Relic Guitars

Relic Guitars have gained a large and dedicated following in recent years. While many of us love the look of a genuine vintage instrument, sadly the very high price tag and rarity make them unobtainable for most. Relic guitars allow you to get a similar look at a fraction of the cost! A relic guitar is a new guitar which has been made to look like an older instrument. These guitars usually use vintage-style nitrocellulose finishes due to the way it ages, and because that is what was originally used! The idea of relicing is to authentically reproduce the look and feel of a guitar that has already seen years of action on the road. This ranges from light relicing right through to a heavy aged look. It is a long and attentive process carried out by skilled craftspeople; we do not recommend giving it a go yourself!

While well-worn vintage instruments look fantastic, it can be hard to justify the price, and sometimes they can be less reliable than modern guitars - with relic guitars you get the best of both worlds! Relic guitars can range from quite subtle to quite extreme - a light relic might be a guitar with a small amount of checking in the finish and plenty of space for the owner to create the wear and tear, while a heavy relic will often have large areas of finish missing and tarnishing on the hardware.

There are many companies offering relic guitars, from Fender and Gibson's most iconic models to Atkin, Sandberg and Suhr with their exceptional instruments. While most relic guitars are high end, there is even a budget-friendly option with Vintage. Another fine example is the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab which recreates iconic models such as the 1959 Les Paul with very impressive levels of accuracy.

Our relic guitars come included with a guitar case.

Why Should I Choose a Relic Guitar?

• An authentic vintage look at a fraction of the price
• All the style and coolness of a well-loved instrument
• Modern reliability
• Expertly crafted by highly skilled luthiers
• Each guitar has its own unique character
• It will wear even more over time, showing your personality and playing style