I think the journeyman relics look really nice. Some of the heavier relics look cool too, but some are just over the top. With that said I still like relic'd guitars
If nitro was available for more Guitars, people would gladly let the years naturally relic their axe. We only have 2 choices: thick poly or over the board relics.
In terms of historical accuracy, I think from today’s catalog you’d do pretty well to get a Journeyman relic and swap the plastics for 3rd party nitrate
I like relic'd guitars but I agree that the wear is over the top. I view them as faux aged 'art' guitars, "historical fiction" almost. Yes we all love SRV and Rory Gallagher's Strat's beat to heck and worn of all their sunburst finish right down the wood. But they are the exception. Rory sweat excessively, and SRV stood on his guitar with cowboy boots on. So there! Haha.. I saw a Crosby Stills and Nash concert on TV in the year or so right before they all feuded and broke up. Steven Stills played both a relic'd sunburst Strat and a real vintage sunburst one. You could really tell which was which. I just feel the faux aging never looks natural enough for me. The paint edges never feather out from where the paint meets natural wood, the lines in the paint checking are always too even and exact. The wear down to bear wood on the back of the neck is never as smooth. Also each and every worn guitar tells a story about the guy who played it, ya know? Unless you have the custom shop map out where your arm rubs, or your guitar pick scrapes across the finish, it will never look like natural wear that you yourself put in the guitar. If you play just chords low on the neck but there is wear high on the neck in the lead position how did that get there? Heh heh.. You see? I do like it and it looks cool, And given the money I'd buy one for sure, but I do have to admit it does not look natural and always looks overdone, even with newer more accurate techniques. I look as them as "art', with wear on steroids, not genuine age marks from a real players years of use. Still cool with me though!
As you mentioned, a lot of it has to do with consumer demand. I’m sure you know the dealers order the relic style from Fender based on what they’re seeing sell. It isn’t as though Fender is just cranking out heavy relics and pushing them on dealers. But you can find plenty more authentic relics from Fender. Look at Wildwood Guitars, or WildWest Guitars for a wider range of relic styles. Wildwood even introduced what they call the Wildwood 10 which is like “relic ready”. But the heavy relics seem to stand out. As someone who has a bunch of custom shop strats, I like the heavy relic look. I’m not looking for “authenticity” per se, but something that appeals to me. And for that it’s the heavy relic. Not every strat I have is heavy relic’d, but quite a few are. I get what you’re saying about the headstock and the amber. I think I have one or two with what you could say are overly amber, but it doesn’t bother me.
I think I should also mention that people can order a Fender Custom shop to their specifications. So if you want a more authentic look you can request that. You don’t have to buy an “off the shelf” relic job.
You or the dealer can specify -for example- the degree of tint when ordering. Never cared for that orangy look. Had an American Vintage '57 once and after some time the neck tint reminded me of the cheddar they use at McDonalds. Ironically, the mexican version of that exact same model had a way more pleasant looking and feeling maple neck. Poly of course.
Interesting you bring the point up about relics sounding and feeling better - for whatever reasons - as I've noticed this whenever I've played ones in a A/B situation. Like you say Rhett Schull has covered this in a very interesting vid and in case people not seen Andertons music shop here in the UK recently commissioned a limited edition batch of Strats and Teles for their 60th Anniversary that have all the aspects of a relic'd custom shop except for the "damage" so they look like brand new guitars but feel old.
Fender was the first to start intentionally relic’ing new guitars in mid 1995 under the supervision of Vince Cunetto. I have a ‘97 Cunetto Strat. I think the wear on that one is a bit extreme. I also have a Masterbuilt ‘51 Broadcaster that looks like something my father would have left me if he had been a gigging musician and this was his main guitar. It’s perfect.
So maybe Fender should have 2 major categories of relics, one that strives for historically accurate aging and wear, and others where the instrument is reliced for purely aesthetic reasons. I guess as always, the bottom line is whatever sells.
I totally agree with you, their pickups on their Custom Shop, and even on their $10,000 guitars, are catastrophic ! Their pickups on their American Reissue 52s are horrible even though these guitars are already over $2200. Basically, they just work on the aesthetics of the guitars and their "makeup", but the woods are young and green, the microphones and electronics are of very average quality. It's crazy to invest so much money in these ultimately new guitars.
I agree. I have a 2019 60’s road worn Strat and I would consider it one of the “good” ones. Not too over the top. One thing that bothers me though are the dimples by the input jack. Who misses the input jack that often and that badly?
I love the spray tan analogy. I bought a roasted pine jazz bass 2years ago and the neck even the fingerboard and frets have that spray tan look and it’s not a vintage model .
