Nitro on poly... what's the point?

crunchman

guitars4you said:

I have sold many C/Shop Fenders and it is clearly noticeable how much more of a vibrant acoustic character you'll find on an aged finish, v a new shiny gloss finish (NOS) - clearly noticeable on an unplugged test in most instances - A NOS finish is thicker (albeit by a negligible amount)

I remember talking to the head of the Fender Custom Shop for the UK.  He has a very similar opinion.  There is a common perception that relics tend to sound better than NOS and he puts it down to the finish being thinner on the relics.

Having said that, I don't like relics over much - at least not the over the top heavy relics.  I had a heavy relic CS Tele for a couple of years but it just didn't look right - it sounded great though.

ICBM

crunchman said:

guitars4you said:

I have sold many C/Shop Fenders and it is clearly noticeable how much more of a vibrant acoustic character you'll find on an aged finish, v a new shiny gloss finish (NOS) - clearly noticeable on an unplugged test in most instances - A NOS finish is thicker (albeit by a negligible amount)

I remember talking to the head of the Fender Custom Shop for the UK.  He has a very similar opinion.  There is a common perception that relics tend to sound better than NOS and he puts it down to the finish being thinner on the relics.

Having said that, I don't like relics over much - at least not the over the top heavy relics.  I had a heavy relic CS Tele for a couple of years but it just didn't look right - it sounded great though.

I also wonder if it's partly to do with whatever heating/cooling or whatever it is they do to check the finishes. Whatever it is, I agree.

I don't like the heavy relics at all either - in fact I don't like relics really. My idea of a 'light relic' is one where the ageing is simulated but no fake damage… ie just as if it's a fifty year-old guitar which has been taken immaculate care of by its owner. If the ageing improves the tone, that's all they need. The fake damage doesn't and is just fake.