Relic(ing) A Kramer...

[DethConsumer]

Has anyone reliced a guitar?

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2158/focus3000muttgotwqk8.jpg

I have this old Focus 3000 parts mutt that I'm thinking of painting and making it look like an old relic.

If I do this, I'll document it with pictures and post them here. :chainsaw :ninja

[PittJitsu]

I have done it with a few strats. The hardware is easy. soak in muratic acid. knobs and pick guards are soaked in a secrete formula, and The wear on the neck is done with a dremmil tool and a rubber wheel. the body is the easy part, and I find making the back of the neck wear look authentic to be the most difficult part. Certanly post pics when you get going on it!

[flyingvfreak]

Just tie it to the back of your bumper and drag it around the Block a few times :D No that would make a good canidate for a Relic.

[dc_bassman]

Never been a fan of relic-ing...I prefer to play the finish off mine!

[PittJitsu]

So many guys say the same thing, so many relic threads have a little disclaimer that says* please only relicing advice, do not post that I should play it, run it over etc."

I think many people think of relicing as a poser move to pre wear a guitar, thats not really it. If you ever go play a really well worn 50's or 60's guitar, you will feel how comfortable the neck becomes and how nice it sounds with the dried wood and thinned or removed finish. Paint ain't your friend. A neck with rolled edges, no varnish lef on the back, and properly worn frets will no doubt win your heart. Not to say that You should be throwing keys at your guitar or running belt sanders on it, which many do. Some guys leave them on roofs to bleach only to find a warped neck pocket after the first rain. The guy from wasp used to tie the hardware to his motorcycle for a while, thats not really the way either. To me its about making a great sounding and comfortable neck and then making everything else around it look like they belong together. Its more of a practical art project then anything else.

Also The relics that people want are the result of inferior finishes that date way back. they where thin, and peeled and wore easily from sweat, contact and acids. You couldn't wear down a poly finish Kramer to the point of hearing a difference in two lifetimes of daily shredders. thats where the artificial wear helps IMO

[Unhomed]

So many guys say the same thing, so many relic threads have a little disclaimer that says* please only relicing advice, do not post that I should play it, run it over etc."

I think many people think of relicing as a poser move to pre wear a guitar, thats not really it. If you ever go play a really well worn 50's or 60's guitar, you will feel how comfortable the neck becomes and how nice it sounds with the dried wood and thinned or removed finish. Paint ain't your friend. A neck with rolled edges, no varnish lef on the back, and properly worn frets will no doubt win your heart. Not to say that You should be throwing keys at your guitar or running belt sanders on it, which many do. Some guys leave them on roofs to bleach only to find a warped neck pocket after the first rain. The guy from wasp used to tie the hardware to his motorcycle for a while, thats not really the way either. To me its about making a great sounding and comfortable neck and then making everything else around it look like they belong together. Its more of a practical art project then anything else.

Also The relics that people want are the result of inferior finishes that date way back. they where thin, and peeled and wore easily from sweat, contact and acids. You couldn't wear down a poly finish Kramer to the point of hearing a difference in two lifetimes of daily shredders. thats where the artificial wear helps IMO

Interesting thoughts....... :brow . I kinda assumed that someone was trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, so to speak.

Damn, at my age who'd a thought I'd learn something :thumbsup !

It's funny though, all of my guitars are so old that I try to make them look less used :whistle .

[TommysGs]

Fender has come out with a relic'd Strat.
They are trying to sell them for about 4 times what
a standard Strat sells for.
I think it is a joke myself. Why would someone buy
something brand new that looks old and worn out?
And pay a premium for it.
Only in America.

[JimmyDenton]

alot of companies now are taking on the distressed look, esp have a george lynch strat reliced, i like the look but ide rathed do it myself, your paying for someone to do something you can do yourself

[dc_bassman]

Still the best way to get that worn-in feel is to wear it in yourself. My MIM Precision has, in 2 years, gone from satin finish to mirror-smooth, almost-through-to- the-wood-shininess, just by playing it a lot. It'll get to look battered, too. Just another 10 years or so. The battered look doesn't improve the playability one jot, only the neck wear does that. So my feelings are still: why bother?
However, and as always, just MHO!

[puddy]

I'm really torn on the relic issue, both sides have a lot of good points. the relic stuff from Fender is cool to see but I would never spend the money on one.

