By Rockstars, For Rockstars: Who Is Rock N Roll Relics?

The Rock N Roll Relics Range

From very humble beginnings, Rock N Roll Relics has grown from a one-man operation based out of a relative’s garage in North Hollywood to now, one of the most prominent and talked-about guitar workshops around the globe.

At Andertons, we are super excited to be one of just a few Rock N Roll Relics dealers around the world. In the build-up to the launch, I was lucky enough to pin owner and mastermind Billy Rowe (in between his busy tour schedule) and RNRR guru Phil for an hour to ask: Who are Rock N Roll Relics?

To say they are passionate about what they do is an understatement.

Billy Rowe: The Passion Behind RNRR

Growing up in San Francisco at the height of the 1970s Rock N Roll music scene, Billy eventually found himself being lured to the famed Hollywood Hills in California and the eruption of the hair metal and stadium rock music explosion of the 1980s. His band, Jetboy, found themselves crashing into the same music scene as bands like Guns N’ Roses and Poison.

Back in the early days, Billy recalled how each band occupied a different territory in Hollywood and how each band would take it in turn, headlining the show in their area while hosting everyone else. It was a thriving scene and although Jetboy split in the early ‘90s, Billy spent the subsequent decades working as a touring guitarist for other bands as well as working behind the scenes as a guitar technician for some of the bigger touring bands. He still plays today with the American hard rock band, Buckcherry as well as the reformed incarnation of Jetboy.

The Rock N Roll Relics Story

In 2005 Billy decided that he wanted to blend his obsession of vintage ‘relic’d’ guitars, his love of premium boutique instruments and his passion for guitar building and maintenance. From a makeshift workshop in his Garage, a basic DIY website and a store on eBay, Billy started Rock N Roll Relics. He utilised a can-do attitude along with his vast network of guitarists, musicians, dealers and just about anyone he’d met along the way during his decades of touring and recording to grow RNRR into the company it is today.

Now a company of 4 builders plus Billy who still spends every free second between gigs and tours in the workshop building and painting, RNRR are one of the most regarded premium builders on the scene. Clients include Glen Campbell, Gilby Clarke (Guns N Roses/Kings Of Chaos), Bruce Kulick (Kiss/Grand Funk Railroad), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Bob Rock (Metallica and The Cult Producer), Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent) and Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), to name just a few.

Rock N Roll Relics Models

From retro double-cuts to uniquely curvy offsets that ooze attitude, Billy & his crew have carved out a punchy line-up of guitar and bass models to choose from. Let’s take a closer look at each design:

Revenge

• Rock N Roll Relics modern offset. A completely original design that somehow looks like it’s always belonged. Available in Custom, Standard and Junior models.

Thunders

• One of the most famous double-cutaway electric guitar designs available in Custom, Standard and Bass models.

Lightning

• A Mahogany hollow-body with striking lightning F-holes, available in Custom and Junior.

Starfighter

• Their take in the double-cut Jet design offered in Custom and Junior editions.

Built the Right Way

Billy and his team understand the importance of first getting the right materials before even starting to think about building a guitar. Premium tonewoods such as African Mahogany, Spanish Cedar, Alder, Ash and Maple are hand-picked by the team for their lightness. From there, like many of the other major players, the instruments are first roughly cut out by CNC before getting finished by hand by RNRR. They use the tried and tested old-school technique of taping and gluing all binding by hand carefully scraping off any access. Fretboard edges get rolled and of course, every Rock N Roll Relics electric guitar and bass gets sprayed with a Nitrocellulose Lacquer that has been specially chosen due to its likeness to the same formula that was used in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Once cured, the relicing begins, usually done in a secret and creative way which is unique to each builder.

Finally, all electronics and pickups are installed. Rock N Roll Relics wind their own 50s and 60s-inspired hot humbuckers and P90s, but also offer pickups from most other major pickup brands. The rest, as they say, is history.

Our Rock N Roll Relics stock was spec’d up by Ben & the Andertons Music Co. guitar team. Here’s what he said about the experience of working with them:

“We spent hours with Billy and the RNRR team discussing the spec of these guitars, the colours, and the one-off custom designs to really capture the essence of what the brand is about. To say they are passionate about what they do is an understatement.”

“The design and spec choices we made on our Rock n’ Roll Relics widely vary. On one hand, we wanted no-nonsense rock machines – single pickups, authentic relic jobs, and classic colours, perfect for gigging musicians. On the other hand, we wanted spectacular custom designs, paint jobs you haven’t seen before, plucked for the wildest imagination for that player who wants a truly unique instrument. Although these are two very different choices, they are all undoubtedly the most rockstar guitars we’ve ever had at Andertons Music Co.”

“My personal favourite is the Thunders in TV Yellow. A truly iconic, simple, lightweight design. That classic wraparound tailpiece & P-90 kicks like a mule. The ’60s-profile neck is comfortable and slick to navigate, and the fretwork is exceptional.”

How To Order A Custom Rock N Roll Relics Guitar

What’s even more exciting is that Rock N Roll Relics is a Custom Shop. This means that  if you want any of their models with a unique finish or with special electronics, they can do that for you! If you’re interested, you can contact our team at the Guitar Gallery to find out more & place an order. In the meantime, you can visit our Guitar Gallery (nestled in Guildford, Surrey) to try one out for yourself – you wont be disappointed!

More Info

• Shop Rock N Roll Relics at Andertons Music Co.
• Check out the Andertons Music Co. Guitar Gallery
• Shop All Premium Electric Guitars
• Shop All Premium Bass Guitars
• What Is A Relic Guitar?