skankdelvar Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Is it my imagination or am I seeing fewer reliced instruments out there? Fewer manufacturers offering 'road worn' options? A shortage of eBay chancers with belt sanders? Just wondering. Eek. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnyman Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 It can only be a good thing in my view. A genuine patina of use is one thing. Taking a sander to a perfectly good bass almost smacks of sharp practice.... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 Not even particularly the cack-handed belt-sander approach. Like I say, maybe it's just me but relic-ing (even high end expert stuff) seems to be less visible and talked about than in recent history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 I don't mind it at the light, subtle end of things, like the Gibson VOS models, but if the more extreme examples are falling out of favour I'm OK with this trend! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Never been a fan. A proper time-served, well gigged bass maybe. I've always tried to look after my kit and mostly it is in decent condition. The odd knock is inevitable, and something that has been played for hundreds of hours may show some signs of wear. However something that looks like it's been run over by a tractor is just "fake news" and trying too hard. All imho of course 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 What would you do with this Maya P-Bass (other than put it on eBay as an overpriced 'lawsuit era Japanese bass')? I've added ashtray and a new scratchplate since this picture and they look great, but the lacquer has cracked and flaked really badly in several places, not just te two spots in the picture. In a few places I glued great chunks of lacquer back on with PVA! It's tempting to crack off the broken lacquer and sand the holes smooth to get a relicked look... the alternative would be a complete respray which might be beyond my skills or more than the bass is worth. To relic or not to relic. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 The Real McCoy...why mess with it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 3 minutes ago, Norris said: Never been a fan. A proper time-served, well gigged bass maybe. I've always tried to look after my kit and mostly it is in decent condition. The odd knock is inevitable, and something that has been played for hundreds of hours may show some signs of wear. However something that looks like it's been run over by a tractor is just "fake news" and trying too hard. All imho of course ^ This^ As someone who has always looked after my gear, I just do not get the relic thing - at all. Don't get me wrong, my own basses show many signs of years of gigging, but to deliberately 'damage' a bass to make it look used just does absolutely nowt for me 🤔 Just my opinion 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 6 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: To relic or not to relic. If it happened naturally it's mojo. It's up to you if you leave it, or sand the edges to minimise any more loss of lacquer, or even to have it refinished My guitarist has a 70s strat that he played hard for about 3 decades. It has lost most of the lacquer from the top horn. Natural wear and tear. Of course it's now far too valuable to play down the Dog & Duck... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyP Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 I like to have a clean, new looking bass that can age in its own time. It's a bit like those folk who pay lots of money for jeans that have holes ripped in them. What's the point? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Yep, it’s still a thing. I like it, and they are around. Its just a finish, not sure why there is so much ire about it especially whilst turdburst still lives on, it’s not pretending to be anything, unless we also think burst is deliberately trying to look like the Bristol Stool Chart 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 21 minutes ago, Norris said: If it happened naturally it's mojo. It's up to you if you leave it, or sand the edges to minimise any more loss of lacquer, or even to have it refinished The problem is the edges of the flaking lacquer stick up and if I pick it off it's going to look like that patch at the bottom. Temptation is to pick it off then sand down the edges, but then it will look like a bad relic job! Trouble is I don't play it enough to wear it down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 1 hour ago, skankdelvar said: Not even particularly the cack-handed belt-sander approach. Like I say, maybe it's just me but relic-ing (even high end expert stuff) seems to be less visible and talked about than in recent history. If you mean 'we don't seem to have had our weekly relic thread (up until this one), then it may be true. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 48 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: If you mean 'we don't seem to have had our weekly relic thread (up until this one), then it may be true. I must have missed some of the more recent relic threads. Just idly wondering if the phenomenon might be waning in popularity. Perhaps not... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: What would you do with this Maya P-Bass ... the lacquer has cracked and flaked really badly in several places, not just te two spots in the picture. In a few places I glued great chunks of lacquer back on with PVA! It's tempting to crack off the broken lacquer and sand the holes smooth to get a relicked look My old poly-coated 3TSB '71 P (which reappeared in the Marketplace recently) had some very rough flaking around the upper bout. So your Maya is technically correct. Smoothing the cracked lacquer would technically make it less 'authentic' and more 'improved'. Anyway, nice Maya Edited March 5, 2019 by skankdelvar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Professional luthiers can achieve light relics accurately and tastefully. Once you go medium or heavy relic that's where it all goes astray IMHO. I've had light relic nitro finish done on a vintage Fender that came to me in a non-Fender colour. That for me is as far as you should go. I love the heavy relic look but only when it's real. Peace Davo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 I reliced my bass and comments were generally favourable which means I did a reasonable job. I didn’t do it wanting approval but validation is nice. It was a heavy relic job - it’s a finish just like any other, I give you the recent Matt finishes from fender 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on finishes, that’s cool. Broadly speaking, they that don’t like a relic finish, don’t seem to mind one which has ‘earnt’ its relic with natural wear. Lets take classic basses out the equation - you have 2 identical models up for sale second hand let’s say about 10 years old - 1 home use only, looking as it did from the shop, the other patina’d and mojo’d to the max - but not abused, and well looked after electronics, frets everything etc. Should there be a price differential? Would those that like an earned mojo try to knock money off for wear and tear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy515 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Nothing beats 25 years natural wear on a 25 year old bass - my Squier Japenese Silver Series. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 10 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: This for me is the worst kind of relicing. Thomann had two of these until fairly recently, but now have only one, which leads me to conclude that someone has actually bought the other one. The remaining one (below) is priced at just under £13,000 and that is much reduced from what they were originally. I assume this price drop resulted in the sale. I love me a Fodera, but that's just criminal. I can understand some wear above the lowest string cos that's where your fingers would fall to after plucking but under normal playing circumstances, how would the area between the G string and the edge get so badly worn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 2 minutes ago, jacko said: I can understand some wear above the lowest string cos that's where your fingers would fall to after plucking but under normal playing circumstances, how would the area between the G string and the edge get so badly worn? Slapping whilst wearing a chain mail glove. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolando Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 (edited) Here's a relic Jazz I recently put together! Loads of fun spraying this, getting a perfect finish then hitting with things ! haha Oh the wood underneath will eventually be a coffee table! Edited March 6, 2019 by Dolando 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 5 minutes ago, Low End Bee said: Slapping whilst wearing a chain mail glove. prompted me to look at some pictures of victor wooten and his fodera is indeed worn in that area. Can't think of any other players damaging their instruments that badly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 11 minutes ago, jacko said: I can understand some wear above the lowest string cos that's where your fingers would fall to after plucking but under normal playing circumstances, how would the area between the G string and the edge get so badly worn? Or the studs on your forehead when you are playing with your teeth... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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