Patina: The New Standard for Affordable Relic Guitars

Quick Summary

In this article, we’ll explore Patina Guitars’ new lineup of vintage-looking and relic guitars, including the 3 Series, 4 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series, and explain some of the jargon associated. 

Have you always wanted a vintage guitar - but without the hefty price tag?

If you’ve always wanted a vintage-looking guitar but aren’t comfortable with the ever-skyrocketing pricepoints, Patina Guitars might have the ideal solution for you.

Their new line of guitars encapsulate that vintage feel without a boutique price point. With four distinct series - 3, 4, 6 and 7,  all featuring nitrocellulose finishes and stainless steel frets - there’s bound to be a guitar with the right look, feel and sound for relic lovers, without the custom shop price. 

But before we dive into the features of each individual Series, let’s first dive into a bit of jargon - specifically, the two buzz phrases around these guitars that make them the most special. 

What is a relic guitar? 

If you’re new to the world of guitars, or you’re only just beginning to explore vintage, the term ‘relic’ might currently be meaningless to you. 

When you hear the word ‘relic’, the mind conjures images of ancient artefacts - something left over from another time. While this imagery exists in the same pool of ideas as a ‘relic’ guitar, the meaning here is slightly different. 

Relic guitars aren’t actually from another time, though they sure look like it. These are new instruments that have been intentionally finished in a way that makes them look and feel as though they’ve already been played for decades prior. 

This look can be achieved by including stylistic choices such as paint scratches, nicotine-stained plastic, and exposed wood. A reliable method of achieving a ‘relic’ look (which is often reserved only for high-end or true vintage instruments) is using nitrocellulose lacquer.

Why has Patina used a nitrocellulose lacquer finish?

Nitrocellulose lacquer is used on Patina guitars because it offers a thin and breathable finish,  prone to cracks (checking) and yellowing, that is bound to develop its own unique aging aesthetic over time. 

For relic guitars, nitro-lacquer can be used for artificial aging prior to purchase, which is achieved by either creating extreme temperature shifts to crack the lacquer, or sanding away certain areas to give the impression of them being naturally worn.

Exploring the different Patina Guitars series’ 

All four series of Patina Guitars possess the following unifying characteristics:

• Stainless steel frets

• Roasted maple necks

• Alnico V pickups

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish

• Paulownia body

The main difference is that Series 3 and 4 guitars will arrive clean to age naturally, whereas Series 6 and 7 guitars will come with light relicing. 

Let’s dive into the unique features of each series. 

The Patina 3 Series

The Patina 3 Series guitars come in two distinct styles - the PS-3 (SSS Double Cut) and PT3 (SS Single Cut). 

They feature a lightweight paulownia body, roasted maple neck, and rosewood fretboard. 

Using paulownia as the main tonewood for these guitars produces a bright and clear tone with warm mids and clear lows, creating a punchy vintage sound overall. Thanks to the low density of the tonewood, it’s highly resonant and allows excellent sustain. This makes it suitable for genres such as country and rock’n’roll.

As mentioned previously, the 3 Series guitars come ‘clean’ to age naturally, so they’re a great choice for those looking for a vintage look that is entirely unique and tailored to their own use of the guitar over time.

Patina 3 Series Guitar Specifications:

• Options for either single cutaway (PT-3) or double-cutaway (PS-3)

• Options for either SS (PT-3) or SSS (PS-3) pickup configurations

• Paulownia body 

• Quarter sawn roasted maple neck with satin finish

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish, designed to age naturally 

• Rosewood fretboard with luminescent side dot inlay

• 42mm bone nut

• Double action truss rod

• 22 jumbo stainless steel rounded edge frets

• Tremolo bridge

• Chrome hardware

• Available in Sherwood Green, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White, Black and Sunburst

   

The Patina 4 Series 

Unlike the 3 Series, Patina 4 Series guitars only have one style - the PS-4 (no association with Sony). 

These HSS double-cutaway guitars feature two single coils and one humbucker pickup for ultimate flexibility, giving you a sound that is both thick and sustain-rich yet bright and snappy. This makes the guitar an excellent choice for various genres, from metal to funk. 

