Lardog666 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 How important would you say the 'Look' of your gtr is? What condition do you keep your gtr? Anyone? Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I like to keep my guitars clean but i don't mind dings and scratches. As for the look(s), my favs are Strat's, Tele's, LP's (Standard, Custom, Junior, Special), SG's and ES 335's. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Well, to be honest...I'm a bit vain when it comes to my guitars. I treat them well, I like them to look nice. I'm always going to prefer something that looks like this: Over something that looks like this: Which may make me seem shallow, but I can live with that... I've never understood the whole 'coolness' of abused guitars. Apparantly SRV used to sling his No 1 Strat around his rehearsal space and recording studio, bouncing it off the floor and so on... Why do that to something you love? I guess Fenders lend themselves to abuse much more readily than, say, a 335 for example. Mind you, my Strat is immaculate too... Don't get me wrong, I play my guitars (often quite hard) - I guess I'm just careful with them... I read somewhere (I wish I could remember the correct citation) that BB King was horrified when he first saw Pete Townshend in action..."I would never do that to Lucille, it would break my heart." Guess I'm with BB on this one. My instruments are the things that enable me to make music...to that end, I try to respect them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 How important would you say the 'Look' of your gtr is? What condition do you keep your gtr? Anyone? Anyone? I do care about looks and that limits my choices a bit. I never could take the look of a Telecaster or the modernistic guitars. I'm not sure I would step onto a stage with a Barney Kessel or Trini Lopez model. I try to keep them as mint as possible. I like a 30-year-old car that looks like new, and a 30-year-old guitar that looks like new. Buying a pre-road-worn guitar for a higher price because it looks really used is like buying a new BMW that has been used as a driver's training car for 10 years (at a higher price!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I keep my guitars as perfect as I possibly can. The worst damage any have taken is the finish chips in the Martin, and a dent in the Casino's headstock. There are even tiny little dents on my Strat that I know exist, but no one can actually see. The Gibson acoustic doesn't count, because I got it pre-damaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin134 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I want them undamaged but well played. If any of mine end up looking like its been used I hope its because it was.. Paint jobs fade and peel, nature of the beast thus why so many fenders have that look, really more of a paint job then a finish, Gibsons tend to be more of a finish then a paint job, they will get wear, just not to the extent of regular paint. I have seen Fender's from the 50's that look great, but it was a sunburst '59, next to it was a '51 esquire in white, looked like it was dragged behind a car how the paint looked.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lardog666 Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 Well... all 3 of my 'babes' are road whores... I play both an Epi 335 DOT & a Jap 72 reissue strat... Both inexpensive gtrs I have had them both... jeez... for over 20 years now... I find I have to baby the epi, but I can bash my strat around & it stays in perfect tune (even with the stock tuning pegs). I even pulled the strat out to early at practice in the winter once... the finish on the top 'horn' cracked... I was sick until I played it... it was still in tune! I just can't justify paying through the nose for music accessories anymore... I pulled the old Eddie Van Halen trick of putting eye screws where the strap locks go & use a black camera strap. paid $2.95 for the screws... the camera strap I've had for years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I take the absoloute best care that I can of all of my guitars/basses, whatever good ole honest playwear that happens just happens. I do care about them very much but I got them to play not to live there lives in a closet. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyushPresley Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I don't like to have any dings and scratches..while some like them I prefer not to. I have had my LP for around 5 months now and it's still as good as new, my Acoustic guitar has been with me for about 3 years and still in mint condition but it's not that I don't play them..I play them a lot but I tend to keep them safe and clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I generally like to keep an instrument looking nice and new for as long as possible, but I don't mind one that looks "broken in" if it suits the guitar. I've always said that Gibsons, Fenders, and Marshalls look great brand new, and even better once you beat them up, but Paul Reed Smiths and Mesas only look good in pristine condition, one scratch and it's ruined. Not really sure why that is, it's just how I've always felt. You don't see many Mesa cabs with the tolex all torn off, or PRS McCartys with big chips and worn spots in the finish... usually guys with those brands tend to keep thier stuff looking minty fresh. It's nothing to see a 20 year old