'51 Nocaster NOS vs. Nocaster Relic

[wyclif]

A fellow Fender fan and player was over at my place last weekend and admired my '51 Nocaster NOS so much that he's contemplating getting one of the new ones from the CS.

He asked me whether he should look at the Relic version. Now, usually I take a dim view of the whole "relic" trend and I know many of you do as well.

I told him that a year ago I had seen a Relic version and I wasn't impressed. The body of the guitar was actually very well done but when I looked at the fretboard the "wear" didn't look like a convincing imitation of normal play wear at all. For one thing, they did the fretboard relic all up and down the fretboard. Now, if you've seen a really old Tele that's just not how they look. The wear is almost always greater on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fret positions low on the neck (near the headstock) because that's where most guitarists play on the neck the most.

So, instead of trying to steer my friend away from the Relic and toward the NOS, and at the risk of splitting hairs, I thought I'd open it up and ask what the mind of TDPRI is on this subject for those who own, play, or have seen these Nocasters.

[NickDanger]

I have one of each. They both sound fantastic. The NOS feels like a new guitar, the relic feels like an old one.

[vanguard]

i own one of each. i like the feel of the back of the neck better on the relic, i like the overall sound better of the NOS.

[akukulich]

I've got a '51 Nocaster Relic, but that wasn't necessarily by design. I got it because I liked it, not because it was or wasn't a relic. Given a choice, not sure what way I'd go.

[Encinitastubes]

I have an NOS, a closet classic, and a heavy relic. The biggest difference is that the heavy relic feels like it has a shaved neck and has fat frets. Other than that, I wouldn't say that any difference has anything to do with the relicing. All three sound slightly different, weigh slightly differently, and have slightly different neck shapes. They are each excellent. I, too, was not a big fan of relicing, but really prefer the feel of the shaved neck. Also, with the closet classic and NOS, I find myself wondering when the first nick is going to occur. With the the heavy relic, I can use it has a foot stool, baseball bat, or sledge hammer and I don't worry too much about it. I say find a used one that you like and go with it.

[wyclif]

What exactly is the difference between an NOS and a closet classic in terms of features?

[stephenyi]

I have a NOS Nocaster but have already begun to relic it on my own. I hope with some more paint chips and dings, I will increase the resale value to that of a Nocaster relic model.

[Alex W]

I have a NOS Nocaster and I prefer that to a relic. That said, every relic Nocaster I've ever played was really nice.

[Rolling Estonian]

I have not played a nocaster that I didn't love, NOS or relic. Not a relic fan but they're really, really nice. Maybe one day but I got a Taylor to get first.

M

[soulman969]

Originally Posted by wyclif

What exactly is the difference between an NOS and a closet classic in terms of features?

None. The Closet Classic (like mine) is just and gently aged version of your NOS. It's intended to look the way a 51 Nocaster would look if was played little and stored in the closet in it's case most of it's life. Hence the name.

[EsquireOK]

I guess it depends on him. I would go for the NOS over the Relic every single time, if there was a choice. When it comes to reissues, I want to receive the guitar as if it was new back the '50's or '60's, and have it break in over time from my own playing wear. Even if I wanted a Relic, I would get the NOS, and have someone like Mark Jenny do the relic work, after having played it for a few years. That way he could see where and how my natural wear was occurring before he took the bike chain to it. His relic work looks 100X better than Fender's in my opinion. A lot of the Relics Fender is making look really bad to my eyes. Not only that, but they can be remarkably similar guitar to guitar. I saw three Relic Teles, same exact model, same exact paint job, in a local shop one time, and the wear on all three of them looked near identical (and none of it all that realistic).

[blackkeys]

I own a 2000 Nocaster Relic. One of the best Nocasters I had - and I had 4 included a Master Built but this one stays.

[Twang Tone]

The Relic will feel better for sure, but really, it's down to him.

My Nocaster is a 2006 Closet Classic and for me, it's Perfection. Why? Because I was never that keen on Heavy Relics and the NOS looks too new. So the CC is the bowl of Porridge that is Just Right!

Thanks,

[johnthatcher]

Originally Posted by NickDanger

I have one of each. They both sound fantastic. The NOS feels like a new guitar, the relic feels like an old one.

^^^^^^

[Mur]

I relic'd a Closet Classic and it looks and feels old.
.

[wyclif]

Originally Posted by EsquireOK

A lot of the Relics Fender is making look really bad to my eyes. Not only that, but they can be remarkably similar guitar to guitar. I saw three Relic Teles, same exact model, same exact paint job, in a local shop one time, and the wear on all three of them looked near identical (and none of it all that realistic).

For me it's specifically the fretboard jobs that are the issue. Fender CS relics them as if the owner played equally all up and down the neck, but almost nobody plays like that, not even jazz guitarists. To look realistic, most of the wear should be within the 1st or 2nd chord positions, i.e. the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th frets. It should look like the natural oils and salts from the player's left hand discoloured the fretboard finish. It shouldn't look like somebody bike chained or chipped the finish off the fretboard. The relicing they do on the body and the back of the neck looks OK to me, but the fretboard work doesn't look right at all.

[imsilly]

If you are buying a guitar based on the position of the neck wear you are doing it wrong.

Relic or not isn't an issue, just buy the best feeling and sounding guitar you can no matter the label.

[TeleTown]

I own both! Relic first NOS #2. I go for feel & tone.

[xtrajerry]

Always liked the Closet Classics but I was sort of anti heavy relic until I saw my crimson double bound.. It's a limited run, was told it was one of 5.. Not sure if I believe that but it looks like real wear and called out to me.

[telex76]

I've got an NOS Nocaster, only because I got a deal I couldn't pass up.
I much prefer the Relic just because of the way it feels.