Like the 3 Series, these guitars are designed to age naturally as you play them, achievable thanks to the nitrocellulose lacquer finish that’s been applied to the paulownia tonewood.

Pricing for the 4 Series remains relatively similar to the 3 Series. The key differences are that 4 Series guitars are only available in one style - double-cutaway - and feature a HSS pickup configuration.

Patina 4 Series Guitar Specifications:

• Double-cutaway shape

• HSS pickup configuration

• Paulownia body 

• Quarter sawn roasted maple neck with satin finish

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish, designed to age naturally 

• Rosewood fretboard with luminescent side dot inlay

• 42mm bone nut

• Double action truss rod

• 22 jumbo stainless steel rounded edge frets

• Tremolo bridge

• Chrome hardware

• Available in Sherwood Green, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White and Black

The Patina 6 Series

Now for the relic guitars. The Patina 6 Series come in two styles - the PS-6 (SSS) and PT-6 (SS). 

With a three single-coil pickup configuration, the double-cutaway shaped PS-6 offers a bright and articulate sound, perfect for funk and blues players. This sound is further exaggerated by the use of paulownia tonewood, pushing an airy sound with clear mids and good levels of sustain. 

The single-cutaway PT-6 features two single coils, offering more of a twangy tone better suited to rock, indie and blues. 

The nitrocellulose finish has been lightly reliced to give the look and feel of a well-loved vintage guitar from the start - but the guitar is sure to develop more of a unique vintage aesthetic and personality the more you play it.

Patina 6 Series Guitar Specifications:

• Options for either single cutaway (PT-6) or double-cutaway (PS-6)

• Options for either SS (PT-6) or SSS (PS-6) pickup configurations

• Paulownia body 

• Quarter sawn roasted maple neck with satin finish

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish, lightly reliced

• Rosewood fretboard with luminescent side dot inlay

• 42mm bone nut

• Double action truss rod

• 22 jumbo stainless steel rounded edge frets

• Tremolo bridge

• Chrome hardware

• Available in Sherwood Green, Purple, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White, and Sea Foam Green

The Patina 7 Series

Similar to the 4 Series, the 7 Series Patina guitars come with one style and pickup configuration option: the double-cutaway HSS PS-7.

This pickup configuration offers versatility for multi-genre players, suitable for both high-gain sounds (thanks to the bridge humbucker), or those classic neck and middle position Strat single-coil tones.

Like the 6 Series, Patina 7 Series guitars will arrive with an already lightly reliced nitrocellulose finish, offering a vintage, well-played vibe that will only develop further the more the guitar is played and ages.

Patina 7 Series Guitar Specifications:

• Double-cutaway shape

• HSS pickup configuration

• Paulownia body 

• Quarter sawn roasted maple neck with satin finish

• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish with light relicing

• Rosewood fretboard with luminescent side dot inlay

• 42mm bone nut

• Double action truss rod

• 22 jumbo stainless steel rounded edge frets

• Tremolo bridge

• Chrome hardware

• Available in Sherwood Green, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White and Purple

Patina Guitars: Redefining the mid-tier vintage market

With a variety of features usually limited to the most high-end of guitars - think stainless steel frets, nitrocellulose finishes - Patina’s new lineup are certainly a budget-friendly, quality option for vintage lovers looking to avoid a boutique price tag. 

Whether you’re looking for a more personalised aging process with the 3 and 4 Series, or want a bit of personality already built in with the 6 and 7 Series, with Patina you’re guaranteed a vintage looking guitar for a very reasonable price. The guitar you’ve always wanted has just become the guitar you can afford!

Key Takeaways

• Patina have released four series of guitars: 3 Series, 4 Series, 6 Series & 7 Series

• The 6 Series and 7 Series are lightly reliced 

• The 3 Series and 4 Series arrive clean to age naturally as you play them

• All of these Patina guitars feature a nitrocellulose lacquer finish

• All of the guitars feature a paulownia body with a maple neck

• The 3 Series and 6 Series offer different choices for body shape and pickup configurations

• The 4 Series and 7 Series offer only one option: a double-cutaway guitar with a HSS pickup configuration