Relic Guitar Stickers? It had to happen eventually. In an industry where people willingly pay a premium to have a master builder beat up a brand-new instrument with keys and razor blades, we have officially reached the logical next step: peel-and-stick structural damage.
What started as a standard satirical jab from the gear world’s resident meme lords, Chibson USA, has inexplicably become a real product. South Korean builder Dame Guitars looked at Chibson’s spoof post about “relic decal stickers” and, instead of laughing, apparently saw a business model. They built them.
Relic Guitar Stickers
Under Dame’s product announcement, a seemingly stunned Chibson USA commented: “When we came up with this idea, it was only supposed to be a joke.”
Welcome to modern guitar culture, where satire is just a product development pipeline.
We recently wrote our Sandpaper & Regret: The Hilariously Bad World of Failed Guitar Relics article, but this is possibly even more sad/hilarious.
The Craze for Pre-Beaten Gear
To understand how we got here, you have to look at the current guitar market. Pre-aged guitars are booming.
Fender’s Custom Shop is drowning in “Heavy Relic” requests, and Gibson’s Murphy Lab spends countless hours meticulously cracking nitrocellulose lacquer so players can look like they’ve toured the world for forty years—even if they only play in their spare bedroom.
But those premium, artificial battle scars cost thousands of extra dollars. For the budget-conscious player who wants the “road-worn” aesthetic without actually having to, you know, go on the road, options were limited.
Until now.
How Do They Actually Look?
If you can swallow the initial layer of irony, the stickers are surprisingly effective—at least on camera.
The decals mimic the look of exposed, raw wood peeking out from beneath a chipped finish. Applied along the contours and edges of a standard S-type guitar body, they give the illusion of an instrument that has seen its fair share of sweaty dive bars. Because wear and tear is inherently messy, you don’t need any precision to apply them; an imperfect placement only makes the “damage” look more authentic.
Are they going to fool a vintage collector standing two feet away from your rig? Absolutely not. But from the back of a dimly lit venue or on a compressed TikTok video, they look close enough to the real thing to satisfy the aesthetic itch.
Best of all? They cost 9,500 KRW (roughly $6.20) and are 100% reversible. If you decide you no longer want to pose as a weathered blues veteran, you can simply peel your street cred right off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are relic guitar stickers?
They are adhesive decals designed to mimic the appearance of chipped paint and exposed wood on an electric guitar, giving it a “road-worn” look without causing permanent physical damage.
How much do the Dame Guitars relic decals cost?
The stickers are priced at 9,500 South Korean Won, which converts to approximately $6.20 USD.
Will these stickers damage my guitar’s actual finish?
Because they are designed as temporary decals, they should peel off cleanly, making the modification entirely reversible. However, players with delicate or vintage nitrocellulose finishes should always exercise caution when applying any adhesives.
The Verdict: Pure Genius or Peak Posturing?
Our Rating: 2.2/10
Look, it’s easy to roll your eyes at this. The idea of buying stickers to pretend your guitar has been heavily played is the ultimate shortcut in a hobby already obsessed with appearance.
That said, as a $6 alternative to spending $5,000 at a custom shop—or taking a literal hammer to your prized Stratocaster—it’s completely harmless.
It’s a low-stakes, reversible bit of fun that perfectly captures the absurdity of the modern gear market. If you want to trick your Instagram followers for the price of a latte, go right ahead.
Your secret is safe with us.
#Relic Guitar Stickers
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