Relicing An Electric Guitar Body (Session 1)

[newdawns]

Just leave the neck off for the love of god I love the relic look too but I like the guitar to be playable after I relic it watching those kids let the tele free fall right on to the neck and headstock made me freak.

[robbietheguitarman]

Two words: You're retarded.

[nooneimportant77]

the problem with doing the aging like that (although I think it can get some really sweet results) is that you can easily knock the neck out of whack, or really damage the frets or headstock resulting in bad tuning over time. The precision approach personally I think is the only way to do a relic style guitar, to maintain its playability and reliability.

[MyHeartBeatsRnR]

you didn't remove the neck??!

[zephyrsrockstar1]

@imty012 yeah,actually since these days guitars are made out poly paint, the paint very thick an clogs up the wood not allowing it to breath, which effect your resonance, an makes your tone dull but uh what people like about it is it simulates that you've played the guitar alot, like srv did or muddy waters, or if you do play guitar alot it will give you that vintage feel must players love and makes it look more unique like yours

[zephyrsrockstar1]

And relicing not a bad thing lol if your 60 or somthing an u don't really have that many years to break it in an you want one that has that vintage feel like your old one did then go for it, it looks more custom but in my personal opinion id rather do it on my own lol look back at my guitar an be like shit....I remember when that was new lol

[zephyrsrockstar1]

Lol iwatched understand he wants a cool looking relic guitar but really it doesn't take that long as everyone saying play it ....ALOT! my fender strat I got when I was 16 , I play it all the time like non stop im 20 now an my paints chipping off my guitar oh an its not nitrous its poly I mean I understand what your doing but I could never ever go threw with watching my fender take that much abuse I mean damn lol

[9233267]

Wearing through the finish with nothing but bear skin feels pretty good... and it only takes 3 or 4 years of playing. You can get the rest by not using a case. If people spent as much time playing their instruments as they spent caring about how much it looks like they are playing their instruments... years of their lives would go by, they'd be wicked musicians... and their gutiar wouldn't need fake bashing around.

[advaldez92]

He's wearing a smackdown shirt!!! Sweet

[Cricemusic137]

this is a really stupid dangerous and uncontrolled way to relic your guitars, relicing is actually a precision if done well, and this is not right. there is nothing careless about relc'cing your guitar. authentically relic'cing your guitar is not the best way to do such a thing either, as it is not done in a controlled environment. If you actually care about your baby, DONT throw it around in your garage.

[hokendog]

'Straight scratches... you can see 'em a mile away'. Yeah you don't want that, anybody can do that by simply playing their guitar alot. Sorry, this 'relicing' stuff is ridiculous. Play your guitar, don't abuse it.

[dsboli]

I thought I might learn something from your series. I did! Not what to do. I'm sorry but that was pitiful. I am already light years ahead.

[gerardwayy101]

i cried when i saw the bikes

[krispirate]

@lhschillin101 Get over yourself... it's his guitar? he can do what he want... anyway he is doing it damn good, and the result is fantastic, so give him a break

[BigAussieBloke69]

Great, lets go and do that to a Rolls Royce!

[GuitarsAreMagic]

this video pains me :'(

[imty012]

not to be rude but whats the point of relicing a guitar? does it affect the sound of the guitar? or somthing like that

[aztechuhs]

YOU GUYS ARE GODDAMN FAGS!!!!!

[shango02005]

LOL! I actually flinched almost every time the guitar was hit!!

[Mortodefame90]

you are crazy

[Golfinnder]

What´s that at 1:25? 

[mcshiffern]

DOES THIS PISS ANYONE ELSE OFF BUT ME?

[fretshr3dder]

@mcshiffern it would have pissed me off wen i first got my guitar cuz i used to treat it like a human baby,but once i decided that i wanted to change up my strat, i realized, ok.....so what.

[lighteningboy]

Great video, love the kids! hahahaha

[ckiepper]

Nice set of videos thanks, could you post you web site address please? I put together a relic? Fender Road Worn yellow body w/ school bus yellow powder painted diamond plate aluminum pickguard, dark ebony fretboard bought well used, aged/matte black/new chrome hardware combo.they thought I was crazy but it looks great to me & bonus best player and sound Ive had. I do like the relic idea because it gets me over those 1st heartbreak dents,dings and scratches

[StephenRayVaughan]

the blackthing you use what is that ???

[speck444]

i bet the frets on that neck were some nice

[p0ndu5]

What color is that guitar? It looks like eggshell white of some kind... is that an "official" fender color.

[ixtlan8]

either you are cool or not. you cant fake cool

you can try but'll fail in the long run

[metalhed717]

watching that absolutely killed me

[hpcompaqd530FFS]

lol cute kids.. i need them for my project ;).

[Chopstixz5]

good video but i disagree strongly on the fact that a more prosishened and sanded worn look is much more afective than the just go beat ur guitar on concret look

[marcmore]

Io t'ammazzo!!! A te e ai ragazzini!!!

[joetothedirt]

Is that a Poly finish?

[46lar]

I thought the neck would get snapped in half when the boys dropped the guitar! Mind you, a tele' really can take the abuse. You could probably throw one against a tree and have no tree left!

[sum33]

i wouldnt if i were you lol

[luixino]

very helpful, i'm working on mine right now, maybe ill post a video after!

[toneslingercliff]

Let me know how it turns out. send me pictures and i'll post them on my website as well. Glad it helped.

[forpetessake38]

after you took the steel wool pad to it, did you buff it afterwards with anything?

[toneslingercliff]

yes, you can watch one of the last videos before reassembly. I buff it up with a car buffer.

[doolbro]

how did the headstock not break? im amazed by this...

[toneslingercliff]

It looks like i'm hitting it harder than I actually am.