[dc_bassman]

If for some reason I needed a relic'ed look, I'd do it myself, for sure. I'd never pay Fender or anyone else the premium charged...

[pel666]

What was it Eddie said?

Take the body outside and play some soccer with it...on concrete ofcourse!

Then throw the metal parts in an acid bath, rinse it and presto!!!

[KramerUK]

I remember always wanting my guitar to look old, now I do everything to stop it!!

End of the day, its a old mutt 3000, so why not give it a go Jeff, BTW just noticed its a 3 piece body, get it sprayed up with a thin finish, I've always thought sunburst looks better on a relic, rather than solid colours but its a bitch to get without the right spraying gear.

I say go for it summer is a few months away, keep you busy in the mean time :thumbsup

[KramerUK]

I don't know about relicing a gold FR though just noticed that on there, you not got a worn looking chrome one to put on it ?

[DethConsumer]

I don't know about relicing a gold FR though just noticed that on there, you not got a worn looking chrome one to put on it ?

:D ...It's not a OFR. I'm not that :bong
It's a licensed Floyd. Trust me guys, I hardly have anything invested in this guitar. I'm not going to take chunks of wood out of the neck or body. :chainsaw
It's a great player, just needs a little character. ;)

Tomorrow I'm gonna go to the hardware store and buy some primer, paint, acid, beer, etc... :funnel

[KramerUK]

Beer, thats a new way of staining the wood to age it :D

Seriously keep a photo diary going on this one, sounds like it'll be interesting.

[PittJitsu]

OK, So I'm the A-hole that spent the 3k for the fender relic. I'm telling you, I went into a shop to get strings, and while my usual kid was busy I took this beauty off the wall and played it.. next thing I knew, I was in love and my CC was stressed pretty hard. Its not about the look bros, you really have to feel it. And if you ever hit a vintage Guitar shop and Play a real vintage, then you will really understand the disease. :-x :help

Here is a Real fender used since the 60s check the neck wear, its glowing with Mojo, and since its a 45k plus guitar, the 2-3 grand for a relic seems like a steal once your GASIng for some religion from where it all began..

As for the Floyd. Pitting the Floyd is the idea not having the plating come off. this can be done. Pm for the secrete ;)

http://members.aol.com/gothicvw/stevie2.jpg

[KramerUK]

You see now I do think that looks good, and I agree that relicing must give it a played in feel, but that one just screams mojo ;)

[Caddielack]

I have done a couple of strats, I think the hardest part is to get a mapleboard look right, back of the neck is easier.
As for the body I have used nitre on all, much easier to make it crack and chip.

Maybe this thread should be moved to the tech forums.

/ John

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/vitrelic/cherryracer007.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/vitrelic/cherryracer008.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/lackade_gitarrer/candyrelic005.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/lackade_gitarrer/candyrelic002.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/lackade_gitarrer/candyrelic2.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/lackade_gitarrer/relicsonic034.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/fdgitarrer/relic007.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/cdv1960/fdgitarrer/gayrosarelic001.jpg

[JimmyDenton]

:O i want that pink one!!!

[dc_bassman]

Despite my views, those *do* look good!

[puddy]

It seems funny to me but that old worn look looks best on a Fender. I have a older Mexican Strat that has seen a lot of action and it is worn and chipped, yellowed a bit and I think that makes it the great playing, sounding guitar that it is (the duncans help too). I try to keep my Kramers looking fresh and new.

[cephus]

Doesn't it bother you that it's phony? Or is that what makes it cool? For me, I'd always know that it was ingenuine and I'd feel self-conscious about it. I know that sounds retarded. I just am very proud of the 100,000 miles I put on my strat that I bought new off the hook at the guitar store. It looks like it was in a rock tumbler, but it sure doesn't have skid marks across the armrest.

Maybe if I was the artisan that did the wear replication, i could take some pride in fooling people. I think they way overdo the relicing on most fender custom shop guitars like the one with the pinup. I have only seen one or two actual antique fenders that had that much wear. It's just over the top. Put bullet holes in it, too.

