So how the heck do peoples guitars get so beat looking?

[HMCMedic]

You see all these guys with their (Usually Stratocaster) just beat to hell, paint off it, neck all gross looking and worn down.

 

I play my guitars, I have had some for a long time. I have played a ton of gigs, probably not as many others around here but I have gigged quite a bit. I sweat when I play, have played outdoor gigs, rain, live in Washington State:blah::blah:

 

I wipe my guitars down after gigs and use caranuba wax on the bodies quite often to shine 'em up. Do really old guitars end up getting like that with age or are these guys just really abusing their guitar, never washing their hands or what?

 

I just don't get it I guess, and to pay extra to have one all beat to hell by the custom shop??? You are an idiot in my book if you go that route:)

[Agreed]

Haha, there's a thread going on about this right now in amps.

 

I agree that "relic" guitars are a foolish endeavour. However, modern poly (and even modern nitro) finishes do not share the relatively low durability of the old nitro finishes, and so likely will not wear in any similar fashion (especially the thicker poly finishes, which won't wear anything like the old nitro ones). If you want "that" look but you can't get ahold of the real deal, it's your only chance.

 

But it's ridiculous and a farce because so many of them are coming out. Now, even small music stores have off-brand "relic'd" guitars, it's a big joke. Joke's on the wallet of everyone who bought one, if you ask me, but even crappy parts-casters with awful relic jobs can get a quick following and go for a bit of bank. See a recent for-sale forum thread...

[andrew_k]

gigs, drugs and partying.

Up until recently, I never did more than change the strings on my strat and wipe off the occasional layer of sweat and blood.

 

That guitar has more mojo than resale value, and I'm fine with that.

[phishmarisol]

I see a lot of guys that leave their guitars on the floor of stages and their homes with all kinds of {censored} going on so that's one way.

[letsgocoyote]

thats what i try to do!

[inscho]

i'm starting a strat relic project

 

before:

 

after:

 

all you need is a couple different kinds of sandpaper, a screwdriver, and bout 30 minutes of hurling it across a park on a rainy day.

[Agreed]

... to make a perfectly good body into a hideous wreck that doesn't resemble actual wear.

 

People don't know what worn-in guitars look or feel like, so they make them look and feel worn-out. It's a waste of good wood.

[Kassanova]

If you're not a shoegazer, its actually pretty easy to bang up a guitar. My everyday guitars all have dings and scratches and I try really hard to take care of them. Stage antics (bumping the cymbals, crashing into the bass player accidentally, etc.) will happen if you're a road warrior. The idea of selling the lie of one already dinged up is just crazy. Gig enough and it'll happen naturally. It actually sucks to me. I'd like to keep my axes in pristine shape if I could.

[letsgocoyote]

so im thinking maybe i should sand off my finishhhhh

[Agreed]

Basically, what has emerged is a culture that likes the "relic" look, even though it usually doesn't look anything like a worn-in, gigged instrument. Just make it look {censored}ing ugly and they'll buy it, they don't know the difference and they don't care. Credibility for sale, within certain circles.

[jorhay1]

i admit it

personally i beat mine

feels good

[letsgocoyote]

one time i used to have a squier 51 and i wanted it to be a relic but i didnt know about the whole poly finish thing so the hole me banging agains my friends coffee table and throwing screw drivers at it wasnt very convincing.

[TomCTC]

 

i admit it personally i beat mine feels good

 

 

+1

 

My Telecaster is worn. It's nitro, so it looks good. I have no complaints regarding the process, it's been over a year and a half now and I'm content with what wear I've already got on it.

[DADGADammit]

new jeans with holes in them piss me off just as much

[Teahead]

Be sure to wear a jacket with metal buttons at the wrist, this takes care of the wear to the body above the bridge. Also, leave it in a room with at least a dozen lit cigarettes at every opportunity. Collect sweat at your local steam rooms, liberally pour over all metal surfaces daily.

 

[EL KABONG]

you guys bashing relic's have no idea what mojo is.

[Agreed]

If you equate "mojo" with looking worse than nearly any actually-gigged-for-years guitar, then you're goddamned right I have no idea what mojo is. And I don't want to, because if that's the case then mojo is apparently poseur hipster nonsense.

