Pretty is ... as pretty does. How worried are you about cosmetics ??

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on September 23, 2011 at 2:47pm

Willie's is probably the classic example for sure!

 

Permalink Reply by Jonah Lake on September 24, 2011 at 5:05am

I love worn guitars!!!  An instrument is made to be played with just like a surfboard is made to be surfed with.. :)

Permalink Reply by Gary Ellis on September 24, 2011 at 6:02am

Trigger may have a hole but Willie put it there. I think if I had a guitar and I loved it the he must with Trigger I probably wouldnt see the hole either. I hate dings on my guitar that I can explain. If its character i'm good, if its damage i'm not so good.

Permalink Reply by Lennie Schoonover on September 24, 2011 at 10:04am

Wow, I had not seen those pics of thos insturments.  I can't imagine treating my axe that way.  I even take my belt off or turn the buckle to the side before I sit down to play.

Permalink Reply by David Baillieul on September 24, 2011 at 4:09pm

Hay Jud.... I would call that moderate wear. The little ding to the left would bother me the most, but the rest is just pick stuff. I bet it plays well and sounds great.

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on September 24, 2011 at 7:26pm

David ... yep, the ding is definitely the biggest issue and there is a surface crack as a result.  The guitar still sounded great and so I bought it on faith without checking. When I got home and  I changed strings I was overjoyed to take a mirror and a light and confirm that the crack didn't go all the way through.  It's been repaired and is stabilized, so I don't anticipate any problems.  Just another reason why a $1,000 guitar ends up selling for $300.

Permalink Reply by Craig MC on September 24, 2011 at 4:14pm

I know people look at Willie Nelson's or Keith Richards' guitars and smile and say "wow, what stories that could tell". Those instruments have been seriously abused, partly because they are used so much on the road, performing night after night, banged around by roadies, etc. I understand the whole rock 'n' roll warrior thing, or the punk ethos (look at Joe Strummer's tele), and that Hansard guitar, well that's a crime.

I like them clean and shiny. My Simon & Patrick Pro Rosewood is 14 now and has just a few light pick marks (no pickguard), few light scratches on back, and some wear on the fret board. The Vintage Burst Parlor is brand new and so far is scratch-and-dingless. only a matter of time, of course. My 14 year old Tele is pretty clean, too, and I'm the third owner.

When I change strings on any of my guitars, I take the time to wipe them down with a soft cloth and some polish. The fret boards get conditioned twice a year (forced air furnaces here in the northeast, very dry). I just love the object. Guitars are wonderful, beautiful things. I love the way they look, feel, sound, and smell (yep, smell!) They deserve respect, and I take care of mine (and, of course, they're "only mine for a while.").

 

 

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on September 24, 2011 at 7:30pm

I agree that trying to keep them in as good a condition as possible.  Hard to play them regularly, especially taking them out to open-mics like I do and not catch a ding, dent or scratch occasionally, but I would never abuse a guitar, even if I had plenty of money to replace it.  I'm not sure what's up with Hansard.  You'd have to work really hard to make those holes.

Permalink Reply by Gary Welch on September 24, 2011 at 6:37pm

I guess I look at my guitars as I do my vehicles, I try to keep them looking as good as I can. I know both the guitars and vehicles will get scratched dinged, but I try to keep it to a minimum. The guitars are a little easier to prevent damage to them the vehicles.

 

Gary W

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on September 24, 2011 at 7:31pm

Yep ... minimize damage while still enjoying the true purpose of a guitar ... to be played and played often.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page