Relicing - how much is too much?

[nfe]

Well there you go. I'd have guessed left.

[shobet]

Yeah, but I have to ask if Phily and Jonny have some prior knowledge as to which was which, I suspect Phily does as he named the artist. 

If we had an unknown original and a relic based on that, it would be a better test.

[hunter]

So which of these is the real 60s strat and which is the relic?

The one on the right is Philip Sayce's early '60s Strat!

The left one looks better though ;)

[Philly Q]

Yeah, but I have to ask if Phily and Jonny have some prior knowledge as to which was which, I suspect Phily does as he named the artist. 

If we had an unknown original and a relic based on that, it would be a better test.

I did have prior knowledge of course.  :lol:

Without it, I'd probably have said they look equally good and equally authentic.  Which is unusual, because generally I think the Relics with huge patches of bare wood look pretty phoney.  Rory Gallagher and Philip Sayce apart, not many people have Strats which have lost most of their paint!

[PhilKing]

I've had a Nash before (I sold it for a friend who had died), and don't think they are anywhere near the same as a Bravewood.  Nash ages stock parts and seems to go a bit overboard, whereas John makes everything from scratch and so can do some work before spraying. 

The real answer on if it is too aged though, is how do you feel about it?

[Jonny]

Yeah, but I have to ask if Phily and Jonny have some prior knowledge as to which was which, I suspect Phily does as he named the artist. 

If we had an unknown original and a relic based on that, it would be a better test.

I knew $%&# all about them, lol

[gordiji]

i'd be looking for a discount as if it was a beaten up car,i've no problem  with something beat up
after 40 yrs or more gigging but to beat it up intentionally is dumb, esp for the price some of them command. it
really reflects the bizzaro world in which we live, imagine your bmw dealer trying to sell you a new car scratched
to pieces for the same price as a new one, or a vintage one in a similar state......you'd laugh at him
relicing is the biggest sales con in the guitarworld!

[ToneMonkey]

It's not a con, it's fashion  :lol:

I don't mind relicing, but there's a very fine line between good and bad....... and it's either very good or very bad.

[Twinfan]

I chose the white Strat on the right without knowing the history.  You can just tell!

[nfe]

i'd be looking for a discount as if it was a beaten up car,i've no problem  with something beat up
after 40 yrs or more gigging but to beat it up intentionally is dumb, esp for the price some of them command. it
really reflects the bizzaro world in which we live, imagine your bmw dealer trying to sell you a new car scratched
to pieces for the same price as a new one, or a vintage one in a similar state......you'd laugh at him
relicing is the biggest sales con in the guitarworld!

People spend massive amounts of money on falsely aged goods of many types all the time.

It's just a finish. There's no difference between a sparkly top, sunburst, stained figured maple or relicing. None whatsoever. You can say it's pretending to be something it's not, but 99% of people who pick up guitars spend all their time playing it pretending they're something they're not, anyway.

[Philly Q]

It's just a finish. There's no difference between a sparkly top, sunburst, stained figured maple or relicing. None whatsoever. You can say it's pretending to be something it's not, but 99% of people who pick up guitars spend all their time playing it pretending they're something they're not, anyway.

^

This is very true.

[Andrew W]

Relicing fascinates me, mostly because of the extraordinarily strong opinions it generates.  I like relics, then again I like old guitars that have been refinished so they look new and I like new guitars that still use paint colours/materials from the 1950s that look new but from another time.  I don't think there's anything scam-like about it, it's just a different aesthetic.   As for the guitar in question I'm not fond of sunburst Teles of any flavour.  The blue Strat on the other hand...mmmm and should I ever find a reliced 1962 Olympic White Strat my credit card will be in big trouble. 

And I completely agree with nfe.

[gwEm]

i do like a well done relic.

i actually thought the strat on the left was the real one, so I guess it goes to show you need a bit of knowledge to tell a good relic apart.

not sure i like look of the guitar which started this thread - but hunter surely knows what *he* likes :)

[WezV]

too much!   and even then its still a cool wall hanging

[Nolly]

I personally love well-relic'd guitars. After I fell madly in love with one of Tim's personal Fender CS Strats (absolutely amazing sound, plus the feel was incredible), he managed to track down an identically specced one from the same batch. Picking it up on Friday, cannot wait. Here's the one, I believe it's also the very same guitar in this thread: http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22548.0