From the outset, let me say that I have never been a fan of aged, or reliced, guitars…..until now…..
When my good friend Rob Mestric told me that he was going to launch a line of high end, hand crafted, reliced guitars, I was very excited for him, and knowing the level of his craftsmanship and attention to detail, I knew that they would be amazing. But I didn't particularly think that they were going to be for me, as the relic thing never really appealed to me.
Then Rob showed me one of his prototypes and I was blown away with the feel, sound and quality of it. I thought, oh yes, these are going to be next level good! Then the photos started going up on Rob's website as he was preparing the Foundational Run of 10 guitars for his official launch of Mestric Guitars at the Sydney Guitar Show in March, and I was stunned by the level of artistry on display!
My wife Lyn and I decided to travel down to Sydney to attend the Sydney Guitar Show and show our support for Rob and the launch of Mestric Guitars. And that was where I first saw all 10 guitars in the flesh at the same time, lined up on their stands on the Mestric Guitars booth. And what a sight they made! They really were the talk of the show, and attracted a lot of positive attention over the weekend. As I walked around the stand, one in particular caught my eye — #006 'Old Gold'….. Heavy relic Firemist Gold finish, alder body, heavily worn maple neck with aged rosewood fingerboard, perfectly aged metal and plastic parts….just gorgeous! And this reaction was coming from someone who had never liked reliced guitars — me! Of course I had to have a play of Old Gold, so Rob set me up through a Fender Deluxe amp, turned it up, and…..game over! I was smitten! The beautiful tones that just rolled effortlessly out of the hand wound pickups, the worn-in feel of the neck, like your favourite old pair of slippers (OK, I know it's a cliche, but it's true!)…..I just didn't want to put Old Gold down! Lyn looked at me and I could tell that she knew! We left the show, but Old Gold stayed on my mind. And I wasn't the only one! As it turns out, she was very popular at the show all weekend, with many people showing an interest in her and trying her out.
The following weekend we had a gig with our band, Bounty Hunters Band, at The Terrace in Port Macquarie, and Rob was coming to the show. I was actually surprised that Old Gold hadn't sold at this stage, as I knew how much interest had been shown in her! I asked Rob if there was a chance that he could bring her to our gig so that I could try her out in a real live band situation, and he said sure. So I played Old Gold for the first time in a live situation that night and I ended up playing her in every song! My Les Paul and Strat that I had taken to the gig stayed in their stands! The positive comments I got from so many people that night about the sound of Old Gold was amazing, and I personally was in seventh heaven! Such a great guitar! And once again, one look at Lyn's face told me that she knew too….Old Gold had to come home with us! And so, at the end of that gig, I pulled the trigger on Old Gold, and I have been playing her constantly since that night! And just as well I did, as a good guitar player friend of mine was at the gig, and he said that if I hadn't bought Old Gold, he was going to!
Old Gold is now my constant companion at gigs and in the studio, and with her distinctive reliced finish, she is a true one off and really is 'my guitar'. I am one happy Mestric Guitars player!
David Hinds is an Australian blues/rock guitarist with 57 years playing experience. He is the veteran of several high profile Aussie '70s era rock bands. David lives with his wife Lyn at Lake Macquarie NSW, where they perform regularly with their award winning Bounty Hunters Band.
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