genuine wear on a spectacular '36 D18 -- how does this make you feel about relics?

[spectro28]

Hi All --

I have 2 Pre*War guitars on order (an EIR 000, level 1.75ish relic, and a BRW Single-0, level 1 -- both shade top). I don't have any genuine olde guitars.

This guitar at Gruhn just caught my eye (not as a buyer, but as an admirer!). It sparks my interest because of the integrity of its prestige.

https://guitars.com/inventory/aa11479-1936-martin-d-18



I wanted another thread talking about wear and relic'ing -- not whether relic'ing is a virtuous thing, but about HOW CLOSE PRE*WAR GETS, more or less.

Cheers and I hope everyone who gets this far thinks about all those songs the D18 at Gruhn's has been a part of! So much joy!

Marc

[fazool]

I am a terrible "collector"

The first thing I would do is refinish it LOL

[Zigeuner]

I do my own "relicing".

[dnf777]

I always find it interesting to study real wear patterns on real old guitars. Seems there are about 4 different common wear patterns, and that a little more than half relic artists adhere to these patterns. I own one relic-ed guitar I bought because I love the guitars neck and pups (its a Vola Vasti, their tele model) despite it being reliced, not because of it! I find it interesting that for moderate relic, it has ZERO buckle rash onthe back! When asked (jabbed) abbout it, the builder said “not everyone wears belts, man!”

[SJ VanSandt]

Who decided to spell it relicing? Do you go picnicing? (Sorry - a little itch I needed to scratch.)

I love the looks of that D-18. I've never seen a relicked guitar that looked that good to me. I hear that Pre-war guitars are great guitars, but if I bought one I would want little or no relicking. (Well - that does look a little like re-licking, doesn't it?)

Stan

[1Charlie]

Originally Posted by fazool

I am a terrible "collector"

The first thing I would do is refinish it LOL

And turn a $50,000 guitar into a $25,000 guitar!

[sloar]

I love vintage things, I’ve been collecting vintage bicycles for 20 years. But I’d rather have the real deal to wonder about the history. I do appreciate the craftsmanship though.

[Frodolicious]

I love seeing the wear of a well played guitar. People will go out of their way to say how much they dislike relics. Personally, I really dig it all, natural wear and relics.

[383roller]

You can’t fake legit.

[NY Deadhead]

If it's old and worn. It's old and worn. I don't understand wanting to make something look older and more worn than it is. Maybe I'm just old and worn.

[stephenT]

That's beautiful. I don't trust vintage instruments that don't look like they've been played. Love the laying on of hands.

Whoever would refinish that guitar should be sent to guitar purgatory, whatever that means. We are custodians, not "owners" of fine instruments. I'm some will take issue w/ the sentiment. I've been around long enough to see many guitars outlast their humans.

That guitar is a relic. But it's not been relic-ed, completely wrong term in reference to a well aged, vintage guitar. Love it. You can tell exactly how it was played.

[Nama Ensou]

At least the faked relic job on this guitar looks real, unlike the genuine ones being cranked out by manufacturers.

[Taylor Ham]

i think pre-war guitar co. does a good relic job except for their pick scratches. you hardly see a few, very deep tracks like that. more often, you see it like on the genuine guitar above- larger areas of lighter wear.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by 1Charlie

And turn a $50,000 guitar into a $25,000 guitar!

Not just a $25,000 guitar but a PRETTY $25,000 guitar

[hubcapsc]

Originally Posted by sloar

I love vintage things, I’ve been collecting vintage bicycles for 20 years. But I’d rather have the real deal to wonder about the history. I do appreciate the craftsmanship though.

I wish I knew how to get the headshock and rear shock rebuilt or
replaced on my first year Cannondale Scalpel, as well as whatever
other stuff might be needed, seems like as parts change through the years
vendors don't offer parts for their older models and shops (around here)
don't know where to source them... I have a Cannondale Red Shred too,
it's just sitting in a shed, forlorn with rotted tires... no suspension, but a
really cool bike.

I don't like my "new" (ten years old or so) Cannondale, it doesn't seem
to fit me like the older ones... and my silly dog is afraid of bicycles anyhow...

-Mike