As a long time fender loving bass player, I’d have to say my fav would be the “road worn” MIM P and J basses from a few years back. 2016 era. That’s just enough relic in my humble opinion. Some of these are overkill.
Had a 2014 '64 L series Strat for a while that I picked up pretty cheap. Relic finish was awful. Like egg shell. Looked unfinished. Reckon I could have picked it off with my nail. So I flattened off the finish and had it lightly buffed. It looked 100 times better. Have seen several like it since from the same period. Mid 2000's were pretty good. The CC and NOS finishes from that period aren't bad.
My '07 Custom Shop 65 Time Machine Stratocaster is about right on for what you'd expect if you could literally time travel and pick one up back in the day. I agree, things are looking more artificially and over glamorized version of the vintage instruments. Too much "what if" and not enough "what should" because we usually want the stuff that came out back then, not what became of after 10 years of playing every day for hours in a cigarette smoke filled dive bar.
Seen a company/vendor on Etsy who offered Boss pedals relic'd. They just did the classics like the DS-1, OD-1, CE-2 and DM-2 with the rubber pedal all frayed and the paint all worn away or chipped off.
Fender has been doing “Relic” amps for years in very limited quantities. There have been Fender Custom Shop Relic amps and Fender Special Run Relic amps made in Mexico. I’ve got a FSR Blues Junior Relic Tweed. I bought it used in 2009. It was a very limited run from 2006 or 2007. There are also other companies that offer it as an option. I’ve been a fan of Relics since the very beginning of Fender Custom Shop Relics in 1995 (I wonder if they have anything special planned for the 30th anniversary). I’m honestly surprised that Fender has never offered Relic cases except on some the exact replicas of famous guitars. Gibson, on the other hand, does sell an aged Lifton case.
Years ago a few dents and dings were a badge of honor for we journeymen touring players. These road worn copies are simply posing and not particularly authentic looking.
Relics are a weird fantasy. I’m a relic. I take a shower, comb my hair, wear a clean t-shirt, and try to look presentable. I have a guitar my parents bought for me in the 60s that looks pretty darn clean.
It is like selling cubic zirconia alongside diamonds to the public. The wood isn’t, but just looks like it’s older. Obviously to trick others into thinking it’s vintage with qualities one might want. Saw 2-3 at Chicago Music Exchange last weekend. Confused as to who would buy it other than a poser.
I understand the case against relic guitars... we used to call these factory defects or B-stock guitars that were sold at a discount. I personally don't care either way. I'll dent, ding, chip a new guitar in no time anyways.
Whether you like or not I thought it was clear that FCS is not trying to replicate natural wear in a guitar. You take Mayer black one (which is artificially wore down), Rory’s guitar, or SRV I mean I think we can all agree that very few vintage guitar wear like that. I think fender is not going for something natural it’s some sort of new artistic abstract concept. I dig it in some cases and not in some.
Gosh I’ve always had zero interest in relic(ing)… however I am kind of interested in the Vintage 2 line … the 60 Strat …I would prob do all sorts of mods including using Harmonic Design Vintage + pu’s. This would be so I don’t have to take my real 60 out on gigs anymore .. been playing that since 72.
One of the worst examples of Fender taking relicing too far was when they released the Terry Kath Telecaster. They based it on the condition the original was in some 40 years after his death and stored in less that optimal conditions. All of the hardware was heavily corroded, considerably more than it was when Terry was playing it just prior to his death.
I know I’m weird because I prefer the G&L and Heritage headstock shapes, but that comes with being satisfied by those brands and underwhelmed by Fender and Gibson I guess.
In certain conditions some lacquer blonde or butterscotch will fade to dark brown or "Caramel", I have a Yamaha mike stern signature that totally trun into a Caremel color if the guitar is exposed a lot in the sunlight, while the humidity is high, like the general weather in Singapore.so if a relic strat neck turns more brown or dark, its possible, but yeah fender cs relic really goes too far, i have never seen any natural aging strat has that much paint go rip off around the pickguard,🤣its so unreal,yeah i would say nowdays a ultra heavy relic is more kinda of "art" or a way of guitar surface finish taste to catch peoples eye(just like tyler finish)rather than getting close to a nature aging guitar.
I think it's mostly for conformable playing and the look. That's all 😊 idk lol I'm not sure if their going for historical accurate maybe just I nece looking guitar or a "what if" approach.
Paying for aging is just not for me. Willie didn’t pay, he just played the same guitar for 100 years. It’s not gonna make you play better or look cooler imo.
