“Masterbuilt” or “guitar by stencil”...

darthed1981

I'd be lying if I said I understood the point of relicing.

I think it's mental paying extra for someone to f*** up a guitar (I'd just give it to my kids).

But hey YMMV.

Mark1960

Agreed - It's like "the emperors new clothes" to my way of thinking. Everybody says it's great but....

RaymondLin

darthed1981 said:

I'd be lying if I said I understood the point of relicing.

I think it's mental paying extra for someone to f*** up a guitar (I'd just give it to my kids).

But hey YMMV.

I guess the whole idea is that an old guitar is played in, like a broken in shoe.  Even if it's fake...it tricks the mind.

I am no saint either, i bought a relic guitar, but not £6k. 

mbe

I think Fender must have got the idea from LTD. ESP made a few lower end Eclipse models with laughably reliced paint jobs that all looked identical.

Reminds me of nights I spent drinking cider in the 80s with my friend, a master craftsman antique furniture restorer. He would make an ancient wrecked dining table look like it had just left Mr. Chippendale's workshop brand new...

..then out came the chains in the sacks and we knocked seven bells out of the top to simulate centuries of honest wear and tear.

OilCityPickups

poopot said:

RaymondLin said:

I can't figure out how to cut it out that accurately even with a stencil, unless it is done with a CNC machine with a laser or something.

I would guess they have a big box of pre cut masks that they stick on the guitars before painting... the steps would be as follows:

1) stick masks to guitar
2) paint guitar
3) peel masks off
4) piss yourself laughing in way to bank

I did it myself a while ago making a reic for my own amusement:
1.Stick masking sheet (like masking tape in sheet form) onto a disposable backing 
2. Cut wear pattern out of masking sheet with laser cutter program (you couldn't do it on the body as it would cut into the wood.
3, peel stencil sheet and stick onto sealed body 
4. Spray and clear coat body.
5. Peel off stencil sheet to reveal wear pattern. 

Garthy

darthed1981 said:

I'd be lying if I said I understood the point of relicing.

I think it's mental paying extra for someone to f*** up a guitar (I'd just give it to my kids).

But hey YMMV.

I liken it to a moron badge.

GoldenEraGuitars

Garthy said:

darthed1981 said:

I'd be lying if I said I understood the point of relicing.

I think it's mental paying extra for someone to f*** up a guitar (I'd just give it to my kids).

But hey YMMV.

I liken it to a moron badge.

Do explain. 

idiotwindow

bluechargeboy said:

Are there any other products where unique artificial aging is desirable?

Just to add to the growing list, Leica went down the relic route a few years ago with their Lenny Kravitz 'Correspondent' edition of the Leica M camera. It wasn't universally well received but the edition probably still sold (at, I seem to recall, £20K for a camera, 2 lenses and, bizarrely, a briefcase).
https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/a-gentlemans-essential-leica-m-p-correspondent-by-lenny-kravitz/
Leica Press Release

idiotwindow

Double post.

idiotwindow

bluechargeboy said:

Are there any other products where unique artificial aging is desirable?

Leica went down the relic route a few years ago with their Lenny Kravitz 'Correspondent' limited edition of the Leica M camera. It wasn't universally well received but the edition probably still sold out (Leica fanboy collectors are worse than Fender collectors). £20K (I seem to recall) and it came with a couple of lenses and, bizarrely, a briefcase.
Press Release
https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/a-gentlemans-essential-leica-m-p-correspondent-by-lenny-kravitz/

prlgmnr

Multiple posts from the same template, this place is going to pot.

FatPete

At least Gibson would never do this

poopot

OilCityPickups said:

poopot said:

RaymondLin said:

I can't figure out how to cut it out that accurately even with a stencil, unless it is done with a CNC machine with a laser or something.

I would guess they have a big box of pre cut masks that they stick on the guitars before painting... the steps would be as follows:

1) stick masks to guitar
2) paint guitar
3) peel masks off
4) piss yourself laughing in way to bank

I did it myself a while ago making a reic for my own amusement:
1.Stick masking sheet (like masking tape in sheet form) onto a disposable backing 
2. Cut wear pattern out of masking sheet with laser cutter program (you couldn't do it on the body as it would cut into the wood.
3, peel stencil sheet and stick onto sealed body 
4. Spray and clear coat body.
5. Peel off stencil sheet to reveal wear pattern. 

6) piss yourself laughing all the way to bank?

joking aside, how did it come out?

Philly_Q

GoldenEraGuitars said:

Garthy said:

darthed1981 said:

I'd be lying if I said I understood the point of relicing.

I think it's mental paying extra for someone to f*** up a guitar (I'd just give it to my kids).

But hey YMMV.

I liken it to a moron badge.

Do explain. 

I think it's interesting that people who don't like relic finishes spend so much time being bothered by them.

I have no idea what finishes their guitars have.  And I couldn't give a flying fuck.

guitarfishbay

timhulio said:

Has there ever been a guitar with genuine wear in that pattern?

All my genuine wear comes from misjudging either how close I am to my computer desk or missing the slot on the rack and hitting an instrument that was already there.

poopot

FatPete said:

At least Gibson would never do this

Same guitar or two different ones?

guitarfishbay

Those look like different guitars to me.  Look at the wood grain directly in line with the strap pin.  

Wazmeister

Interesting thread...

I LOVE relics; heavier the better for me.

I will say my Masterbuilt Jason Smith ‘63 remains the best Strat Ive ever played; including a few ‘real’ sixties ones.

Just sayin’

springhead

And that second LP is custom shop first one isn’t. 

guitars4you

Wazmeister said:

Interesting thread...

I LOVE relics; heavier the better for me.

I will say my Masterbuilt Jason Smith ‘63 remains the best Strat Ive ever played; including a few ‘real’ sixties ones.

Just sayin’

Philly_Q said:

GoldenEraGuitars said:

Garthy said:

darthed1981 said:

I'd be lying if I said I understood the point of relicing.

I think it's mental paying extra for someone to f*** up a guitar (I'd just give it to my kids).

But hey YMMV.

I liken it to a moron badge.

Do explain. 

I think it's interesting that people who don't like relic finishes spend so much time being bothered by them.

I have no idea what finishes their guitars have.  And I couldn't give a flying fuck.

I agree @Wazmeister ;; and @Philly_Q ;; - I was thinking this earlier in the posting - I wouldn't want a new/aged modern based guitar, like a PRS for instance - But as a replica of a guitar that is 60 years old, I think new shiny somehow looks wrong - I agree that not all seriously aged models look right and now Journeyman lightly aged is the best selling option - But there is some serious pasting aimed at 'the idiots' who buy such guitars

I'm not sure how many just dislike the aged vibe based on looks alone, and fine if that is their opinion - Equally I'm unsure how many have actually played a C/Shop aged replica

I've said it before but aged C/Shop replicas out sell NOS models but something like an 80/20 ratio and I think it is higher than that - Every time I've stocked any NOS models they have nearly always had to be slashed in price to sell - So  like it or lump it, the product range is successful and I can personally vouch that many relic buyers are not idiots

As a side note, going back to the original OP comments - I think some excellent detective work by @poopot - I think such work does not do the Masterbuilders any favours regardless