maybe it also has to do with how much you sweat while you play,
I have seen some players go through bridges before because they had such high alkaline
in their sweat, it was like acid...lol
also i own a few guitar that are 30+ years, and 1 of them never had a case,
and have nothing close to what some of the road worn relic copies have.
I do believe that people sand on the guitars to get them that way.
in my life i have maybe seen 2 or 3 that have been worn extremely to the wood.
and they are guitars from the 50's and 60's only.

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1986 Kramer Baretta
1989 Samick "The Samick" Les Paul
2007 Fender Strat MIM Deluxe / 1985 MIJ neck
1990 Epiphone Strat
Marshall JCM 2000 DLS 50 watt / Marshall 1960a 4x12

https://soundcloud.com/jim-slimjim-cassi

I agree that sweet does play a big part of the wear. I mean Stevie would sweet like a pig when he played. My '79 Strat looks like someone poured a bucket of sweet over the whole thing.

This sanding thing might true today, but I've seen photos Buddy Guy, Ike Turner and others that show all sorts of paint and neck wear on their guitars. I'm sure they weren't waisting their time sanding anything. Nitro just wears through quickly.

Jimmikat has it right,
His bracelet picking pattern and the location of his tremolo
Which he would wag it with the intent to break the bar,. Lol

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008