The methhead former owner was convinced that licking the finish would get him high.
His band is called Splinter Tongue.
2 Likes
At least he did not try to snort the bass 
I donât think thereâs any proof that he didnât.
1 Like
There never isâŚ
âYour honor, I rest my case,â said the methhead.
Except, by the sad condition of his guitar, it was obvious he had no case.
1 Like
Roadworn, slightly relicâd. If anything, it increases the value.
1 Like
Only if in this case âroadwornâ means the bass was used to shovel a dump truck out of a gravel pit.
Repeatedly, and with extreme prejudice.
Get out the torches and pitchforksâŚ
Relicâing an instrument is just another finish, the same as a heavy, bass boat 'flake or 80âs WWII bomber art. I constantly find it amusing just how much it pisses people off, while at the same time people buy the crap out of them.
They have been around much longer than you think. And for the âI prefer to wear them out myself, the real wayâ arguement, unless youâre Rory Gallagher it ainât going to happen.
If I have any issues with this type of finish, itâs when you see one that truly looks like it was drug down a gravel road by a pickup truck. That is deserving of all the heckling that all of you can throw at it.
I learned this process doing restorations on several different types of string intruments, upon repairing an area, you would be next required to make that area match the rest of the instrument. There is a lot of thought that goes into it, such as how the instrument was played, how it was stored, etc⌠When done correctly.
This bass feels and even smells old.
6 Likes
To be clear - I donât have a problem with it if thatâs what people really like. You do you.
What I find incredibly amusing is that people are happy to pay others large amounts of money to beat the shit out of their nice new instrument (and in the case of some manufacturers, even give it a fictional backstory), rather than doing it themselves over time and giving it real personalized character.
1 Like
My whole point is that the majority will never live long enough to do it themselves.
People like what people like. And thatâs okay.
6 Likes
Yep 100%, and having issues with that is both futile and nonsensical. Totally agree.
But I still find the whole thing funny
4 Likes
Because as previously discussed polyurethane finish doesnât age the same way as old Nitro finishes do.
Theyâll never look the same as a worn nitro.
5 Likes
Yeah, I couldnât care less what some people are willing to shell out good money for as long as it ainât mine. But I find the conceit of relic-ing ridiculous.
However, may everyone live long, prosper and buy a fakely-worn instrument if it floats your dinghy.
2 Likes
This.
What I continue to find incredibly amusing is that a finish brings this kind of response. While I get that some (a lot) people donât care for it, I donât understand why it bothers those to the point of so many derogatory comments.
I donât care for âKIt carsâ that use a Volkswagen chassis and look like an Italian sports car. However, I feel no need to call someone a poser or worse because they like them.
Even in your responses, you still feel the need to state it. Thatâs what perplexes me.
On a side note, I built that Jazz bass in 2016 and have played it steadily ever since. I recently cleaned it and set it up (it had been awhile). I was surprised at how much wear that I have added, more paint is missing, the (real pre CBS) bridge cover is now is covered in rust and the control plate has turn green.
So⌠Am I still a conceited poser for playing this?
4 Likes
I LOCE my CS â61 P reliced bass. I wanted a bass that looked like James Jamersonâs and I got it. And I paid good, good money for it. 
I could have paid good good good good good money for a naturally relived actual â61P, but to me that is âsillyâ since for my wants, I could do it much cheaper.
I also agree that the topic of relic spurs a strong negative emotion and a burning need for some to always comment how they donât like it for them. I donât see the same passionately negative response for any other type of bass. I dislike a couple of different brands or styles but donât feel a burning desire to say I donât every time someone posts about one. I donât get it either @Moonshine
5 Likes
Once again, I donât think the instruments look bad, and I donât begrudge anyone at all for liking that look, I simply find the custom relicing phenomenon itself to be amusing.
I am sure your instruments are great and am genuinely happy you like them. I am sure I would like them too.
And yet it is not a contradiction for me to still be amused at the notion of charging for this as a custom service.
Buy the bass that makes you want to play. Do whatever you want to it. Doesnât matter if I or anyone else would or wouldnât make that same choice. If a relicâd instrument inspires you to play more, for whatever reason, then Iâd argue that it was worth whatever premium it demanded.
An interesting phenomenon that probably only weirdos like me experience is that on the one relicâd bass I have, since it is already clearly imperfect, I suddenly donât really care very much about itâs appearance. Not only do I not really care about dinging it further, I truly donât care about the aesthetic properties of it at all. Iâm free instead to focus my attention on the instrumentâs intrinsic purpose - being something with which one can make music.
Not saying thatâs a reason to go out and buy a relic, Iâm just saying.
5 Likes
When I bought my P Bass I decided after a while it was a keeper. So I got my truck keys and put a ding in the back of the bass deliberately.
That freed me from worrying about accidentally damaging it. I realize that sounds mentally unbalanced but it worked for me and I love that bass so much.
7 Likes
I canât tell you how much I absolutely love this.
3 Likes
You are both crazy
4 Likes