[bearsafetyus]

@toneslingercliff Dude ur dropping it on the floor, I can relate to how much force that is. NOT a good way to relic your guitar.

[PuffyCatTail]

lol cute kids and i'll bet they had a blast doing that. not every kid gets to relic a guitar!!! :)

[toneslingercliff]

funny you should mention that. My kids have been so trained and threatened to "leave Daddy's guitars alone" that when they actually got to do it, they were very hesitant and nervous. But they rose to the challenge well enough.

[immersion31]

i was reading on anotehr site and he used really fine grit sand paper. is sand paper or steel wool better?

[toneslingercliff]

i'm sure they both have their advantages. The primary advantage of steel wool and the reason I like to use is is because it is more flexible and you can cover curves and bends better. It also forms to your fingers better and i think gives better control.

[ghosthead2008]

I did this to my EPI LP STNDRD PLS, and it actually came out pretty well. As soon as I gather all the pics, I will make a before and after vid.

[toneslingercliff]

Scotch brite is one brand that does it. The brand i'm using is made by 3M.

[JohnnySixGunMusic]

Was This A polyurethane or a nitrocellulose Paint Finish on the body?

Looks Great Man, Good Job!

[toneslingercliff]

It was a poly finish which is harder to relic. Nitro finish's are great because you can get the cracking in it.

[mistersnaredrum]

is there any way to fake weather checking on a poly finish?

[toneslingercliff]

you outta see what they can do to the living room and kitchen.

[toneslingercliff]

Yes it does. It wont feel as glassy and slick, but it will still feel smooth to the touch.

[nomadh]

That made me cringe more than seeing a guy get racked in the nuts. Nearly as bad as if I took a shot to the sack. They could show this on Jackass it makes me wince so. Hope it turns out.

[toneslingercliff]

thats one of the most creative comments I've seen on here! :)

[GoodGawd]

Ouch the frets too lol

[toneslingercliff]

funny

[hendrix184]

hey did you have to like re align the neck because when it was in that door it looked like it would put it outta whack or something good vid though!

[freezefrog]

Relicing is fair enough. Dont think it is really for me, but I can see the appeal. I build me own guitars, strat replicas, but I put the fender decal on there. Fellow builders get upset with me for putting it on the headstock when it isnt a Fender instrument, but to me the decal is as much a part of the look as the body contour or the headstock. Imagine a tit without the nipple! I noticed you are dropping the body on its frets. Nothing against relicing, but is fret damage a good idea? Good vid.

[toneslingercliff]

yea, I was a little nervous with the kids banging it around but I guess I got lucky.

Hey and dont worry about the decal haters. There is no way you're going to pull them over to the dark side anyway. Just enjoy what you do and damn the torpedos!

[toneslingercliff]

thanks. hey is your faded gibson reliced manually or just over time? Or did it come that way?

[WD3LA0]

Ah that poor tele, but I dig the whole relic look man sweet

[toneslingercliff]

Good thing it isn't a real one, huh? :)

[orbitration]

This video made me cringe in pain.

This relicing fad is goofy. Purposely damaging a finished instrument to make it appear 'as if' goes against the grain of my being for some reason. I actually feel bad when I put a scratch or a dent in mine. I don't mind them wearing out naturally, but accelerating the process is for noobs and wannabes.

imho

[toneslingercliff]

Yea, you are right. There really isn't any in between when it comes to relicing. Either you really dig it or you just dont get it.

Thanks for the comment. Its a good one.

[zero2kx]

like cliff said your either for it or against it but the way I see it guitars are meant to be played not framed as art. I'm not into the relic process because I'm too lazy but I like the look of a worn and well played instrument. I have a 10 year old Ibanez that over time is beat to hell. Its white paint is now yellow. It's got buckle rash on the back, countless dings and dents and probably has never been cleaned. It's still my number 1 guitar to this day.

[toneslingercliff]

Zero,

You are a relicer... just a little slower. In fact, IMHO, you got the best relic there is.

[etheangel2220]

Why would anybody want to do this to their guitar? I never understood this type of things, like the idiots who buy torn jeans. If you want a guitar that looks like its been played played for a long time, then just play it for a long time. Music shouldnt be about the image.

[FenderMan88888888]

thats true it shouldnt be about the image but come on you know they look awsome :)

[yoursatan]

It just looks cool

[etheangel2220]

I know it looks good, but part of the attraction is knowing some musician has spent hours and hours of practice and playing and that is reflected by his skill, and because of the process, reflected in his instrument. relicing just reminds me that some people arent willing to spend hours on end perfecting their art, but they want their instrument to look like they have.

[yoursatan]

Well, Now I read this, You're absolutely right! never thought of it that way! Thanks!

[elperelol]

yes, but corporate america says we like new things that look very used :)

[toneslingercliff]

Ahhh. It always comes back to "The Man"

[Stratcat1959]

I dont really care for the image i just want an old looking guitar lol

[pabletelli]

i did this job 6 months ago...on my SX strat...just i light relic..but now it is really heavy relic :S

i play it avery day 6 hours a day...and you can see the fake relic...and the real relic.... but i really love my relic SX :D

great job man

[toneslingercliff]

You're so right. the best way to to relic a guitar is to play it like crazy! I'm glad it turned out for you so good.

[FenderMan88888888]

post a video of your guitar it sounds awsome :)

[toneslingercliff]

??????

[FenderMan88888888]

i was talkin to pabletelli

[Trayton]

you can really see the hazing on that area where the light reflects off the guitar. it almost disappears. :P

[toneslingercliff]

Oh yea. I know. I was very happy with the way the finished turned out. by scuffing it up and then going back over it and buffing it, it really gave it a "spot" shine look. The video really doesn't capture it. Try going to my website, and look at some of the pictures of it. You can see the detail of what you are talking about. You can find my website in my profile.