

A '66 Les Paul? Don't think so.

Or so I was told. Unlikely, granted...

Sounds like the guy who offered me a 1948 Telecaster....

Brize

Whitecat said:

Only since 2016 though. My 2013 CC10 has a pristine brown case and I did always find that a little amusing...

Yep, your guitar isn't a True Historic model - that line was launched in 2015.

hyperben

I’m sure it probably was a 68 Les Paul (not a 66), but are 66 SGs called Les Pauls still or did they stop doing that by then?

Brize

hyperben said:

I’m sure it probably was a 68 Les Paul (not a 66), but are 66 SGs called Les Pauls still or did they stop doing that by then?

No, dropped much earlier than that - early '63, I think.

Whitecat

Brize said:

Whitecat said:

Only since 2016 though. My 2013 CC10 has a pristine brown case and I did always find that a little amusing...

Yep, your guitar isn't a True Historic model - that line was launched in 2015.

Ah yeah of course - my brain was conflating TH with Collector’s Choice in that moment...  

poopot

I have aged a few cases... the only real way to get that “relic” look is to freeze it tbh... you get that lovely lacquer checking that you only see on proper vintage cases.