Non-Fender relic replicas - who builds them?

[Stringkiller]

ANother builder is NASH in the US
http://www.nashguitars.com/
Klapmman in Germany
http://proguitar.de/
Most good Guitar builders can do you a Fender or Gibson Custom Shop relic
Look at Slash - he relaunched the Les Paul with one that wasn't even a Gibson but one was was built by Chris Deering (I thought there was also some Max guy who also did him another LP but can't remember)
http://www.slashsworld.com/equipment/59-les-paul-replica-built-by-chris-derrig/
Telecasters - Paisley Teles 
Brad Paisley has his built by Crook
http://www.crookcustomguitars.com/

Also the first Fender relics were assembled by Fender but the relicing was done by Vince Cunetto
from 95 to 99 - if you have one of these hold on to it as the are only about 4,500 and they are going up in value unlike the large number of Custom Shop product from Gibson and Fender as seen by prices on Ebay and such.
http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000068.html

Bruce Stringkiller
PS Thanks for the Haar link

[FernandoDuarte]

Slash had two '59 copies before the Gibson '87, one build by Max and the other by Deering

[Will]

Derrig wasn't it?

[snakehips]

I'd never heard of McGuire before but I've just been checking out the ones on V & R's site and they look amazing!  Maybe not quite Bravewood level, but minus the long waiting list and intimidation factor! 

And the prices are (relatively speaking) very cheap.

Anyone got any more info about them?  A website?

Hello - I'm new here - seems a good place to be!

I found the forum when looking for info on a McGuire Tele I played in Vintage and Rare, Denmark Street London. Didn't find much at all, but had to buy the beauty! I was in the market for a Nash, and fortunately, V&G had not only a custom Tele, but a 52 blackguard tele too for direct comparison.







There was really no contest between the two in a head to head, the McGuire:

- played amazingly well - the best Tele I've ever had my hands on
- sounded alive and very resonant
- had a fantastic tonal range between (Lollar) pickups
- light at 7lb
- looked awesome - totally authentic/belivable.

Nothing 'wrong' with the Nash, still a great buy and £200 cheaper. Having played two Nash Strats and the Tele, I was a little disappointed with the feel/look of the fingerboard, a little flat and 'new' feeling. The finish wasn't totally believable either. I haven't seen a Nash '52, but it looks from photos that Bill manages a more authentic look on those.

However, with the McGuire, I feel like I now have a bona fide '52 - it's a little unsettling after all those years of lusting after one! I can only describe it as similar to when you look at a hologram - you know it's flat really! The fingerboard is rolled and feels played-in though the fretboard wear is a touch too much for my taste, but not a problem.

Lastly, I tried my ear to the body test! I don't know whether others do this, but it gives a great representation of resonance and tone transfer. I plucked a spring and the attack was immediate, transparent and very loud.

Yes, I like my new purchase!

[Twinfan]

Congratulations on the McGuire  :)  Yours in the exact guitar I played - I remember the 'stand' marks on the bottom edge of the body either side of the end pin.

Sorry if my earlier comments re. your guitar's tone offend you in any way  :oops:  But if we all liked the same thing the world would be a boring place, and you wouldn't have that guitar  ;)

[snakehips]

No, not at all! blimey, that's why I'm here, just giving another person's view that's all! Your comments seemed very complimentary...

I think I know you from the Tokai Forum? I spend most of my time there banging on about japanese vintage guitars - but I couldn't find a Tele in the McGuire's league - there's a pic on my (hobby!) website at www.plankspankers.co.uk  I'll put the McGuire up there too when I get a chance.

Cheers

[Twinfan]

Yep, I go on the Tokai forum from time to time  :)

Your McGuire is a very nice guitar  ;)

[Philly Q]

Blimey, that looks good.  Much better than a Nash, although I can only judge by pictures.

[AndyR]

I can't see the pics yet (at work) - but I think I might have handled it as well. Was a bit too relic'd for me but the lady tells me the McGuires have varying degrees of relic...

But I'm not buying.
No.
Honest.
Even though I've put in enough overtime for 1/3 of one in the last month and will each month for the foreseeable future...
No.
I'm not biting...

(someone shut me up)

Welcome to the forum anyway :D

[snakehips]

...I just had to buy it, I walked away and tortured myself with the thought over the weekend, but come Monday, that was it, up on the train to Tottenham Court Road.

After quite a few internet purchases, including several japanese vintage guitars, it was nice to get that 'magic' feeling when you just have to have it!

I read that someone here finds V&R intimidating - yes I agree, but my McGuire was in prime showroom position on show so I felt pretty good returning there and taking it off the stand. I reckon any relic has to be good at V&R to stand comparison with any number of real oldies.

On the degree of relic - well I'm with Bill Nash on that (ref his Tonequest interview), the less paint and lacquer there is, the better it'll sound. So it needs to look pretty beat up to sound at it's best!

[AndyR]

^ I think that was me snakehips - "V&R intimidating" - probably earlier in this thread... it's changed slightly since then :D

I finally went in to look at the McGuires - and yep, I can see the pics now, your tele is one of the ones I handled. I'd never actually been in there before, and found it wasn't at all like I'd imagined from the outside.

I went back a few weeks ago and "accidentally" bought a resonator. They're very relaxed in there - no pressure at all. I must have spent 2 hours playing 3 or 4, decided on the one for me if I was buying, but felt I needed to have a think, speak to the missus, etc. They probably knew I was going to buy it, but they said "no problem, go have a coffee, we'll put it aside..."

Lovely shop...

Nice tele by the way :D

[Philly Q]

^ I think that was me snakehips - "V&R intimidating" - probably earlier in this thread... it's changed slightly since then :D

I still find it intimidating... I hardly dare even look in the window.

[AndyR]

^ I think that was me snakehips - "V&R intimidating" - probably earlier in this thread... it's changed slightly since then :D

I still find it intimidating... I hardly dare even look in the window.

It's only intimidating in the "damage it might do to your wallet" Philly :lol: - the place itself and the staff are very friendly. There are clear prices on everything, they'll let you touch anything, leave you to pick up and put down (and, er, knock over :roll:) anything, retune anything, etc... I've got a feeling they'd even start offering you tea and buns and somewhere to lie down for a bit if you started looking serious about a real 57 strat and a real 62 strat in one shopping bag!

Nothing like, say, Tiffany's in Bond Street - ever been in there? I had dough to spend (possibly even enough!), and a reason for spending, but I walked in, wandered around, and ran away again...

[Twinfan]

I agree with Andy - V&R is one of the nicest guitar shops I've ever been in.  It was almost a pleasure parting with two guitars and a bundle of cash when I was in there!  :lol:

[Philly Q]

Nothing like, say, Tiffany's in Bond Street - ever been in there? I had dough to spend (possibly even enough!), and a reason for spending, but I walked in, wandered around, and ran away again...

I once had to do some work at a jewellers in Bond Street (and fell for a lovely French girl who worked there, but that's another story  ).  It was ridiculous, you had to ring the bell just to get into the shop and there was some big security bloke who watched you the whole time.

Anyway, I'm sure V&R isn't that intimidating really, but I always feel a bit of a fraud in guitar shops because I'm not a proper guitar player.  And because their stuff is so very nice and expensive, it brings out that feeling tenfold...