DonCarlos Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 Gibson J45......great guitar, but sometimes I get tired of coddling this thing. My other guitars have always just been outside their case, never humidified, never wiped down after every session, never wore long sleeves or a cover cloth when playing it, they have never been pinned, boned, vibrated or virtuosoed. Never damaged any of my others, just enjoyed them. Gets a bit tiring, coddling this thing like it is a baby; but I do not want a damaged guitar. For the price we pay for these, they should come with a nurse. Strats are so much more forgiving. Even my Epi Casino. Even my old Korean acoustic (which in over twenty years has never cracked or warped....and projects much louder than the Gibson). -Okay...... done with this rant....but I do want to know am I the only good looking primate that tires of this vigilance to a guitar? Okay time to take my meds now (and check on my dampit). And please do not report me for this outburst to Gibson, I do not want to be put on a blacklist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr newhaven Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 i agree with you to a point DonCarlos... I feel like we shouldn't coddle the guitar...just dont ABUSE it and you should be fine... its a mental thing i feel like more than a necessary thing...gibby's are expensive and a lot of times people wait a decent amount of time before they can get one...but that doesnt mean they weren't meant to be PLAYED! its like going to a casino...either you play to win or to not lose...both are completely different! i feel like you know how to properly care for a guitar...try a week without coddling it or keep your coddling to a once a week check-up or something along those lines...if you notice an issue...address it right away... its like that new car syndrome or new cell phone syndrome...whatever...youre worried/nervous over its shiny new-ness right until you get your first scratch or dent! haha good luck to you and i think the fact that you are on this site...that alone speaks volumes as to how you value your guitar... i have a suspicion that what you consider "neglect" if you will...is in fact better than the way an average player looks after his gear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampa Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 I was lucky when I got my Gibson F-25. It had already been through the mill. It had been abused and the top was shoddily refinished so I never had any need to coddle. It lives on its stand in my living room, ready at a moment's notice to be played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 I don't coddle mine. Don't abuse it either. Never wipe it down after playing, not even the strings, but then again I don't pick it up to play with barbeque lickin's all over my fingers. I don't toss it around the room, but I do lean it against the sofa or the TV stand; rarely put it in a guitar stand. Sits out of it's case most times in my office, propped up against a little bench. I don't use it as a flyswatter, nor as a canoe paddle. I don't sit out on the porch and play when it's raining and I don't leave it laying in the yard with the rake. I don't use a garden spade as a pick and I don't use any kind of power tool on it. Just play it....hard......and enjoy it. Why do you think your Gibson needs more coddling than your other guitars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr newhaven Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 i think it might be based on the perception of price. usually we value things that cost more...just because of the resources needed to procure the guitar! its not that a cheaper guitar can't be valued higher...but i feel like...at least with me...that when you plunk down a few thousand on a guitar...your worried that you will do something stupid to diminish the quality? maybe value? not sure... but im weird...actually based on reading a few posts in this forum (other sections of course!) i think we all might be...we dont do this for the most part as a form of investment...we play/collect/buy guitars out of passion...and if we keep that in mind and forget about the $$ involved you might be more at ease?? i dont know im reaching for straws here! haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 I don't treat mine like gold, by any means... that's not to say I'm not careful, though. I wipe it down if it looks dirty. I don't clean strings. I put the humidifier in if I know it's dry, but I only have a humidifier because it came with the guitar - my other two solid-wood acoustics don't get humidified. The humidifier I use in the winter is as much for me as for the guitars. Maybe it's because my J-45 was used when I got it - and already had a side crack, but I don't treat the others that I've purchased new any differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blsuedeshu Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 Great Question! Now that I am a proud owner of beautiful Keb Mo, there was a temption of getting all "new car door ding paranoia" about the guitar. My sole intention for buying a small bodied Gibson in the first place was to have small guitar laying around so I can just pick it up, whenever, and play. Nothing fussy. Well, my eyes got big and with my nose wide open when I saw and played the KB I bought it. I have to admit that when I first got it I was guarded and and handled it with kid gloves. After a while, getting it out was too diliberate and it took the fun and spontinaity out of it; just the opposite of what I bought it for. So now it's in the living room, on a guitar stand and available to play when the mood strikes me. Don't get me wrong, I try and keep it out of harms way (I don't freak out if the dog wags its tail on it anymore), but I keep it out. It gets dusty and and I polish it when it needs it and not after every playing. I don't monitor the humidity on an hourly basis. I just enjoy it. It's a beautiful piece, great to play and more durable and forgiving than we give it credit for. It's about playing not worshiping the thing. Although. a J-35 would look great next to it......