Fender got into this CS relic thing after seeing an opportunity at shows w/folks paying high prices for vintage guitars. If I’m nitpicking they are either overdone and just look fake or the relic job itself just looks fake period. I’ve played and seen a ton of vintage instruments and most just don’t look like the relic guitars that copy them. To each his own I say… I do at times take issue w/Custom Shop guitars as almost every one that I’ve played is only marginally better or better feeling or not at all than other high end models. And those differences come down to the attention paid to detail. We all have the ability to adjust action, change pups, tuners, wiring, etc. or at least you can have these things done. Any of Fender’s Master Builders could transform a basic Tele or Strat if they pulled it from the line and spent the time that they did on the CS version. It’s great to spec out your own guitar out but you pay dearly for that and the law of diminishing return sets in quick. Just look at the sea of CS relic instruments online now. They’re just as cookie cutter as cheaper guitars. Some of those instruments are beautiful but that’s because of the attention it gets due to not being a production model. However, it’s no “better” truthfully unless you as the player connects with it. I’ve learned the hard way to buy/keep what you connect with be it $500 or $5,000 and don’t get lost in relic or CS guitars.
“I've learned the hard way to buy/keep what you connect with be it $500 or $5,000” I completely agree. One of my favorite production Fender guitars that I have ever played is the Eric Johnson. That being said, I love my MIM also. Diminishing returns is absolutely present in the expensive models, and the cost isn’t needed for a quality guitar. It comes down to having a strong desire for certain aesthetics or very specific specs (and being ok to shell out the cash). Otherwise, the price isn’t getting you anything that a guitar with a good set up can deliver. Thanks for watching!
I'm 53 years old. I've been working on guitars since I'm a kid. Seen thousands of guitars up close. I've never seen an old guitar look anything like that. On top of the pick guard not being aged, it's looks fake. It's ridiculous. I have a reissue 62' stack knob Jazz Bass I bought in 1990. People think it's a real 62'. You know why? Because I've done hundreds of gigs with it. It was played hard and put away dirty. Earn your scars! Don't buy them.
I agree that it’s misleading to buy a beat up guitar in order to look like you play more than you do. The distressed look has been popularized in guitars, jeans, furniture, cabinets… and I’m sure the list goes on. I would assume that the vast majority of non-guitarists in the audience are going to see a beat up guitar on stage and conclude that A. the guitarist couldn’t afford a new one, or B. he doesn’t take care of his equipment. Meanwhile, the guitarists in the audience will be aware that relic’d guitars can be purchased. This brings me back to my opening statement: it’s misleading to buy a beat up guitar in order to look like you play more than you do. I like slightly relic’d guitars because it takes away the pain of getting it dinged up and I think some of them look cool. That being said, to each their own 🙂. Thanks for watching.