Les Paul or a marginally vintage Marshall 4x12 beat right to hell and back though, and they just look cooler for the wear. In short, I think it suits the gear on a case by case basis. I don't, however, like the concept of "pre-disastered" gear. If it's 40 years old and shows its' age, that's fine... but a 2009 strat that has stains and wear marks all over the neck and body and rusty hardware? That needs to go somewhere besides the top rack on the wall in the music store... I'm thinking more like the scratch and dent sale, or the dumpster even. The one exception is the models that accurately reproduce every little scratch and ding on a particular artist's prized instrument, like the EVH frankenstein reissue, or the David Gilmour Black Strat reissue... those are cool for what they are, but generally overpriced by exponential amounts, and are more for serious collectors than players. I would love to own the Gilmour strat to use as a stage guitar, but I would never pay the $4,300 they want for it. $1,000, maybe... but any more than that, and all it is to me is pretty pictures in a magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I keep 'em nice. worry most about structure.. but keep them clean. If they get a ding, they get a ding and that's that. TWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epiman Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Depends on the guitar. I think strats/teles/super strats(ibanez..jackson..ect..) Look great when they're a bit worn and loved. Note I say worn and loved, not abused for the sake of mojo. Les pauls on the other hand, IMO need to stay pretty. A huge chip out of the front of a beautiful top is -not- cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 That's how I feel. I hate that there are scratches, but there's not much I can do about it. I filled the Martin with superglue, since the finish chipped down to the wood. It's not as noticeable now (you probably wouldn't see it the way I do), but it doesn't quite match. The only thing I'll do is whatever is needed to smooth it down... any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I take pretty good care of my instruments. Example: My 1964 "L" series Fender Strat (and my very first electric guitar). Body only, was "restored" 30 years ago...Long story. But, hasn't been touched, that way, since. But played regularly, in my home. Anything that looks like a scuff or chip on the body, is just a light reflection. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I too prefer too keep my guitars in top order, but I understand that over time they're bound to get a bit of wear and a few knocks. As much as I like the patina look, I would never buy one that has been deliberately patinaed (i.e. Road Worn Fenders). And I try my best to avoid knocks and scratches on my guitars. I always place them on their stands and put the safety strap on. After I've used them I'll give them a polish to remove my fingerprints etc, and wipe the strings and frets. My SG was the first electric I bought. It's Vintage White, and I do like the look of it. Though ever since buying my burst colored Squier Strat, I love to be able to see the grain in the wood. There's something about that uniqueness of the grain. It really depends on the guitar, but I'm not sure I'll ever buy something that doesn't show some grain again. Except maybe a Seafoam green Strat. I love bust colours. I'm looking at buying one of two Les Pauls for sale, one is Tobacco Burst, the other is Cherry Burst. I don't normally love cherry burst but this one seems to be a bit darker than normal, and is nice and shiny, looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I take pretty good care of my instruments. Example: My 1964 "L" series Fender Strat (and my very first electric guitar). Body only' date=' was "restored" 30 years ago...Long story. But, hasn't been touched, that way, since. But played regularly, in my home. Anything that looks like a scuff or chip on the body, is just a light reflection. CB[/quote'] That is a beautiful specimen... If it's even 75% original, it's got to be worth close to 5 figures... I have a buddy who has his dad's 100% original '56 Tele. It's in pretty rough "played" condition, but he's been offered over $20,000 for it. ("Buddy" does not imply "kid", BTW... this guy is in his early 40s... he is well aware of what he has, and respects it as an heirloom. He has a few other inexpensive guitars he plays on, so as not to do any further damage to the tele... he takes it out and plays it for a little while once every few months or so, if that.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalfarm Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Are we discussing the pros and cons of women's make-up? My girlfriend used a "mud mask" recently, she looked really great............then the mud fell off. www.instantrimshot.com (press red button that appears/turn speakers down a bit first)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalfarm Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 EDIT EDIT - Dang double posts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Bought brand new 20+ yrs. ago......played "out" almost exclusively a cpl. of yrs.