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 I am a firm believer in humidification. That is my one "anal" type behavior, but to be honest, I live in Minnesota where winter temps can crack good wood in no time! So during the summer, I enjoy all my babies outside of the case basking in 40-45 % humidity in my music room but during the other 9 months a year (alright, maybe 6-7) I keep them cased and humidified. When I am playing them, I just enjoy them and don't worry. My beat up 64 LG1 is a testament to how cool and great a beat up guitar can be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfden1 Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 A few years ago I bought a used custom Santa Cruz from a friend. It had been made for him and came with one of the most beautiful sunburst finishes I've ever seen. My friend said that, although he loved it, he rarely played it because he was afraid to ding it. And even though I told myself I wasn't going to baby it, I ended up doing exactly that and finally sold it. Too much money tied up in a guitar that didn't get played all that much. On the other hand, when I had a J-45 I treated it like, well, a guitar, and never worried about it. I think a J-45 is one of the most comfortable guitars out there, a real porch guitar and not meant to be coddled. Take decent care of it, but don't worry about dings and scratches. My old LG-2 has a repaired side crack, chips in the finish, and is worn down to bare wood on the treble side of the soundhole. A great old warrior that's made a lot of music and still going strong. I like em a bit worn, it takes the worry out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I've got a pricey Gibson acoustic. I treat it just like my other acoustics. It's out of it's case from April through October. In the winter months they're cased and humidified. I like having them out - it's much easier to grab one, even if it's just for a few minutes, so I find I play them more often. And that's the best part of owning them - playing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I don't coddle mine (anymore). I view them just like I view cars and horses..... they are to be functional, and they are going to get dirty. They are going to get scratched. When you take them out of the case/garage/stable there's always a risk they're going to get damaged. Period. But that doesn't mean I'm haphazard with them. For example, I wouldn't play my guitar while sitting on a horse in front of an oncoming car Bottom line, like Ksdaddy says, it's not a hothouse flower; play it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Great thread! I do wipe my Gibby's down after every playing session. I'm a bit more "anal" over my SJ than the SongBird. The SJ is only played at very nice "upscale" gigs where there is no danger of other musicians banging in to it with their instruments, or other hazards. But in being selective, it's not played quite as much which in turn is taking longer for it to "open up" fully. The SongBird, on the other hand, is my "beater". I still use extreme caution with it, but this guitar gets played, and played hard! I gig with it at least twice a week, plus practice time. With that said, the SongBird is twice as loud as the SJ. It has really "opened up" incredibly! Granted, these are two different animals: rosewood vs. mahogany, but the SB just blows away the SJ. Lately, I've been grabbing the SJ with a kind of "what the hell" attitude just to expose it to some "heavy -hitting" with the bluegrass band. Ya know, give it some "air time" and maybe a little new "mojo". I mean, that's what these expensive guitars were built for, right? They can handle it! A big difference between USE and ABUSE, and CARE and I DON'T CARE! Hey GG! Your new avatar looks like mine except yours are real and mine is animated! Wait a minute, that didn't sound right.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Great thread indeed. I think most of us treat them generally the same way. Starts out with coddling until the first dent. We still take care of them- some more than others. There is one thing that I don't think has been addressed. Does anyone else make a distinction between "good wear" and "bad wear"? I have never owned a new Gibson. I did however have a '55 Southern Jumbo for a short time that I absolutely coddled- and played until I was basically forced to sell. About a year ago I bought a brand new fairly nice mandolin (it was korean made but it was beautiful, had a hand carved top and all solid wood construction- and was all I could afford). I really like the little spots of wear on it such as the spots where I anchor my fingers or where my arm rests on the top of the bout. My SJ had some good wear and some bad wear. Pickguard edges peeling up is definitely bad wear but the nice weather checking and similar finger anchor spots are priceless to me. What do you guys think? Does anyone else value "good wear" or do most people consider any wear bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickax Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I'm ratting you out to Gibson first thing in the morning. My first thought when I read your post was to sell the Guitar and get some peace of mind. However, I wouldn't recommend that. As many have said, you don't need to baby