BASHED UP ’N’ BRUISED
Ageing and relicing new guitars is very much a part of the guitar world in 2020. Here are some alternatives to the big names…
VINTAGE V100 ICON £449
Vintage’s Icon range houses many lookalikes that are also given the ‘bash it up a bit’ treatment. They’ll get the purists annoyed, but there’s demand for what are good low-end guitars. In its Distressed Lemon Drop finish with reversed neck pickup, this one chases a Peter Green vibe. Vintage also offers Strat- and Tele-style V6 and V52 models, while the VS6 in Distressed Cherry knocks off a Gibson SG. www.jhs.co.uk FRIEDMAN VINTAGE-T £2,999
Dave Friedman and Grover Jackson are creating some highly regarded and very often reliced guitars to complement an extensive amp and effects range. Expect plenty of the usual suspects with the likes of the Vintage-S and Vintage-T models, while designs such as the Cali reference Grover Jackson’s former glories. Lots of options and a nice beat-up vibe if you want it. www.friedmanamplification.com
SC RELICS £SEE WEBSITE
Making quite a name for itself in the UK with its aged nitro necks and bodies, Scott Cameron’s SC Relics is typical of a more home-spun take on ageing and relicing. While offering all sorts of bodies and necks for partscaster builds, not to mention a refinish and restoration service, SC Relics will also now offer a T, S or offset full build service starting around £1,400. High-quality stuff. https://screlics.co.uk
FENDER ROAD WORN £USED
No longer offered by Fender, the extensive Mexican-made, nitro-finished Road Worn series might not have featured the quality of ageing you see from the Custom Shop, but they were nowhere near the prices of those, either. Thankfully, used examples are plentiful, not to mention bodies, necks and parts, which make these excellent modding platforms for the budding master builder. www.reverb.com
ROCK N ROLL RELICS THUNDERS £2,895
Founded by Billy Rowe in 2005 and with a client list that includes Billy Joe Armstrong, Gilby Clarke and Bob Rock, here’s a guitar company that’s at home with both quality production, ageing and relicing. Most of the classic styles are covered, as here with this Cherry Red Thunders single-cut, which also includes ThroBak 101 covered humbuckers and adjustable wrapover bridge. www.rocknrollrelics.net
JAMES TRUSSART £LOTS!
One of the pioneers of distressed guitars, James Trussart creates artful pieces originally centred around rusted steel bodies imprinted with alligator skin and leaves. Combine that approach with great necks and quality hardware, and it’s little surprise many top pros use ’em. Trussart makes a range of metal and wood-bodied instruments that blur the line between instrument making and art. http://jamestrussart.com