Answer: Yes. They have made 'factory distressed' guitars that have perfect finely created finishes that have been completely, deliberately destroyed on the 'Relic' altar of commerce and that lack any resemblance to the original 'new' vintage makes and models. They are purely and simply ugly to my eyes. Some leave me screaming 'How can you do this to a NEW guitar?'...AND demand a premium price? Most, if not all, of those 'heavy relics' I've seen on Reverb should(after removing the electronics) should go into a wood chipper. Horrible, tasteless, fraudulent, phony worn finishes. It's a disgrace. End of rant. Thank you.
I never liked relic'd guitars. A guitar will always sound better without finish than with. Why not buy one without finish if you are about tone? If it is about looks then it is another thing. Relic'd guitars are like having girlfriends with fake boobs. If you like that kinda thing then go with it. I like everything natural.
I think the journeyman relics look really nice. Some of the heavier relics look cool too, but some are just over the top. With that said I still like relic'd guitars
That's what I have and it's the closest I've seen from vintage Fenders...
Greetings from Kalamazoo. I'm watching this less than a mile away from the Heritage factory.
If nitro was available for more Guitars, people would gladly let the years naturally relic their axe. We only have 2 choices: thick poly or over the board relics.
So true. I have seen some guitars labeled “relic ready” maybe that’s more of what you’re talking about.
Reminds me of the early 2000’s where clothing companies were in a race to sell the most destroyed jeans. Never go full Abercrombie & Fitch.
Fender should have a cowboy-chord fret package, with first-position divots worn in.
In terms of historical accuracy, I think from today’s catalog you’d do pretty well to get a Journeyman relic and swap the plastics for 3rd party nitrate
I just got a custom shop strat and it looks just like your first sunburst you showed. As long as you stay away from heavy relic and more
I like relic'd guitars but I agree that the wear is over the top. I view them as faux aged 'art' guitars, "historical fiction" almost. Yes we all love SRV and Rory Gallagher's Strat's beat to heck and worn of all their sunburst finish right down the wood. But they are the exception. Rory sweat excessively, and SRV stood on his guitar with cowboy boots on. So there! Haha.. I saw a Crosby Stills and Nash concert on TV in the year or so right before they all feuded and broke up. Steven Stills played both a relic'd sunburst Strat and a real vintage sunburst one. You could really tell which was which. I just feel the faux aging never looks natural enough for me. The paint edges never feather out from where the paint meets natural wood, the lines in the paint checking are always too even and exact. The wear down to bear wood on the back of the neck is never as smooth. Also each and every worn guitar tells a story about the guy who played it, ya know? Unless you have the custom shop map out where your arm rubs, or your guitar pick scrapes across the finish, it will never look like natural wear that you yourself put in the guitar. If you play just chords low on the neck but there is wear high on the neck in the lead position how did that get there? Heh heh.. You see? I do like it and it looks cool, And given the money I'd buy one for sure, but I do have to admit it does not look natural and always looks overdone, even with newer more accurate techniques. I look as them as "art', with wear on steroids, not genuine age marks from a real players years of use. Still cool with me though!
As you mentioned, a lot of it has to do with consumer demand. I’m sure you know the dealers order the relic style from Fender based on what they’re seeing sell. It isn’t as though Fender is just cranking out heavy relics and pushing them on dealers. But you can find plenty more authentic relics from Fender. Look at Wildwood Guitars, or WildWest Guitars for a wider range of relic styles. Wildwood even introduced what they call the Wildwood 10 which is like “relic ready”. But the heavy relics seem to stand out. As someone who has a bunch of custom shop strats, I like the heavy relic look. I’m not looking for “authenticity” per se, but something that appeals to me. And for that it’s the heavy relic. Not every strat I have is heavy relic’d, but quite a few are. I get what you’re saying about the headstock and the amber. I think I have one or two with what you could say are overly amber, but it doesn’t bother me.
I think I should also mention that people can order a Fender Custom shop to their specifications. So if you want a more authentic look you can request that. You don’t have to buy an “off the shelf” relic job.
You or the dealer can specify -for example- the degree of tint when ordering. Never cared for that orangy look. Had an American Vintage '57 once and after some time the neck tint reminded me of the cheddar they use at McDonalds. Ironically, the mexican version of that exact same model had a way more pleasant looking and feeling maple neck. Poly of course.
Lol this is hilarious re: headstock .. makeup….mines never been altered .. I’m gonna have a closer look & A/B to a relic
Interesting you bring the point up about relics sounding and feeling better - for whatever reasons - as I've noticed this whenever I've played ones in a A/B situation. Like you say Rhett Schull has covered this in a very interesting vid and in case people not seen Andertons music shop here in the UK recently commissioned a limited edition batch of Strats and Teles for their 60th Anniversary that have all the aspects of a relic'd custom shop except for the "damage" so they look like brand new guitars but feel old.
