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Do guitars that heavly worn make better instruments?
Yes 21%  21%  [ 6 ]
No 59%  59%  [ 17 ]
I'm not sure 21%  21%  [ 6 ]
Total votes : 29
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Post subject: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 6:12 am
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Over the past 30 years, I've played all manner of guitar, and I've come to some conclusions.

1. When I'm checking out a used guitar, I find that if it doesn't have a lot of wear and tear, I'm just not as interested.

2. Guitars that are in museum quality condition don't sound or play as well as ones that look like they've been on the road.

Even with guitars I own, except for two, my 50th Anniv. American Series and home built Andy Summers Tele, both of which which I use all the time, have a great deal of wear. In fact, in the last 2 years I purchased some Strats from the '70s and they both look well worn.

I've own several Gibsons, and traded them all. I treated them with kit leather gloves and barely played them. They just never stayed in tune or sounded the way I wanted them to sound. Not bad instruments, but really for me.

Any thoughts on this?

Also post picks of your favorite guitars and tell me your story.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:39 am
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I think many "pristine" guitars have been neglected - just stored, without getting their necessary maintenance.
But a beat up board? No, thanks. That also shows neglect.

If I buy used, I want something that has been taken good care of - shown respect.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:10 am
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I believe a well worn guitar, not abused, is a sign of a good playing guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:13 am
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A well worn, but well maintained instrument would hint at a good player. At least to me. A pristine guitar might hint at it's character, but then again. It might just hint at the owner not being a passionate musician. However, as a poster above indicates. That may also lead to not being passionate about maintenance. Which could be a problem. I will say that nothing beats a well broken in P bass neck, imo. YMMV, of course.

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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:36 am
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If there is any sign of wear on the guitar or case, it's not of interest to me no matter what the asking price is.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:15 am
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I would take it on a guitar by guitar basis. But generally I don't like to see dings or dents.

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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:39 am
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If I am buying used, I would like any item to be in decent condition. I am not looking for a battle hardened guitar. Unless I am shelling out for something vintage with the obvious 30+ years of wear, then a guitar within the last handful of years better be in good condition.

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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:40 am
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I think cause and effect are switched here - good instruments are the ones that get played and worn.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:18 am
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http://i.imgur.com/psiNpkL.png

sigh

Kid at school found it at an estate or garage sale in a basement, paid $5. I didn't ask to buy it, I told him it was to be mine the next day.

Traded $100 or so in parts, including the gutted neck and body of my 1967 Norma. (which caught on fire in a soldering accident, lol)

Best guitar I've ever owned. Only has one deadspot on the entire fretboard from the fret being so low, which is phenomenal. It holds its setup for 6+ months at a time, and does not slip out of tune, even with bashing from my Tortex .88 Sharps.

I've got a decent job offer possibly coming my way, and if it does, I'll be doing all of the maintenance and replacement of parts that needs to be done. I've totaled everything to about $650-$700 with my local store's tech. They're always cutting me a deal, and said they'd love to help me out. The tech was ecstatic when I brought it in to get a few quotes, saying he hadn't seen one since 1983.

This is also an older pic of it. The finish is very thin nitro, and I've since worn a hole in the contour.

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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:35 am
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..only if it's from your own wear and tear.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:49 am
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If it's obvious the wear is clearly the result of tons and tons of hours of playing then I'm fine with it but if there are dings or deep scratches or cracks ... well those don't come from normal play, they come from neglect and I am immediately disinterested. It could be a rare piece and a good deal and I will still walk away.

As far as the poll goes, being worn does not make the guitar better but being worn might be a sign it was already a good guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:47 pm
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The one and only answer should be "it depends". Some guitars are good, they were good new, played the $@!& out of and are worn out and still good. Some guitars sucked, and they'll still suck worn out.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:22 pm
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Good discussion thus far. I would agree that it does depend on the guitar. A guitar that has few dings, but lots of wear in the pain and the neck (with maintained fret work)generally indicate a well loved instrument.

I heard Clapton say in an interview once, that he actually looked for well worn necks. I also think some of it has to do with the player. Stevie and Rory had acid for sweet, so their guitars looked pretty worn. Oddly enough, when one of the Fender Custom Shop guys played Stevie's Number 1, he said that that action was impossible high and almost unplayable.

Thanks for everyone's input.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:26 pm
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atolleter wrote:
The one and only answer should be "it depends". Some guitars are good, they were good new, played the $@!& out of and are worn out and still good. Some guitars sucked, and they'll still suck worn out.


Being worn, for whatever reason will never stop me from buying a good guitar.

This is of course personal preference, and I understand people who like their guitars spotless, but there is something about a beat up guitar that I love.


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Post subject: Re: Well-loveed and well-preserved guitars
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:40 pm
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I suppose it depends on the guitar. I think I'd rather have a brand new one, untouched, unless it was something special that caught my attention. There are a few of those I've come across over the years. I certainly wouldn't pay extra money for something that looks beat up, such as those Fender relic guitars. I'm going to pay $4000 for a guitar that somebody took a chain and sandpaper too? I can do that myself for free. :roll:

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