Fano Alt De Facto Relic Guitar
One year ago today I wrote a post titled: Relic Guitars? What’s The Appeal?
It was my personal attempt to try to understand what drives people to pay excessively high prices for guitars that appear to be used, worn out and trash-can ready.
Ironically, one year later, while I was casually perusing eBay (yes, it’s an addiction) and I came across the photo on the left.
The guitar has that certain vibe and actually looks pretty cool until a closer examination of the photo reveals the tremendous amount of excessive wear.
But wait! There’s more! Check out the FULL DESCRIPTION:
Fano Alt De Facto RB6 3-Tone Electric Guitar Brand NEW!
You mean to tell me that the photo on the left is a brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged guitar in its original packaging?
You can link to the actual eBay auction here – as long as it lasts.
So again I ask…the same question…Relic Guitars? What’s The Appeal?
Good question, I’m not sure but it must be psychological.
Before relics came out I would always prefer a beat up guitar to an off-the-shelf new one. If it’s used, somebody liked it a lot and it must sound good or have a ‘vibe’ to it. Plus it’s gonna be comfortable like a worn-in pair of shoes, not all stiff like a new guitar.
I play better with a guitar I connect to and worn out guitars are gonna be a better bet for that.
Even it it’s fake? Maybe it’s just in my head.
Cosmetically it just looks cooler if you’re playing what looks like a vintage axe, it looks like you must know what you’re doing. All the classic players have worn out axe’s.
Maybe it’s for the same reason worn out jeans are so popular, which look great with worn out guitars.
I think the appeal comes from the belief that a classic or vintage guitar is a lot cooler than a newer guitar. Worn out guitars are sold at a higher price than the typical new guitar you will find in guitar shops.