So, how do you guys relic guitars?

[barkley]

I dont think I will ever understand it, but I'm not asking why, I'm asking how.

Do you just drop it alot, or throw rocks at it? Maybe whip out some sandpaper?

Ive seen some almost realistic relics up here recently ('almost' because people generally take care of their guitars and dont let them get that bad) and it made me wonder how its done. Must take a while to make it look convincing

Hope this doesnt sound too patronising

[Old Cane]

Well, I know why and I know how. I'm not a big fan of it either but this really is one topic where a search will flat give you more than you can read at one setting. It's kinda like asking how to make chili. It's only wrong if others laugh at your results.

[tonewoods]

Originally Posted by barkley

I dont think I will ever understand it, but I'm not asking why, I'm asking how.

One of my favorite subjects, period...

(Which is why I hope that this thread doesn't get sidetracked by The Raters (relic haters)...tick tick tick....)

OK, go read this thread...

Lot of good info there...

I love relicing guitars, and if I had to answer your query succinctly, I would say "replicate what time-and-use does to a guitar, only as quickly as you possibly can."

[LennyEdwards]

It would indeed be interesting if people who hate relics just avoided the threads, instead you'll be offered:
I just dont get it...
play it for many hours......
I dont like relics....
why do it man? ....eh, because its my guitar and I wanted it to look like that!
or the best... your a poser

Imagine if the relic fans brought a halt to every shiny new guitar thread?????

Personally a good relic really ticks my box, takes the 'childrens candy' look away, and seeing as 'feel' and 'tone' are subjective, the careful abuse these guitars have had DO offer a subjective improvement to many on both these counts...

If you plan to relic a guitar, there is no 'correct' IMO except when it comes to the neck, fretboard wear is the part that separates most examples... but there is a lot of 'over-cooking' to be seen, depending on individual taste less can be so much more.

good luck and I hope you enjoy your worn finished guitar when complete.

best regards

[birddog01]

I don't dis-like them per se
Don't like them Relic'd by machine and the only other thing I can constructivly ad is unless it is a true relic it lacks real Mojo.

Wally

[tonewoods]

Originally Posted by birddog01

...and the only other thing I can constructivly ad is unless it is a true relic it lacks real Mojo.

Oh, I think there are many instruments being made today that neither you or I would be able to tell the difference, without ripping it apart....

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

It's kinda like asking how to make chili. It's only wrong if others laugh at your results.

So, do you relic your guitars with or without beans?

[robt57]

I just play them, but if I want a rush job, I lend them out.

[imwjl]

My Telecaster: I set it in the guitar stand and go upstairs for lunch.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bad-dog-c...relic-job.html

My HD-28: Years of public jams, events and road trips to cottages divided about equally by its two owners.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by Durtdog

So, do you relic your guitars with or without beans?

Oh, I thought that's what everybody meant when they say they have a bad case of GAS.....

[Bones]

I did mine with an orbital sander, 1/4 sheet sander, Kilz primer, Rustoleum "Painter's Touch", Zinser Bullseye spray shellac and Zinser brush on amber shellac, steel wool, 220,320,400 and 600 sandpaper, razor blades, finger nails, vinegar,salt,chimney soot and elbow grease. Took about 20 hours and the results and process were very satisfying.

[Vulture]

Arizona is the perfect place to do this, it's really easy.

1) Take pickup to get load of gravel, (this is what we use instead of grass for the front yard).
2) Unload gravel, don't sweep out bed.
3) Carefully place guitar in pickup bed.
4) Go exploring in the Arizona desert, (being sure to stop on the way out of town for beer). Ghost towns are good destinations for this.
5) Returning home carefully remove guitar from pickup bed, hose off to remove dust & chunks.
6) Hang dry, this shouldn't take more that 1/2 hour.
7) Tune guitar & check intonation, it's probably fine.

Best Regards,
Arizona Vulture

[telepath]

Maybe theres two schools of thought on relicing

Those who get it.
and
Those who dont get those who get it.

Personally, i'm not a fan of anything too shiny and too new.
Makes me far too concerned with keeping it that way.

I'm not a fan of guitars that look like they have argued with a belt sander and a boat chain neither.

Well done and subtle relicing is all good in my book.
If it looks the part, you look the part - and you can just get on with playing and entertaining, and have less of an nervous affair with the polishing cloth (OCD brand - extra soft..).
But then, each to their own say I.

[tonewoods]

Originally Posted by Vulture

Arizona is the perfect place to do this, it's really easy.

1) Take pickup to get load of gravel, (this is what we use instead of grass for the front yard).
2) Unload gravel, don't sweep out bed.
3) Carefully place guitar in pickup bed.
4) Go exploring in the Arizona desert, (being sure to stop on the way out of town for beer). Ghost towns are good destinations for this.
5) Returning home carefully remove guitar from pickup bed, hose off to remove dust & chunks.
6) Hang dry, this shouldn't take more that 1/2 hour.
7) Tune guitar & check intonation, it's probably fine.

Best Regards,
Arizona Vulture

I actually love gravel for creating wear...

[jrich99]

Ah, yes. Sweet Home Arizona. Pretty nice outside today, actually. Mid to high 60's in my part.

[Codinho]

Play it for 20 years.

[Vulture]

[QUOTE=tonewoods;2227153]I actually love gravel for creating wear...

[/QUOTE

Yes, nicely done.]

[K-Line]

Go slow! That is rule one. You can always add more.....study pictures of what you like and replicate, files, chisels, rocks, screwdrivers, cymbals, edges of tables, etc.

[brookdalebill]

I was once a relic "naysayer".
Then I got my 60' Relic Strat, black with matching headstock.
Best sounding/playing Strat I have ever had.
Light, resonant, "broken in" feeling.
It's moved up the ranks (of 14 guitars) to #2.
It has a couple of fresh ride cymbal dings on the headstock.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Codinho

Play it for 20 years.

unless you get a CS or thin skin, you can play new ones for 30 years and never get any wear on them and if you do it will be big ugly cracks and flakes falling off.