 

If you want to buy mojo, then lay down the cash for a genuine '66 that had a lot of work to do between then and now. But good luck getting whoever's had that guitar all this time to part with it. THAT'S mojo, and you can't just buy it.

 

Edit: "All you guys bashing counterfeit Mona Lisas have no idea what mojo is."

[IvIark]

I agree, I wonder how they do it as well. I bought a Gibson LP Standard 17 years ago and apart from a couple of very small dings and belt buckle rash it looks brand new. Fair enough not all that time was gigging, but I bet it has still done 500 shows.

[lefchr]

My strat is just from playing it, I clean it ever once in awhile but not that much

[Loobster]

Both my teles are getting 'naturally reliced' just from gigging and taking them all over the place, literally. I'm not huge on the whole 'relic' fad...I think it's quite tacky, but Fender relics do play and sound fantastic usually, they're very nice guitars.

 

Also remember old strats/teles have nitro lacquer on them which ages a lot quicker than modern polyurethane finishes.

[R Corso]

Be sure to wear a jacket with metal buttons at the wrist, this takes care of the wear to the body above the bridge. Also, leave it in a room with at least a dozen lit cigarettes at every opportunity. Collect sweat at your local steam rooms, liberally pour over all metal surfaces daily.

 

 

That's the gheyness. Strummer was all about authenticity. That's fake ass artifical rust. Which will give you artficial lockjaw, so watch out.

[JRBain]

Ibanez RG finishes aren't the strongest. Mine is fairly beaten looking just from sitting at my desk - I hit the lower horn on the desk once, and there are lots of scars from the guitar hitting the (wooden) chair all the time

[comfortablynumb]

I don't take care of my guitars. I play them and put them back on the stand. Never wipe them down, or polish them. I don't have time to stress over keeping them perfect. Things are gonna happen live.. bumping into cymbals, bass player, etc. I even had my Strat fall off my strap and hit concrete. I really didn't care, As long as the neck isn't broken, it's fine for me.

 

I've never really deliberately gone and wrecked a guitar but it's easy enough for nicks and dings and for the finish to peel off.

 

And, I don't see a problem with relic'd guitars. It's just a paint job to me. A paint job with benefits (broken in feel and playability). The best playing and sounding high end guitars I've ever played were CS Relic Fenders.

[ElectricFactory]

I just don't get it I guess, and to pay extra to have one all beat to hell by the custom shop??? You are an idiot in my book if you go that route:)

 

Boy do I agree. It makes me crazy too, all of these people buying relic-d guitars. Who do they think they are ? Stupid is what, wasting their own money.

And while we're at it add to that list all of the morons buying red electric guitars- absolute fools ! Doesn't everyone know red guitars look RIDICULOUS ? And how about the morons who actually WANT to buy Fender guitars instead of Gibson - have you SEEN a dumber bunch in your life ?? And let's not even discuss the cretins who buy natural finish guitars. Or guitars with 7-strings. Or baritone guitars. Or seafoam green finished guitars. Or guitars with graphics painted on. Or guitars with more that two pickups. How many pickups does ANYONE really need ??

Dude I absolutely agree with you, anyone stupid enough to spend their own money on the guitar they want FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THEY PREFER it, what can you say about idiots like that ? Stupid, moronic, sick, twisted, foolish, dim wits !

 

I guess I just don't get it.

[R Corso]

 

Boy do I agree. It makes me crazy too, all of these people buying relic-d guitars. Who do they think they are ? Stupid is what, wasting their own money. And while we're at it add to that list all of the morons buying red electric guitars- absolute fools ! Doesn't everyone know red guitars look RIDICULOUS ? And how about the morons who actually WANT to buy Fender guitars instead of Gibson - have you SEEN a dumber bunch in your life ?? And let's not even discuss the cretins who buy natural finish guitars. Or guitars with 7-strings. Or baritone guitars. Or seafoam green finished guitars. Or guitars with graphics painted on. Or guitars with more that two pickups. How many pickups does ANYONE really need ?? Dude I absolutely agree with you, anyone stupid enough to spend their own money on the guitar they want FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THEY PREFER it, what can you say about idiots like that ? Stupid, moronic, sick, twisted, foolish, dim wits ! I guess I just don't get it.

 

 

You have a relic'd guitar, huh.