prowla Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Will the current trend for taking mediocre instruments and relic-ing them ever end? I get the feeling that a few years down the road it'll be a bit like grown up folks wishing they'd never had that tattoo on their left butt cheek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platypus Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I hear ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Never seen the point. Age and wear = mojo. Relicing does not confer mojo.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Each to their own but definitely not a fan of it. A lot of it seems unnatural and aimed incorrectly for starters. On the upper horn, how is that even possible to do that naturally? [IMG]http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m225/abe_ritt/IMG_1253.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I don't see the point. It's like buying a mediocre priced car then ran sand paper and wire brush through it and knock the bonnet and wheels here and there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I've never understood the appeal of them, but there's no doubt they're very popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1487021968' post='3236368'] Never seen the point. Age and wear = mojo. Relicing does not confer mojo.. [/quote] This. I can see that Jaco would have a battered instrument as he'd been playing it for years and he "earned" the right to look credible with it. Most folk with a relic simply look like they don't look after their things. I certainly don't get the look of the battered body and pristine neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 [quote name='SH73' timestamp='1487022259' post='3236379'] I don't see the point. It's like buying a mediocre priced car then ran sand paper and wire brush through it and knock the bonnet and wheels here and there! [/quote] Google 'rat look vw' but have a sick bag ready...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I'm not a fan but I have a battered USA SUB and it gets all the gigs where damage is possible and it's liberating not having to worry too much about getting another ding. The Strat above is unbelievable - how would that level of wear ever occur naturally? Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danuman Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I know I shouldn't let it bother me... ...but it irks me in the same way pitch-corrected vocals do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 [quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1487022659' post='3236390'] Google 'rat look vw' but have a sick bag ready...... [/quote] Not as sick looking as some of the basses I see here. At least the rusty looking vw doesn't get nicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 (edited) . Edited February 13, 2017 by SH73 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Pre-aged is just a pose, really. Buy a bass, gig it for a while and it will pick its own genuine character from the knocks and bumps it will inevitably get. Relicing is just fake, so people can pretend they've been using the thing for decades even if they bought it new on the way to the gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 [quote name='SH73' timestamp='1487023522' post='3236400'] Not as sick looking as some of the basses I see here. At least the rusty looking vw doesn't get nicked. [/quote] Not by anyone who can see anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Interesting to see no love for relic'd basses so far. I've never seen the point but they are popular. I always think that buckle rash is a fail myself. But each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 It's a bloody stupid fad IMO. Imagine trying to sell that strat shown above in the sales section !! Instant mojo ?? instant ar$3hole more like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Hmmm, just about to receive a Sandberg MarloweDK. I think Sandberg does probably the best and most natural relic, and they age the wood a little, who knows how much difference it makes, but i tell you what from what i have heard and read its not an excuse for a crap bass, its a quality bass that happens to look like its done the business Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Cuzzie The Sandberg will be no slouch. Plus if you still have it in 20 year time it'll look good as new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 (edited) Ive got an old, fairly faithful sunburst Precision copy (it's a 1978 Aria Primary...look it up). It was in a shocking state when I got it and I pretty much resurrected it from the scrapheap. It owes me next to nothing. It was covered in dings, so I've made a point of contributing to those every time it leaves the house. I'll scrap it along something, knock it against something. So from that perspective, I like how it looks. It doesn't look artificial; it's already nearly 40 years old and it looks its age. I just put a Delano pickup in and, dinging aside, it gets more TLC and attention than the rest of my guitars put together. It sounds monster. I'm sure if it could speak, it would be croaking, 'Thank you.' [Edit] Sorry it was late and I forgot to add this. Relicing, for me, only looks decent on Fender-style basses, but yes, there's too much of it. Ultimately, makers are in business for one reason and if making battered around instruments makes them money, then so be it. It's a phase. Like pointy headstocks. Edited February 14, 2017 by NancyJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I never liked them, still don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I must confess to being an owner of a lightly reliced Limelight. Anything like that Strat above is far too much. (Unless you are in a Rory Gallagher tribute band) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1487021968' post='3236368'] Never seen the point. Age and wear = mojo. Relicing does not confer mojo.. [/quote] Another +1 to this. Just don't get it at all. A complete mystery to me why anyone would consider an artificially worn instrument to be a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 It's just another finish option at the end of the day. I personally really like the look of an old, worn sunburst and maple P-bass and I do have a sunburst and maple P but being a poly finish it's unlikely to ever age that way naturally so a relic job may be the only way to get that look. However, I couldn't bring myself to intentionally damage it that way so I'll just have to keep taking proper care of it I guess . Generally though I think it's interesting that it bothers some people at all (obviously if it was done to mislead a potential buyer in some way then I get that completely) but nobody seems to question refinishing an old instrument to restore it to an as-new appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 [quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1487026170' post='3236446'] Hmmm, just about to receive a Sandberg MarloweDK. I think Sandberg does probably the best and most natural relic, and they age the wood a little, who knows how much difference it makes, but i tell you what from what i have heard and read its not an excuse for a crap bass, its a quality bass that happens to look like its done the business [/quote] "Age the wood a little". Are you sure? The wood was 100+ years old when they cut the tree down. So, how many years do they manage to add? It's ok. I appreciate you mean they stain it a bit to give it a different look. I saw an ad once for a "Fender Road worn in mint condition". seemed to me he'd missed the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 The fortunate thing about the free market is if you don't like something you don't have to buy it. I'm not really sure what the point of this thread is, how can you be bored of something completely unrelated to you? Unless you mean you have one & don't like it any more? I've never owned a pre-reliced instrument but I wouldn't rule one out. I've played on a few recently & the necks have been incredible - the comfiest I've ever played. The other benefit is it stops you being precious about little knocks & dings - those of us in heavier bands know how easy it is for other people to scratch your gear when playing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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