Author Topic: James Hetfield Guitar (Read 223 times)

phylo · « **on:** April 15, 2009, 09:12:47 AM »

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-James-Hetfield-Iron-Cross-Electric-Guitar?sku=580896&src=3TP9DE&ZYXSEM=0

This seems just unbelievably ridiculous to me. Maybe at 1/10th of the price I could understand a diehard fans desires. But c'mon now, 10k? even the neck and fretboard are distressed.

I wonder how much you could sell a box full of splinters for if you called it a Pete Townsend Model (Distressed)

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2009, 09:37:30 AM »

Jon:

Check out this one. Makes the Hetfield seem like a bargain! I guess some people just have too much $. lol

Bill, tgo

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2009, 09:52:59 AM »

Am I the only one who thinks the relic treatment on guitars is asinine? I can't imagine a better way to say I'm a poseur, than to buy a guitar someone else has beat up for you.

phylo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2009, 10:32:46 AM »

i guess the Hetfield IS a bargain.

I nearly shat when I noticed the ciggie burns on the headstock of the EVH. Clearly worth $$$ for that alone.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2009, 12:14:15 PM »

I have several relic'd guitars. I sent my Gibson R9 to Historic Makeovers, who did a fantastic job - the most incredible Nitro repaint, natural finish checking, rolled binding and scattered, tasteful wear spots. I love the look of a well worn (not abused) Les Paul or Strat. But it would take me several lifetimes of playing as I do to have this happen naturally. So I took a shortcut. For me, it's not asinine.

Things like the Frankenstrat that replicate every nuance of someone else's career on a guitar are another matter altogether. But, if you're an obsessed fan...

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2009, 12:25:38 PM »

Sorry, I shouldn't have shot my mouth off. Different strokes for different folks and so forth . . .

I guess what gets me is that a vintage guitar is worth so much more when it doesn't show signs of age. And what does it mean if you beat up a relic while you own it, does it go up in value?

dnburgess · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2009, 02:58:17 PM »

If I had to take a P-bass to a gig, I would most likely take the Fender Pino Relic or Roadworn. The Pino is actually a great bass - one of the nicest traditional Ps that I have played. The Roadworn is also nice - good value for money IMO.

Some gigs you just don't want to turn up with a shiny new instrument.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:35:47 PM »

Kevin,

Don't worry about it. Actually, the madness doesn't stop there. There are only certain guitars that I like the aged look for. I've sent three vintage BC Rich guitars to Neal Moser for complete refinish work. Basically paying him to undo to them what I paid Historic Makeovers to do to my Les Paul. It's pure insanity!

jalevinemd · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:28:55 PM »

David,

Yes. Two thumbs up on the Fender Road Worn guitars. I bought two of the 50's Strats (one black, one sunburst). They have a wonderfully broken-in feel. The Aging job is very nice - maybe a bit overdone on the fretboard wear, though I've seen plenty of vintage Strats with similar patterns. The Tex Mex pickups sound awesome. And, most of all, for the price you're getting a nitro finish which is usually found only on Fender Custom Shop instruments. Why anyone would pay upwards of $6000 for a Masterbuilt Relic when these are available for $950 is beyond me.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:26:26 PM »

Jonathan:

Now I'm confused - didn't you sell your Series I because it showed its age?

As for roadworn or reliced I've found the perfect recipe:

1. Buy a guitar
2. Play it for a quarter century or more

It worked great on my Strat that I bought in 1975 and played almost exclusively until a few short years ago.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:37:06 PM »

Bill,

That's what I mean by the insanity. I like worn Les Pauls and Strats. Alembics and other such beauties I like pristine. Had I kept the Series I, I was going to send it back to Santa Rosa for a refinish. But I found someone who loved her as she was.

I think your relic recipe is perfect and I'm jealous of you and all other musicians who have the opportunity to play out like you do, with so many people in so many places. Unfortunately, my guitars don't see that kind of use. Hopefully they will at some point. But right now, what took your Strat 25 years to age gracefully would take mine 250!

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:36:04 AM »

As for...'reliced'....
OK, now I've got to say something. Without going into the wisdom of paying extra for a pre-damaged instrument, this drives me nuts - relic is not a verb!!! Sorry - turning off paper-grading mode & stepping away from the keyboard....

Peter

jacko · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:54:10 AM »

I'm with kevin on this one. Can't see the point of paying someone a fortune to beat up my instrument when I'm perfectly capable of doing so myself even though, as Bill points out, it may take 25 years to achieve what some guy at fender can do in minutes with a power sander. I can just hear the screams from the relic shop now ;-)

Graeme (who can account for every scrape on all his instruments)

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2009, 01:59:55 PM »

C'mon, you guys are being to critical of those who would buy a Van Halen replica for $25K. Didn't you notice that it contains a 1971 quarter?

bracheen · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2009, 06:30:15 AM »

What I noticed about the Van Halen guitar was the review from the guy who says he owns four of them and hates them. I have to wonder what he was thinking when he bought the second one.