it, just use common sense and play the heck out of it. The Guitar was made to be played and a 45 is a pretty sturdy box. Enjoy more - worry less! I will admit that I use an arm sock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I don't coddle my guitars - never have and I am too old to change my ways now. I don't abuse them but I don't fret over them all the time either. Yeah, stuff happens. But if you own a guitar long enough, every scratch, every nick, every dried tobasco sauce stain becomes a memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegrass Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 For example' date=' I wouldn't play my guitar while sitting on a horse in front of an oncoming car [biggrin'] I love this quote!!!! I absolutely love my guitar. I have never owned more than one at a time, so they are going to get played quite often. I traded up several times to get the one I have now. But I do treat it like an investment, meaning I take care of it pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Does anyone else value "good wear" or do most people consider any wear bad? "Bad wear" is something that effects how it plays negatively. If it's cosmetic, it's just wear - "good wear" if you like it, otherwise it's just wear. I like the idea of the finish on mine wearing down over the years. It's too late to keep it looking new now, and I doubt Gibson is going to stop making the J-45... they haven't yet, and it's been almost seventy years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adoptedson Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I got my first Gibson a few months ago(SWD). It's the first high-end guitar i've ever owned. I've totally been coddling it. I have gotten one mark on it, on the headstock. That's helped me relax a little bit though. I keep a humidifier in it, and wipe it down after every time I play it. I've never done that with any of my other acoustics over the years. I keep it in the case always too. For me, I'm just super paranoid about screwing up the nitro finish somehow too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Adoptedson, make sure to keep bug spray away from your guitar. Paul (Taylorplayer) and I found out the hard way that bug spray (DEET) destroys the nitro finish on your guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I don't coddle, but I do treat them with respect. I am VERY careful removing and replacing guitars in their cases, as a guitar buckle dent or scratch would ruin my day. I tend to wipe down the bodies and strings from sweat when finished playing. I keep all my guitars in cases. Just simple things. I don't know about where you guys are, but if you sell a guitar in our neck of the woods and it has even a dimple on it, expect to be beaten down on price by some buyers. So, just don't get anal, but take care. Pretty simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vourot Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I dinged my AJ pretty much within 5 minutes of bringing it home. I keep it in the case ( can't stand dusty guitars ) and wipe it down sometimes. Mostly I just play the damn thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgwoods Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Most of mine make it through life unscathed. I haven't kept one very long in recent years. I started playing in earnest again in 1994, so 16 year, but my current oldest guitar is 5 years and it is made of all synthetic materials- graphite top, HPL back and sides- so it really shows no wear. As for wood guitars my 2 keepers are 3 months and 3 weeks old so I haven't had time to ding them up. I leave them out, humidify the room in winter, take'em to gigs, wipe off the beer splatter if there is any and when I go to sell them on ebay I find them in remarkable good condition still. Modern guitars can take a lot I guess. Like Guilds says- Made to be Played Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 When I had fenders and old flattops, they only went in the case to go out and play. No more. Having nice guitars changed that. And dogs (a sad day when my bloodhound autographed my AJ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockinrebel Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 My 1966 J-50 is sitting on the stand at home right now. Already got a ton of finish checking so don't have to worry about that. Humidity in the house is around 50%. Don't have to worry about that. Plus...I just like looking at the ol' girl when I get home. Old guitars....very cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Adoptedson' date=' make sure to keep bug spray away from your guitar. Paul (Taylorplayer) and I found out the hard way that bug spray (DEET) destroys the nitro finish on your guitar.[/quote'] Ahhhhh yes, how well I remember the hot steamy night, sitting at our cabin in Wabasha, MN watching the Mississippi River roll by with a fire going in the firepit and my AJ in my hands under the stars.......... Damn DEET!!!!! All is good now as after doing what the Luthiers suggested, the nitro rehardened, was buffed back to the original gloss and now I can't even tell the spots that were affected. Come to think of it, I guess that goes right with this thread...... I just learned a lesson that night and thank goodness it all worked out in the end but now I just let those mosquitoes get their blood from me and I enjoy playing my guitar just the same at the cabin as I watch the Bald Eagles circle above me. Now I just bring my 1964 LG1 to the river with me as there is not much more "cosmetic" damage that can occur to that guitar, and the tone is still ALL GIBSON BABY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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