• From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Topic: Too Many Relics

Doesn't anyone appreciate a brand new guitar anymore?

Was looking through a freebie magazine called 'Gear' which appeared aimed at kids/parents/music shops and they had entry level guitars already relic-ed. Not very well either, looked very fake to me.

Also looked at the Joe Strummer tribute telecaster and found a fan site showing the original. Comparing the two the relic was just plain wrong, not tatty enough at all, no stickers, no tape... Fender just can't get that punk on the road look.

Surely a young'un unwrapping a strat shaped package this christmas doesn't want something that has crude knocks and unconvincing scratches all over? Let's leave relics in the hands of custom shops and collectors.

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • From: Central Flatland
  • Registered: 2007-05-30
  • Posts: 223

Re: Too Many Relics

The whole relic thing seems a bit upside down to me.

In the art world, the purpose of a reproduction or print is to put great art into the price range of the masses.  In the case of relic'd guitars, the purpose seems to be to put copies of famous instruments on the walls of a few fanatical collectors.  This aside from the problem of whether one of these mostrosities constitutes 'Art.'

I imagine a conversation which goes something like this: 

Rich guy #1: "Check out my new acquisition, man."

Rich guy #2:  "Whoah, EVH's frankenstein.  Is it real?"

RG1:  "It's a real relic."

RG2:  "So, Eddie never played it?"

RG1:  "No."

RG2:  "He never even touched it?"

RG1:  "No.  But it has a certificate of authenticity."

RG2:  "How does it sound?"

RG1:  "Are you kidding?  I paid too much for it to ever take it down and play it.  In fact, I'm considering having it hermetically sealed in a nitrogen atmosphere and locking it in a vault away from all light so it won't fade.  Isn't it great?" 

I suppose everyone needs a hobby, including folks with too much money and too little sense.

"There's such a fine line between genius and stupidity."
                              --David St. Hubbins
  • Registered: 2007-12-21
  • Posts: 1

Re: Too Many Relics

Hey man Fender includes the sticker kit for you to customize your self because Strummer changed the stickers various times. Just so you know.

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Too Many Relics

The best review of any guitar I've ever read was of the EVH Fender Frankenguitar replica.

The review summed it up beautifully.

"The biggest problem with this guitar is that it's a really good replica of a really crappy guitar."

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: Too Many Relics

Hello Cytania.
About too many relics (in particular Fender Stratocaster) I wrote once a topic. How to find a decent guitar in the FENDER FOREST.
I remember when I went to school (me being 14-17 years old), that there was, at that time, the biggest guitar store in Belgium, and we walked in that store, looking around (they let us play maybe once, I was also not playing at that time).
They had a lot of acoustic guitars, but when you are 15 years old, you are more interessed in an electric guitar.
The choice was very simple back in 1970-1971: you had a FENDER STRATOCASTER, and a Fender TELECASTER (a lot cheaper compared to a Stratocaster), in different colours, and the second was the GIBSON. You could choose a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Custom, and an SG.
If you go to a guitar store now: you are not longer able to count the different Fenders, not speaking about the Mexican Fenders. You have as starter, the good old classic Fender Stratocaster, once you spotted this guitar, the problems start. I am a proud owner of an original Fender Strat made in 1964, and there are moments, having so many guitars, that this 25.000$ fender should be sold, and buy a relic, or a Artist Model. I really don't understand Fender: they produce a lot in Mexico 'are they better???? and in the "fender department " you find RELICS, HIGHWAY series, TRIBUTE Fenders: CLAPTON, JEFF BECK, KNOPFLER, SRV.. How can a guitar lover, let's say a Fender lover choose and buy? You need almost a week to try all these Fenders.
Isn't it TOO complicated? What is in theory the better, or best Fender?
First they also neglected the acoustic market, and an acoustic Fender was CHEAP. BUT they start more and more producing acoustics, resulting in a price, becominh higher and higher.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Too Many Relics

gitaardocphil wrote:

Hello Cytania.
About too many relics (in particular Fender Stratocaster) I wrote once a topic. How to find a decent guitar in the FENDER FOREST.
I remember when I went to school (me being 14-17 years old), that there was, at that time, the biggest guitar store in Belgium, and we walked in that store, looking around (they let us play maybe once, I was also not playing at that time).
They had a lot of acoustic guitars, but when you are 15 years old, you are more interessed in an electric guitar.
The choice was very simple back in 1970-1971: you had a FENDER STRATOCASTER, and a Fender TELECASTER (a lot cheaper compared to a Stratocaster), in different colours, and the second was the GIBSON. You could choose a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Custom, and an SG.
If you go to a guitar store now: you are not longer able to count the different Fenders, not speaking about the Mexican Fenders. You have as starter, the good old classic Fender Stratocaster, once you spotted this guitar, the problems start. I am a proud owner of an original Fender Strat made in 1964, and there are moments, having so many guitars, that this 25.000$ fender should be sold, and buy a relic, or a Artist Model. I really don't understand Fender: they produce a lot in Mexico 'are they better???? and in the "fender department " you find RELICS, HIGHWAY series, TRIBUTE Fenders: CLAPTON, JEFF BECK, KNOPFLER, SRV.. How can a guitar lover, let's say a Fender lover choose and buy? You need almost a week to try all these Fenders.
Isn't it TOO complicated? What is in theory the better, or best Fender?
First they also neglected the acoustic market, and an acoustic Fender was CHEAP. BUT they start more and more producing acoustics, resulting in a price, becominh higher and higher.

Good to have you back Phil, hope all is well with you.

Bootlegger.

  • From: Gander Newfoundland
  • Registered: 2007-05-05
  • Posts: 246

Re: Too Many Relics

Why the hate? If someone wants a relic like that, they should be allowed to buy one without discrimination, right?

"You have to get over the love of power, and enjoy the power of love, in order to know peace."
-Jimi Hendrix.