[sumrnitz]

My view on relicing is kinda unpopular and I've stayed out of it. But since this has turned into a very civil conversation I'll share my rather stupid and shallow views. Maybe some of you will see my point. :D
Relicing a is like your guitar doing a Milli Vanilli or being an Elvis impersonator: Lip syncing and being something it's not. It's staged persona. We love to get on stage and play some old Clapton but we don't try to convince others that we are him. And our guitars don't have to be a lie and try to be Blackie. Taking the finish off of the back of the neck helps playability.....paint chips, scratches and acid etching/pitting don't.
And also, in this case, there aren't gazillions of Kramers like there are of Strats and Les Pauls. Each one counts. Every guitar shop has several Fenders and Gibsons. We hunt like crazy to find but a single Kramer. And if someone tried to relic a fine, vintage Les Paul or Strat to make it look it's age, I'd probably kick his ass.
If maybe you're wanting the tone of an old instrument, put an ultra thin lacquer color coat of your choice and thin clear. It'll wear in really fast (months) Now play the crap out of it.
BTW: A sunburst would look cool or maybe a ultra thin butterscotch blonde where you can barely see the grain.

Chris

[PittJitsu]

Doesn't it bother you that it's phony? Or is that what makes it cool? For me, I'd always know that it was ingenuine and I'd feel self-conscious about it. I know that sounds retarded. I just am very proud of the 100,000 miles I put on my strat that I bought new off the hook at the guitar store. It looks like it was in a rock tumbler, but it sure doesn't have skid marks across the armrest.

Maybe if I was the artisan that did the wear replication, i could take some pride in fooling people. I think they way overdo the relicing on most fender custom shop guitars like the one with the pinup. I have only seen one or two actual antique fenders that had that much wear. It's just over the top. Put bullet holes in it, too.

The one with the pinup is Real! :D

As for the majority of the relics being way over done..
The look of a Rory Gallagher, is very different then the look of say a "blackie" Eric Clapton's famous guitar. The fender co states that the early paint on the 50' and 60's guitars did not wear well, was very thin, and came away from the wood rather easily. So If your a guy who simply loves this look and do not want the feeling of playing a "Milli Vanilli" Good luck, your either going to need to strip and repaint your guitar in vintage lacker and then play it for 25 years, or You can spend upward of at least 20 grand for the real deal, or you can get some steel whool... You tell me.

Here is a guitar that is played every night since its purchase. He is a professional musician, and He bought an early 80's strat with similar finish to a same age kramer. Here you can see what your guitar might look like if you did all the road wear yourself.
http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPER-COOL-1957-1982-FENDER-STRATOCASTER-REISSUE-STRAT_W0QQitemZ330092074031QQihZ014QQcategoryZ47069QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://)

Secondly +1 on what Sumernitz said. As I stated the part of this that makes sense is the neck. After that, I simply thing that having the neck match the body is an aesthetic thing.

[JimmyDenton]

My view on relicing is kinda unpopular and I've stayed out of it. But since this has turned into a very civil conversation I'll share my rather stupid and shallow views. Maybe some of you will see my point. :D
Relicing a is like your guitar doing a Milli Vanilli or being an Elvis impersonator: Lip syncing and being something it's not. It's staged persona. We love to get on stage and play some old Clapton but we don't try to convince others that we are him. And our guitars don't have to be a lie and try to be Blackie. Taking the finish off of the back of the neck helps playability.....paint chips, scratches and acid etching/pitting don't.
And also, in this case, there aren't gazillions of Kramers like there are of Strats and Les Pauls. Each one counts. Every guitar shop has several Fenders and Gibsons. We hunt like crazy to find but a single Kramer. And if someone tried to relic a fine, vintage Les Paul or Strat to make it look it's age, I'd probably kick his ass.
If maybe you're wanting the tone of an old instrument, put an ultra thin lacquer color coat of your choice and thin clear. It'll wear in really fast (months) Now play the crap out of it.
BTW: A sunburst would look cool or maybe a ultra thin butterscotch blonde where you can barely see the grain.

Chris

i have 1 guitar that is "relic'd" its my first guitar, but really i didnt do it to make it look old, its just a guitar that i took my frustration to and made it mine http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/jimmydenton/IMG_1243.jpg

[cephus]

The one with the pinup is Real! :D



See? The relics even ruin it for the genuine article! :D

I really can't tell the difference from the photo and obviously didn't read it carefully enough. With the glut of relics out there, it has made the real patina of wear less attractive IMO.

My '62 reissue's body looks like that ebay one, but the neck wear is way less. There are a few places where it's flaking off, but it never wore through like that. It is a rosewood and a few years newer than that one.