#TGU18 | Why relic a guitar? | Fender Custom Shop Options Explained | Thomann

Justin Stewart from the Fender Custom Shop gives you an insight on the build process of a Custom Shop guitar and how much passion goes into every single one of them. Plus an overview on all the relic and non-relic options. This interview was shot during TGU18, the Thomann Gearhead university.

Interesting bits and pieces:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Why relic a guitar?
02:00 Available options
03:40 Thought process in the fender relic department
05:17 "Post modern" guitar
06:00 We build whatever you want
07:13 They're all real
07:48 "Founders design" guitar
08:40 Justin's definition of the custom shop

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[vintagevinylvets]

This episode was our favorite. No games, no sillyness, just straight up facts and little history of Fender and it’s custom shop.

[dartman]

Some people don't get the relic thing. They've probably never played one. I built one myself, and it feels like it's 50 years old! It just has that broken in feel! A bonus too...your don't have to worry about scratching them!👍😎🎸🎶

[WolfgangKeim]

The statement that relicing changes the tone of a guitar is at best questionable.

[achilles]

I think they are beautiful, especially color over color.

[johnbon]

This video is good. But the explanation in 1:22 is bullshit. Relicing the guitar to enrich the tone of the guitar? So he implied that relic guitar sound richer than non-relic guitar. Aesthetic never had an impact on the tone. Except maybe the playability for example on the neck.

[rdanalytics]

I play them, collect them, cherish them...Nigel Tufnel 1982

[Mrsensitive]

I don't get relic....I try hard to keep my strat looking perfect, even though it's is played everyday

[thesash]

My CS 63 Relic Strat is the best guitar that I have ever played the last 25 years.
I don’t have to care for that guitar, it got abused and gigged. I bought her with a relic finish and now after lots of sessions and gigs, she is heavy reliced now.
I was never into that relic thing, I didn’t understand it until I played my Relic Strat for the first time.
I always wanted to keep my guitars pristine and shiny and that was the thing that did hold me back.
Now I really enjoy being a maniac on stage etc. I would have never done that with a new and shiny guitar.
Unleash the fury 🤘🏻
But yes, relic is not for everyone, play what you like and let others play what they like.

[Sagramore]

1:25
"It just souds...special"

[hankevans]

I’ve been playing a 1993 ‘62 avri Strat every single day for over 20 years. I use it for everything from bedroom practice to gigs to recording sessions.. it still looks like a new guitar. Relic guitars are a crock and no guitar would ever look like that unless it was deliberately trashed with sandpaper and a hammer.

[dainiusvysniauskas]

I think best Fenders are called G&L ;)

[shiverik]

There's a story behind any guitar. Yeah, a fake story.

[f.valguarnera]

I can understand the interest for vintage guitars that have been unintentionally scratched by their player through the years. They tell a personal story. To fake such a past feels almost sacrilegious to me.

[f.valguarnera]

"It sounds special"... Hardly.

[HC_GUITAR]

Relic fingerboards look really bad in my opinion. Don't get it.

[tigerbalm]

I bought a American HSS and it sounded terrible....was I unlucky? I sold it so I want to get a Ibanez AZ...

[thewhistlincatmusic]

But it has nothing to do with the sound, whether the finish on a guitar looks like new, or whether it looks artificial, as if someone had used the instrument as a racket. I don't get it...

[the_dark_italian]

How the heck can a messed up paintjob n a few scratches here and there change the tone? I don't get it... Just a hype....

[phililpb]

Yes it is damaging a guitar and has nothing to do with the sound. when you deliberately scuff up the paint to make it look old then you are holding a fraud.

[tigerbalm]

If you want to preserve your axe, you need to wax or apply ceramic to it...just liek a car!