Fender was the first to start intentionally relic’ing new guitars in mid 1995 under the supervision of Vince Cunetto. I have a ‘97 Cunetto Strat. I think the wear on that one is a bit extreme. I also have a Masterbuilt ‘51 Broadcaster that looks like something my father would have left me if he had been a gigging musician and this was his main guitar. It’s perfect.
So maybe Fender should have 2 major categories of relics, one that strives for historically accurate aging and wear, and others where the instrument is reliced for purely aesthetic reasons. I guess as always, the bottom line is whatever sells.
Instead of artificially aging guitars, they should invest in better pickups, hardware, pots, et al.
I totally agree with you, their pickups on their Custom Shop, and even on their $10,000 guitars, are catastrophic !
Their pickups on their American Reissue 52s are horrible even though these guitars are already over $2200. Basically, they just work on the aesthetics of the guitars and their "makeup", but the woods are young and green, the microphones and electronics are of very average quality. It's crazy to invest so much money in these ultimately new guitars.
If you want a quality built Fender, buy a PRS.
@@richardjohnson8546 I already have 6 including a fantastic 305 !
I agree. I have a 2019 60’s road worn Strat and I would consider it one of the “good” ones. Not too over the top. One thing that bothers me though are the dimples by the input jack. Who misses the input jack that often and that badly?
I love the spray tan analogy. I bought a roasted pine jazz bass 2years ago and the neck even the fingerboard and frets have that spray tan look and it’s not a vintage model .
Jeff Senn and Danocasters look much more realistic. Revelator too.
As a long time fender loving bass player, I’d have to say my fav would be the “road worn” MIM P and J basses from a few years back. 2016 era. That’s just enough relic in my humble opinion. Some of these are overkill.
Had a 2014 '64 L series Strat for a while that I picked up pretty cheap. Relic finish was awful. Like egg shell. Looked unfinished. Reckon I could have picked it off with my nail. So I flattened off the finish and had it lightly buffed. It looked 100 times better. Have seen several like it since from the same period. Mid 2000's were pretty good. The CC and NOS finishes from that period aren't bad.
My '07 Custom Shop 65 Time Machine Stratocaster is about right on for what you'd expect if you could literally time travel and pick one up back in the day. I agree, things are looking more artificially and over glamorized version of the vintage instruments. Too much "what if" and not enough "what should" because we usually want the stuff that came out back then, not what became of after 10 years of playing every day for hours in a cigarette smoke filled dive bar.
What's next? Amps that look as weathered and worn? Pedals? Why is it just guitars?
Seen a company/vendor on Etsy who offered Boss pedals relic'd. They just did the classics like the DS-1, OD-1, CE-2 and DM-2 with the rubber pedal all frayed and the paint all worn away or chipped off.
I want a relic cable, strap and pick. ⚒️
Fender has been doing “Relic” amps for years in very limited quantities. There have been Fender Custom Shop Relic amps and Fender Special Run Relic amps made in Mexico. I’ve got a FSR Blues Junior Relic Tweed. I bought it used in 2009. It was a very limited run from 2006 or 2007.
There are also other companies that offer it as an option.
I’ve been a fan of Relics since the very beginning of Fender Custom Shop Relics in 1995 (I wonder if they have anything special planned for the 30th anniversary). I’m honestly surprised that Fender has never offered Relic cases except on some the exact replicas of famous guitars. Gibson, on the other hand, does sell an aged Lifton case.
“Bizarre makeup” so true!
Years ago a few dents and dings were a badge of honor for we journeymen touring players. These road worn copies are simply posing and not particularly authentic looking.
Relics are a weird fantasy. I’m a relic. I take a shower, comb my hair, wear a clean t-shirt, and try to look presentable. I have a guitar my parents bought for me in the 60s that looks pretty darn clean.
Oh … I recently looked at loads of Custom Shops to use my retirement funds and decided to get a brand new G&L Comanche in poly for 20% of the price.
It is like selling cubic zirconia alongside diamonds to the public. The wood isn’t, but just looks like it’s older. Obviously to trick others into thinking it’s vintage with qualities one might want. Saw 2-3 at Chicago Music Exchange last weekend. Confused as to who would buy it other than a poser.
I understand the case against relic guitars... we used to call these factory defects or B-stock guitars that were sold at a discount. I personally don't care either way. I'll dent, ding, chip a new guitar in no time anyways.