(by myself) played hard and I SWEAT in the summer (worse than Angus Young !) gone thru 2 p'up changeouts a coil tap operation, a reversal of that 2 threeway changeouts, a volume pot. changeout and an almost complete rewiring. played out by my 16/17 yr. old son for about a yr, then by his best friend for 6 months. The metal is nicely patinaed, from honest age/use. The only real blemish is a small "spot" on the back of the neck, from a cheap stand eating the nitro finish. I use a guitar like the tool that it really is, but I also take as good care of it as possible. But i'm also buying a '98 Epi LP Std. Cherry Flame Top, to be my "everyday LP" and retiring THIS to a "special occasion/song/occasional use only" status. Just because it sounds great, doesn't mean it can't LOOK great too !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lardog666 Posted March 14, 2009 Author Share Posted March 14, 2009 played hard and I SWEAT in the summer (worse than Angus Young !) gone thru 2 p'up changeouts a coil tap operation' date=' a reversal of that 2 threeway changeouts, a volume pot. changeout and an almost complete rewiring. [/quote'] I lent my brother my 1st gtr, my Gibson Sonex, about 15 years ago... I had put new gibson '57 classic Humbuckers with all new pots & wiring...paid a pretty penny to have it done too... He had it for a couple of years... Man, I have NEVER seen anyone sweat this much, & the sweat he neglected to wipe off had corroded the internal wiring to the point of no return... I am just now rebuilding the gtr. I have had to replace the pots, the caps, the pups, the imput jack, the switch, all new wiring, & a new after market pickgaurd... which, ironically, the 1st thing to break on the gtr... & was put away wet with sweat... he gives it back to me a couple years later with a lame apology... it took me 10 years to get over it & finally fix her... she's become the bride of frankenstein. Sweat will kill your gtr if your not careful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I take care of my guitars but I am not anal about them. I never use guitar polish or any chemicals on my guitar; I believe a wipe down with a cotton cloth occasionally is sufficient. I have never been one to keep guitars very long. I buy, sell, and trade often. I have only had a couple of guitars that I have kept for a few years but they remained in the condition that they were purchased in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28v6r Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I don't like to have any dings and scratches..while some like them I prefer not to. I have had my LP for around 5 months now and it's still as good as new' date=' my Acoustic guitar has been with me for about 3 years and still in mint condition but it's not that I don't play them..I play them a lot but I tend to keep them safe and clean. [/quote'] +1 I like mine clean, no finger marks etc.. After every gig, the strings are changed and the guitar polished down and put away in its case. I will take it out to play certain numbers or change, but all of mine are mint. I remember I dropped my Squire Strat and it took a chip out of the paint, I was gutted for days, it took a long time for me to accept that it was damaged. Now I take more care of my equipment. I hate people that want to touch without knowledge, you know the sort at a gig... I don't have a problem if it was say someone like CB or TWANG or even yourself Ayush whereby I may learn something or be shown summat, but in Glasgow its gets a little rough every now and then... A friend of mine set up his 335 ready to gig, literally turned his back for no more than 30 seconds and someone had relieved him of it.... he did get it back but it wasn't a nice experience.... So I tend to look after mine with a vengeance.. maybe I'm wrong, but at least their mine and I still have them in mint.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Salina Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I suppose it depends on the end the guitarist is moving toward. To what end does the instrument serve. Someone who only cares about making music and is in love with sound may see the guitar as a means to an end not as the end itself. Others love the pristine condition, strive hard to maintain it and also love making music. I know both types and a whole range of players in between. I do think buying a new guitar that has been distressed is a bit superficial. An instrument that is well loved and shows its history is as beautiful to me as a pristine one that has a history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Well said 39. We have such a vast array of people, some record, some play casually some people just collect guitars and this is one of those things where there is no right or wrong just personal preference. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I try to take good care of my guitars as well. However I have been looking for a Strat and Idon't think I am going to be very picky about the looks as long as it plays well and sounds good. The only problem is everybody here where I live wants a fortune for a MIM Strat. So I've been taking my time til I find the right deal. I would not worry about the looks if you plan on keeping it and LOVE the way it plays and sounds. If you don't plan on keeping it then I would take good care of it. As for the equipment you already own, take care of it. Why let it get scratches needleesly? I do think that REAL worn guitars, not the production ones, are very cool and have alot of character as well as a story to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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