Fender Relic

Relic: An object having interest by reason of its age or its association with the past

Fender Relic: A newly created guitar, through an artistic aging process, that possesses the identical look and playability of Fender’s golden age of instrument production.

The first question that you may have regarding a Fender Relic is, "why beat up a new guitar?" It's important to note that the idea of the Fender Relic came out of necessity when gigging musicians were apprehensive about playing their original Fender guitars due to the overwhelming increase in their value as well as the risk of further damaging these vintage gems. So, players initially went to the luthiers at Fender Custom Shop to recreate these "Relics" of a time gone by. Every detail was analyzed and recreated, from the rolled edges of the fretboard, to the worn down Nitro finish complete with natural checking, to the exact abrasions and arm wear on the upper bout of the body. Musicians soon realized that these Fender Custom Shop Guitars not only played better that their originals but were a true work of art.

Fender Relic Finish: Nitro vs Poly

The finish found on Fender Guitars during the 50's and 60's is unlike the guitars produced today. Modern finish is made from Polyurethane which can often be boiled down to one word, "Plastic". A Poly finish forms strong bonds producing a durable and fast drying finish, which is useful for mass produced guitars. However, it can often produce a "dead" or "muted" tone. An extreme example of this is the Polyester finish used in the 70's-80's, with its candy coated shell and breathing ability of the butterfly collared shirts of that time! Also, a Poly finish won't age and naturally discolor like your antique piece of furniture because Poly hadn't been invented yet.

A Nitrocellulose, or "Nitro" as it's commonly called, is known to have a less glossy look and more brittle state, which translates into less dampening of the wood (mainly treble frequencies). A Fender Relic uses a Nitro Thin-skin finish that emulates years of natural decay, producing an authentic looking guitar that contains all the common side affects such as cracking or "checking" which results from the woods natural tendency to expand and contract from weather. After all a tone purist would rather have these "character marks" over a plasticized guitar any day.

Fender Relic Playability: The Neck

The neck of a Fender Tele or Strat can often make or break your decision about a guitar. So, the Master Builders from the Fender Custom Shop take great care is reproducing the exact specs of original 50's and 60's guitars. Whether it's a fat "C" shape or "V-neck" these Fender relic necks fit snug in your hand, ready to translate your emotion into singing tones. Over time, a vintage neck becomes easier to play due to the finish being worn down from countless slides and bends. That's why the Custom Shop pre-ages the neck by wearing down the finish on the back, exposing the natural wood and further connecting you to the soul of the instrument. The fingerboard edges have also been "rolled" down to ensure a naturally snug fit in your hand, just like that beat up "player" which feels so right.

Fender Relic Hardware: Losing to the elements

Chrome hardware simply doesn't stand a chance when facing blood, sweat, and beers! That's why every jack plate, bridge saddle and even the screws on a Fender Relic are taken from their shiny new state to a dulled and rusty place. Never overlooked is the fact that oxidation sets in on magnetic pickup poles over time, changing their sonic state. Even the tuner spacers have been kissed with rust for a truly authentic look. These are just a few ingredients on a Master Builder's palette, when creating his Fender Relic masterpiece.