[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by funkStrat_97

Isn't that what the whole 'relicing' thing is all about? I'm not a acoustic player, but someone told me that a common trick to accelrate the aging process (and thus impart mojo), a common trick is to place the guitar in front of a stereo speaker with music playing at moderate volume for several hours a day. The longer you let it sit and "absorb" the sound, the quicker it will settle and deliver its sweetness.

Okay, the aging process you describe does work, but it has nothing to do with relicing.

I don't understand relicing, but some guitars do seem to come with magic pixy dust in them. Often they get played hard because they are so awesome.

[funkStrat_97]

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

Okay, the aging process you describe does work, but it has nothing to do with relicing.

I don't understand relicing, but some guitars do seem to come with magic pixy dust in them. Often they get played hard because they are so awesome.

I get that; relicing is basically a cosmetic process. But the idea is that if the guitar looks like it's been played to death then it will have some form of "mojo" which is both intagible and subjective.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by funkStrat_97

I get that; relicing is basically a cosmetic process. But the idea is that if the guitar looks like it's been played to death then it will have some form of "mojo" which is both intagible and subjective.

I don't think thats what most people are going for. I think people are looking for something that looks and feels well played. There is a definite different feel between a new nitro finish and one that is worn nigh through or worn raw.

Usually, I think relicing is done to present the image that you have played much more than you actually have. (My opinion on the matter, not a hard, cold fact.) Either that or to present a not bright and shiny image.

[gtrdave]

Originally Posted by funkStrat_97

I get that; relicing is basically a cosmetic process. But the idea is that if the guitar looks like it's been played to death then it will have some form of "mojo" which is both intagible and subjective.

Mojo is in the hands, not in the instrument.
imho, of course.

[tenwatt]

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

I don't think thats what most people are going for. I think people are looking for something that looks and feels well played. There is a definite different feel between a new nitro finish and one that is worn nigh through or worn raw.

Usually, I think relicing is done to present the image that you have played much more than you actually have. (My opinion on the matter, not a hard, cold fact.) Either that or to present a not bright and shiny image.

I agree. It the whole "relicing" trend is really ridiculous to me. I have guitars that have hundereds, if not thousands, of stage hours and NONE of them look as bad as the "road worn" type guitars. The nickel might wear off, there might be a FEW, MINOR dents, dings and buckle rash spots but none of them look trashed. Most of them look pretty spotless. The guitar I play the most could pass for brand new with the exception of fret wear. My guitars are well aged and played not well WORN.

Originally Posted by gtrdave

Mojo is in the hands, not in the instrument.
imho, of course.

I don't know, I've played some guitars that played so well and sounded so good that I felt like I sounded and played better than I actually do.

[gtrdave]

Originally Posted by tenwatt

I agree. It the whole "relicing" trend is really ridiculous to me.

Me too.

Originally Posted by tenwatt

I don't know, I've played some guitars that played so well and sounded so good that I felt like I sounded and played better than I actually do.

I hear what you're saying, but I don't know if I'd called that "mojo".
Maybe because the whole "mojo" thing to me is more musician myth and superstition than truth.
I have old shoes and pants and T-shirts that are more comfortable than the rest, but that's because they're nicely worn in. The same goes for guitars and yet the mojo myth rarely is applied to other physical non-musical objects. For example, why wouldn't an old race car with a few thousand miles on it have "mojo"? Because it's probably liable to fall apart if pushed hard. An old roof that leaks does not have mojo, it needs to be repaired or replaced. A typical road in New York City that's had millions of vehicles driving on it does not have mojo, it needs to be repaved.
So I say 'bah, humbug...mojo tojo'.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by gtrdave

Mojo is in the hands, not in the instrument.
imho, of course.

I think mojo = nice woods +proper electronics + good setup really.

I think of it as a guitar where all the parts have come together in a bit of an exceptional way, say a really nice LP. Quite frankly, a lot of 30 year old LPs are nothing special. If the wood is not great, or something, they may seem subpar, but when you find one that has all you want and dial it in just right, and the guitar seems to inspire you to play, thats for me what I would describe as the "it" factor.

That said, I think a setup is the biggest single factor in the supposed mojo of a guitar.

Several of my guitars look like relics... They are old. My '51 the neck is noticably worn down by hands.

[funkStrat_97]

Originally Posted by tenwatt

I agree. It the whole "relicing" trend is really ridiculous to me. I have guitars that have hundereds, if not thousands, of stage hours and NONE of them look as bad as the "road worn" type guitars.

My 17-year old American Standard Strat is in nearly pristine condition. I couldn't imagine beating it up for the sake of having some supposed SRV-esqe "mojo".

[tenwatt]

Originally Posted by funkStrat_97

My 17-year old American Standard Strat is in nearly pristine condition. I couldn't imagine beating it up for the sake of having some supposed SRV-esqe "mojo".

I feel the same way. My PRS is 18 years old and has only been owned by one other person than myself. It has thousands of playing/gigging hours on it. Can you tell? This pic was taken last year before a pickup swap but it still looks exactly the same other than having covered pups. The nickel is pretty worn on the top of the bridge where my hand rests but that's the only place it shows it's age.

My 43 year old SG look pretty good for it's age too along with my 45 year old Fender Duo Sonic II. They both were, also, only owned by one other person than myself.

A guitar doesn't have to be trashed to have "it" (mojo) but I do believe "it" requires some break in time along with the qualities BSPE mentioned.