+1............. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I'm obsessive about keeping my guitars absolutely blemish free,wipe off any smudges as soon as they appear and wipe down the strings after each use.I always keep a guitar on the couch for everyday playing but all the rest stay in cases.My strumming style was very much influenced by Pete Townshend and Chris Britton(The Troggs)so it is very hard and agressive but I don't even have scratches on my pickguards.I pamper all my guitars fastidiously in the hope that subsequent owners will take the same care after I'm taking the dirt covered nap and with any luck they'll be bringing joy to other players for many decades or even centuries.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

If I am buying a guitar as a collectible then I want it to be in the best possible condition.

If it is just a player then dings scratches and cosmetics don't matter.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

There is a major gouge in my LP Jr. from having a cymbal knocked over on it at a practice one time. Sealed it up with my girlfriend's colorless nail polish and haven't touched it since. That was over forty years ago.
It has belt buckle rash and lots of assorted little dents and dings and the finish is spider webbed from warming up too quickly after a winter trip in the trunk of a car.....but that's all character. It's forty-seven years old and still beautiful.
My Strat, on the other hand, is just over a year old and hasn't got a mark on it.....yet. Doin' my best to keep it that way, but I know it's only a matter of time. The first time it gets dinged I'll just have to suck it up and move on. Pun thoroughly intended: You can't un-ring a bell.

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Donnmac

'09 American Deluxe Strat Sunburst Rosewood
'63 Les Paul Jr SG body
'80's Fender F 15 Acoustic
'09 Larrivee D 03RE
'09 Squier Affinity J Bass
'10 Martin D12X1AE
'66 Traynor YGM1 (tube)
'08 Traynor TRM30
'11 G-DEC 30 Blues
'09 Fender Rumble 15

I try to take as good care of my guitars as possible.

However, there will be some wear, so I don't freak completely out. But you should always take good care of your stuff.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

For some reason, to me, a Strat just doesn't begin to show it's true beauty until it's got some natural road wear on it. They've always felt indestructible to me so I'm rough on mine. But somehow it only has one small ding. But my figured top Carvins are another ballgame. Those are kept pristine. So I guess it depends on what it is.

I do not abuse my guitars. I perform routine maintenance on a regular, polish the ones that require polish once a month, and wipe down my guitars after I use them. I do not obsess over it, but would not want one of guitars look road worn before their time.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I know what you mean,my Colt .45 can defend my life easier than beating somebody to death with my Strat.

not a big cleaner of guitar to be totally honest I clean grubby bodies once a week and once a month or so drop some WD40 or similar stuff into the saddle screws to prevent them ceasing. i wipe my strings every now and then and clean my fretboard then Lemon oil it one a month or two.

Thats it!

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A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski~

When I had just one guitar I was obsessed with keeping it immaculate. My '86 Strat, "Black No. 1" will be 25 next year and it has one small scratch on it.

Today I feel they are here to be played. If I damaged one careless, it would still hurt, but normal wear 'n' tear doesn't bother me as it used to.

I felt sick the first time I put a scratch in one of my guitars. It was very minor, however, and I was able to buff it out. But now, it's not a big deal with me. Every scuff, scratch, whatever tells a story. I don't mind so much.

However, I do try to take good care of my guitars and wipe down the neck, strings and body after I play (almost) every time. They'll still wear and age naturally and develop a distinct character. I look forward to seeing how they change visually and tonally over the years.

I keep em' clean as possible...

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

A guitar is a tool it is meant to be played so it doesent really matter if you ding it up and plus the relicing looks cool.

+1 I am obsessive about my guitars. i want them to be pristine...but I sure do play them alot.
ABS

Try to keep them as nice as possible, without getting obsessive.