I think their journeyman level relic looks good. Similar to my vintage pieces I’ve had. Much heavier and it can look kind of fake
Whether you like or not I thought it was clear that FCS is not trying to replicate natural wear in a guitar. You take Mayer black one (which is artificially wore down), Rory’s guitar, or SRV I mean I think we can all agree that very few vintage guitar wear like that. I think fender is not going for something natural it’s some sort of new artistic abstract concept. I dig it in some cases and not in some.
I think it’s more the case of Fender seeing you coming.
Gosh I’ve always had zero interest in relic(ing)… however I am kind of interested in the Vintage 2 line … the 60 Strat …I would prob do all sorts of mods including using Harmonic Design Vintage + pu’s. This would be so I don’t have to take my real 60 out on gigs anymore .. been playing that since 72.
One of the worst examples of Fender taking relicing too far was when they released the Terry Kath Telecaster. They based it on the condition the original was in some 40 years after his death and stored in less that optimal conditions. All of the hardware was heavily corroded, considerably more than it was when Terry was playing it just prior to his death.
ThTs absurd and wrong
@@JohnFraserFindlay Tell me about it. That's why I didn't purchase one, along with the outrageous price.
Fender would currently rather sell you a branded hat and a tee shirt, than a well built guitar.
I know I’m weird because I prefer the G&L and Heritage headstock shapes, but that comes with being satisfied by those brands and underwhelmed by Fender and Gibson I guess.
In certain conditions some lacquer blonde or butterscotch will fade to dark brown or "Caramel", I have a Yamaha mike stern signature that totally trun into a Caremel color if the guitar is exposed a lot in the sunlight, while the humidity is high, like the general weather in Singapore.so if a relic strat neck turns more brown or dark, its possible, but yeah fender cs relic really goes too far, i have never seen any natural aging strat has that much paint go rip off around the pickguard,🤣its so unreal,yeah i would say nowdays a ultra heavy relic is more kinda of "art" or a way of guitar surface finish taste to catch peoples eye(just like tyler finish)rather than getting close to a nature aging guitar.
Tom Anderson said roasting necks has zero impact on tone btw
Guitarists are the only musicians that purposely damage their instruments. Bizarre concept.
Is like buying a pair of jeans with too many holes and acid wash everywhere
How about the pickup covers that look like old yellowed computer parts.
Taste aside, relic guitars sell. If they didn't sell, Fender/Nash/Gibson/etc... wouldn't make them. Have they gone too far, depends on your taste.
It is crazy to think that anyone could not see how obviously gay it is to buy an expensive relic’d guitar!
I fully agree with you mate, Fender have gone too far. Some look comical with the colour/aging of the wood.
I think it's mostly for conformable playing and the look. That's all 😊 idk lol I'm not sure if their going for historical accurate maybe just I nece looking guitar or a "what if" approach.
The emperor’s new clothes
We can't see the guitars you are talking about! Also, maybe they are trying to make them unique on purpose.
I like their journeyman relic and Wildwood's relic ready series but never been a fan of the hardcore relic's.
I don't get the whole relic thing anyway.
Some of the maple necks have black paint to make them look darker. Looks terrible
All a gimmick to sell guitars using less than quality material. I love my old Fender, inherited!
Paying for aging is just not for me. Willie didn’t pay, he just played the same guitar for 100 years. It’s not gonna make you play better or look cooler imo.
57 Custom Shop Strat with new Donald Trump headstock!
I think they have gone overboard.
Answer: Yes. They have made 'factory distressed' guitars that have perfect finely created finishes that have been completely, deliberately destroyed on the 'Relic' altar of commerce and that lack any resemblance to the original 'new' vintage makes and models. They are purely and simply ugly to my eyes. Some leave me screaming 'How can you do this to a NEW guitar?'...AND demand a premium price? Most, if not all, of those 'heavy relics' I've seen on Reverb should(after removing the electronics) should go into a wood chipper. Horrible, tasteless, fraudulent, phony worn finishes. It's a disgrace. End of rant. Thank you.
So what do you really think about the guitars mentioned in this interesting video? I mean could this be possible they grow on you etc?
100%
Some sort of flu? Gotcha 😅
Not the cocktail flu.
I never liked relic'd guitars. A guitar will always sound better without finish than with. Why not buy one without finish if you are about tone? If it is about looks then it is another thing. Relic'd guitars are like having girlfriends with fake boobs. If you like that kinda thing then go with it. I like everything natural.
At least fender once made something original, and didn’t steal designs and try to pass it off as their own
Unlike you 🤷🏻♂️
Maybe they're trying to compete with Trump guitars yuk yuk
Ha! I don't recall seeing a "relic" in that product line.
It is just dumb