Can somebody please enlighten me as to the attraction of buying a brand new guitar that has been "reliced". It's complete madness! Why would you want to buy something brand new that looks like its 20 years old, and been poorly looked after? Maybe I'm just an old git but I just don't get it!
I have a 35 year old guitar, and I spend time and money periodically upgrading it with new parts to keep it looking like new, and in top working order. I regularly clean and polish it with loving care with the time held view that if I look after it, and keeep it nice it will give me years of reliable use and pleasure!
I'm not sure if this analogy is relevant but you would not buy a brand new car, and set about it with an angle grinder, and a lump hammer, so why do it too a guitar. It just makes no sense to me, and seems to be a mass case of "the emperors new clothes" or am I missing something?
Please educate a grumpy old git.
Comments
I did build it up using all new parts, as I still don't get the whole relicing every single part thing, but I've got a distinct guitar that I love, and isn't just another shiny new blonde Tele.
What I like about a nice relic job is how they feel. Not all sticky and highly polished.
I don't see the point in buying expensive chemicals to rub on a guitar. Quick wipe with a moist, soft cloth when changing strings.
I'm much less vehemently anti-relic than I used to be. If done properly I think they can look ok and I do 'get' the appeal to a certain extent.
Also, only my opinion but, if you spend a lot of money on a guitar - say a PRS or Tom Anderson, Nik Huber etc, you're very likely to baby it and the first real ding is like a stab to the heart. If you have a guitar that plays like new but has the already worn in look you're less likely to worry about harming it and more likely to enjoy playing it to it's full potential.
I think the first guitars that made me think relicing wasn't so bad were the Fender Road Worn series. They seemed to get the balance of nicely worn and not go for the dragged behind a Porsche down the M1 look, which I still think is rediculous.
I also cant stand what seems to be a current fashion of relic'd refinish - a guitar purposely sprayed one colour, refinished in a completely different colour and then beat up to look like it's done 10 rounds with Pete Townsend! What the actual fudge!?
There is no 'H' in Aych, you know that don't you? ~ Wife
Turns out there is an H in Haych! ~ Sporky
Bit of trading feedback here.
Some will question this but anyone with knowledge of manufacturing will confirm time is money - So if more time is required to build the guitar then cost will rise
An additional point - For all those who don't buy into the aged format, the sales of aged to non-aged, regarding Custom Shop, is not even close - I bet I sell 20/25 aged to 1 NOS (non aged)
Equally I fully appreciate it is the customer who decides which they prefer to buy
You very really change customers thought pattern and opinion on this subject - Yet equally I've had many potential customers who don't like the shiny gloss neck on an NOS Strat - As such they prefer the 'aged' necks - But an aged neck and a shiny gloss body looks stupid
In many ways those who think an aged finish is wrong and fake - Doesn't the same apply to a replica that looks 100% new and shiny - I quote this, as no original guitar, that is now 50 or 60 years old, is NOS clean - Exceptionally clean old guitars show some aged character, even if slightly