Like you say, each to his own. I do like a guitar to look lived in, not to the extent of the one in your picture, but a little road rash does add authenticity in my mind.

Then again, I would never have the courage to relic one of my own, I prefer it to grow organically!

You nailed the point flyssy… at least for me!

Couldn’t agree w/ you more!

Thanks for stopping by! Love your blog!

First of all, you ARE quite a bit like Ed Roman LOL. Like most people, I like guitars that sound good, play well and look cool. Shiny, new guitars with their too thick, bright white binding and “alleged” lacquer finisheds, too-tall frets and generic sounds just dont appeal to me. Seventies stuff was crap when it was new, and it’s just old crap now. Martins with black pickguards and thick rosewood bridge plates, thick finished strats and teles, and Gibsons with cheapened designs and skinny necks…crap, all! The relic stuff provides and easy-to-find and afford, cool-looking and generally good-playing and sounding affordable alternative to the still-too-expensive-for-the average player vintage stuff. Think about jeans: You could spend 500 bucks on an original pair of vintage jeans, or like 50 biucls on vintage wash pre-washed jeans, and get several pair.
I think prewashed jeans are a perfect analogy to new vs old guitars. I’m old enough to remember when yiou used to have to buy cardboard-stiff Levis and hope you didnt screw them up or tear them apart before they got soft like you like them. Now you can buy them that way. Everyone does that now. For some, guitars ARE fashion, in additon to being good, functional instruments. If you’re used to an old one, a new one seems cold to the touch, and that affects how you approach it musically. Also, you can lean your guitar on your amp when the phone rings at home or during a break at a gig and not worry about scratching a relic…it’ll always be “mint” with no worries.