I hate guitar reissue/replica mania!!

[danastas]

First Fender with the Relics and their beat up faux finish. Then Fender with their unplayable mini frets and their ridiculous 7" radius.

The Gibson got into the act. NThey got it right the first time when they reissued brand spanking new historics that looked, well, like brand spanking new guitars, longer tenons, beautiful.

Then they went to this VOS crap that dulled the guitars and tarnished the metal, and alongside that came crappy inlay jobs and peeling.

Jackson/Charvel decided to follow suit with Grover Jackson memorials (no surprise there since the co. is owned by Fender). Why they insist on creating beautiful Charvies with brass bridges is beyond me. I look at great Charvels and wish they had other bridges, don't even need to be Floyds.

OK, now, the reason I'm really writing: I went out of my way to find a good Fender Vintage Hot 62 model because I knew it had jumbo frets and a decent radius and yet was built out in the same manner they make the Customs. I couldn't be happier with this guitar, in my book it's the best of Fender these days. Well, my logo started bubbling and peeling off, and wouldn't you know it, Fender wanted to produce a period specific guitar (with jumbo frets???) to reproduce the look of Strats from back in the day when they used to put a sticker on the headstock without laquering over it.

What a joke. I don't need a sticker on my headstock to convince me it's an authentic '62. I already realize it's a replica. I don't need you to reproduce the shoddy ideas of half a century ago.

No more mini-frets, no more round radii, no more sticker logos!

[Jack Napalm]

If you knew it was a replica then you should have known it had a dumb ass sticker for a logo.

I agree, the replica/relic thing is out of control.

[danastas]

If you knew it was a replica then you should have known it had a dumb ass sticker for a logo.

I agree, the replica/relic thing is out of control.

This is true. I just never really paid that close attention to it.

I am now a proud owner of a Feder guitar. It doubles as an air conditioner as well!

[nhspike]

Well we can both be happy.
I love my Gibson/Kramer 1984 Re-Issue
And
They are not making them any more

[J_A / 540s]

The USA made Fender reissues have had the waterslide decal over the finish since they came out in 1982 Only the imported reissues have under the finish. There used to be a lot of decal issues, especially from late 80's -early 90's period but it's pretty rare to have a decal problem these days if it did not get wet either with water or polishes.

A lot of peeople like the 7.25 radius & small frets or they would not bother to make it. They might not be comfortable to some people but they are far from unplayable There are also many who prefer a flatter radius, so they did the Hot Rod series so peoeple can have it either way. Maybe they'll put out a Danastas Signature Hot Rod Series that has the decal under the clear coat

[danastas]

I can only go by my anecdotal information. I've talked to at least a dozen Strat players who feel as I do. My techie who also builds and has a great reputation boils when you mention the Fender custom shop.

I also highly doubt this statement: "Or they wouldn't bother to make it." The Grover Jackson series tells us this may not be the case.

As for the danastas series, it would be their most popular yet especially with MOP inlays spelling out my user name on the fretboard.

[Axewielder]

I saw a relic (at the MZ?) that had a "color on color" finish. It was basically made to look like a guitar that was one color, then worn down, then painted over with a different color, then worn again. That's taking things a bit far, I think.

[Bengal65]

You forgot it. Then,

I bought a Custom Shop Jeff Beck because it reminded me of my old '88 Strat Plus, that Beck's is based on. Big frets, wide radius, nice chunky neck, great electronics and a tough Poly finish. My ultimate Strat. Uh oh, it's a "signature" model though.

[shobet]

I saw a relic (at the MZ?) that had a "color on color" finish. It was basically made to look like a guitar that was one color, then worn down, then painted over with a different color, then worn again. That's taking things a bit far, I think.

That's due to some of the original custom coloured strats being done like that.

[DonP]

The Gibson got into the act. NThey got it right the first time when they reissued brand spanking new historics that looked, well, like brand spanking new guitars, longer tenons, beautiful.

Then they went to this VOS crap that dulled the guitars and tarnished the metal, and alongside that came crappy inlay jobs and peeling.

Murphy's and Custom Authentics came before VOS.

What crappy inlay jobs and peeling?

[danastas]

What crappy inlay jobs and peeling?

I've just been hearing about a lot more people than myself who have had to deal with the orange peel problem and also the inlays not being tight fits on recent Historic LPs.

[fuel0707]

I saw a relic (at the MZ?) that had a "color on color" finish. It was basically made to look like a guitar that was one color, then worn down, then painted over with a different color, then worn again. That's taking things a bit far, I think.

Like shobet said, there are a number of Strats, particularly from the '60's, that have a custom color over a regular sunburst finish. In some cases, it's suspected that either there was a flaw in the original sunburst or perhaps it was a rush job to put out a custom color, so a 'burst body was chosen and painted over.

If you want to read about, here's a fantastic article on Fender custom colors and the classic painting process: Fender custom colors

[DonP]

I've just been hearing about a lot more people than myself who have had to deal with the orange peel problem and also the inlays not being tight fits on recent Historic LPs.

Well, your hearing from me that my 2004 R0 is perfectly fine. It's a Custom Authentic, but that's not the reason I bought it. It was the cheapest historic LP I could find, it had a thin neck, and most importantly it sounds fantastic.

The fact of the matter with all of these aged guitars is that if people didn't buy them, companies wouldn't make them.

The fact that companies are making them, and charging more for them, and people are buying them, tells you they won't be stopping any time soon.

Personnally, I love checking out the Les Paul porn in Beauty of the Burst, but I could never bring myself to actually damaging any of my four LP's (or two SG's). In fact, my 63 SG had a severe case of buckle rash down to the wood, that I had Dan Erlewine repair (the guitar was re-fin'd once already before I bought it).

My Custom Authentic is "off to a good start" but I won't intentionally speed up the process. I kind of like the fact that if I do accidentally damage it (headstock chip for example), I can say to myself "custom relic'ing; +$100" i.e. I don't have to worry about being careful with it like my other spotless axes.

[straycat]

Leo Fender was a very cheap man and didn't like wasting money thats why you see solid colors over sunburst.The clay dots you see on the fretboard they were from floor tiles that had been replaced.We are talking a very cheap man.Hell I've seen neck plates with 2 different serial numbers one on the front one on the back.

[danastas]

Well, your hearing from me that my 2004 R0 is perfectly fine. It's a Custom Authentic, but that's not the reason I bought it. It was the cheapest historic LP I could find, it had a thin neck, and most importantly it sounds fantastic.

Oh, I definitely believe you can find a fine LP out there. I've owned about 10 of them this decade, and my most played guitar was a 57 Custom Black Beauty. Personally I love the all Mahogany Black Beauty no maple cap. But after a coule years even on that beauty the fretboard started lifting from the neck. I have personally seen a lot of problems, with the inlays being the most common one. Will that put me off from Gibson LPs? No, it won't. I love them. But quality control is bad. And because people like me still want one despite that fact, it may not improve.

Nonetheless, I have gone looking around at other companies and if I can find a Grosh in my price range, I'll jump on it.