How much do you baby your instruments?

stickyfiddle · August 2023

Inspired by a post from @Roberty on the Golden Era thread:

roberty said:
Relics are great because you can kick them across the stage and not worry about it. There is a genuine practical advantage

This reminded me of a stark difference between me & the other guitarist in my band. We both swap between guitar & bass, usually using my P bass. It's a light relic finished by MJT. Plenty of minor dents and I'm not going to fuss about another one if it happens - that's half the point of relics alongside having something that feels worn in.

At the end of a rehearsal the other week he was giving me back my bass and I was still in the middle of coiling cables so told him to just chuck it on the floor. On hearing this it was like I broke his brain to the point he couldn't fathom actually just putting at instrument on the floor, even for 2 minutes.

Are you lot like this? It would drive me bonkers. I look after my gear to a large degree (good cases & stands, keeping them mechanically in great shape, not lending to idiots, more careful with Gibsons than Fenders etc) but I'm not precious about it.

Penn · August 2023

Depends on what it is. My brothers 1940s Gibson LG2 or his 60s fender P bass are not something I’d just Chuck on the floor, my partscaster Strat though…

Gassage · August 2023

Strange one-

My vintage guitars- not bothered if they get a ding at all but they're very looked after in setup.

The CS guitars, esp the Lifeson, are immaculately kept.

downbytheriver · August 2023

Always in case or stand unless being played but not consciously babied. My arch tops tend to stay unmarked.

CountryDave · August 2023

Always look after my stuff, but if it gets a ding the world doesn't end.
As for putting it on the floor, absolutely no problem with that. Put it down carefully, it's got nowhere to fall.
Also agree with the relic/roadworn thing. I've a couple of roadworn guitars and as well as feeling great, the singer turning around and smacking his headstock into the edge of my guitar body wasn't really a big deal.

Cols · August 2023

Always on a stand or in a case when not in use, wipe down strings between and after sets, polish body and clean fretboard during string changes. Not fussy about other people handling my guitars unless they’re drunk or acting like a tit.

The guitars will naturally get knocks and scuffs, but there’s no point intentionally leaving them in harm’s way or neglecting them. I play in too many places with pissed punters in close proximity to leave things lying on the floor or propped up against a handy table.

TTBZ · August 2023

I can leave Fender style guitars anywhere and don't worry about them, but Gibsons always go back on a stand because they seem a lot more fragile. My SG is getting fairly battered up though and I don't care about scratches etc, but I would like the neck and headstock to remain together.

stickyfiddle · August 2023

Cols said:

Always on a stand or in a case when not in use, wipe down strings between and after sets, polish body and clean fretboard during string changes. Not fussy about other people handling my guitars unless they’re drunk or acting like a tit.

The guitars will naturally get knocks and scuffs, but there’s no point intentionally leaving them in harm’s way or neglecting them. I play in too many places with pissed punters in close proximity to leave things lying on the floor or propped up against a handy table.

I see people mention this a lot but can honestly say I don't remember ever wiping down my strings (or guitars!) unless I'm doing a set and they get oil or polish on them or something. Am I weird?

Cols · August 2023

The strings naturally get dead skin cells and sweat deposited on them over the course of playing, and the hotter it is the more there’ll be. Wipe them down soon after playing and it’ll mostly come off. Leave it there and it’ll harden on, dull the sound and start to corrode the strings. It’ll also get caked onto the fretboard and pile up against the frets.

HerbieTheRadDorklift · August 2023

Obviously I try not to bash my LP Special, but I'm not bothered if it does. I play with belt buckle and bracelets on etc. Plus, certain guitars can take wear and tear, whereas a nice shiny quilt top PRS wouldn't IMO.

RaymondLin · August 2023

I keep all of them in cases except the PRS SE with a massive ding on the body filled with some resin. I bought that guitar to be left out. I don't throw it around, it lives on a stand but i am also not bothered when it get a new ding, like i found the headstock horn has a chip last month, not sure if it's new or always been there but I wasn't bothered at all about it.

I treat my Gibson, Taylor and the Core PRS (especially the SC58) like a baby. Especially when picking up the Gibson. It's not dings that i am afraid of, there was already a ding on the 305 when i got it used and i dinged the Custom-24 on the 1st day but the headstock coming off on the Gibson is the thing i fear the most.

sweepy · August 2023

I don’t abuse my guitars but they are just tools for a job when it comes down to it . Bumps scrapes and dents etc are part of a guitars life, my guitar hangers have marked my 335 , Tele and Strat but it’s no point wailing and grumbling, just play the damned things

slacker · August 2023

On the PRS front the man himself said he wouldn't relic guitars because he wanted his customers to do so.

Most of my guitars are in their cases most of the time. There's also different levels of care. The lp and es125 are older and battered so I'm not precious. The other electric are near mint. The ovation is battered and stays at a venue. The Martin stays in a case and nobody is allowed to even look at it.

guitarjack66 · August 2023

Guitars are valuable to me,even my budget range and not like buying a pint of milk or loaf of bread. All but one of my 5 were bought cheaply but as new and I will keep them that way as long as I can. I always hated mates who had no respect for toys as a kid because I always imagined the slog it took for their parents to raise the money to buy them. Guitars are there to be used,but not abused. Look after them and they will return the favour.
Maybe this is why I despise relics despite having no problem buying used instruments which have genuine wear marks and knocks. It also possibly explains why I find nothing attractive in women with falsely enlarged breasts or botoxed lips. I forgive overspending on guitar gear when I see that kind of seemingly frivolous spending on plastic surgery.

Old man rants at 21st century!

roberty · August 2023

I wish I was more reckless but it's not in my nature. I have guitars that are set up and modified for playing live and they get the most dinged up. My sacrificial lambs. Then I have some normal lambs and some show lambs, which are mostly silent. I think someone wrote a book about that

Power_Freak · August 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Cols said:

Always on a stand or in a case when not in use, wipe down strings between and after sets, polish body and clean fretboard during string changes. Not fussy about other people handling my guitars unless they’re drunk or acting like a tit.

The guitars will naturally get knocks and scuffs, but there’s no point intentionally leaving them in harm’s way or neglecting them. I play in too many places with pissed punters in close proximity to leave things lying on the floor or propped up against a handy table.

I see people mention this a lot but can honestly say I don't remember ever wiping down my strings (or guitars!) unless I'm doing a set and they get oil or polish on them or something. Am I weird?

You can get around 3-5 times extra life out of your strings if you do... How much do you like money? Wash your hands before you play, wipe down after - makes a big difference!

Sassafras · August 2023

Apart from keeping them in tune, I'm not that bothered.

stickyfiddle · August 2023

Power_Freak said:

stickyfiddle said:

Cols said:

Always on a stand or in a case when not in use, wipe down strings between and after sets, polish body and clean fretboard during string changes. Not fussy about other people handling my guitars unless they’re drunk or acting like a tit.

The guitars will naturally get knocks and scuffs, but there’s no point intentionally leaving them in harm’s way or neglecting them. I play in too many places with pissed punters in close proximity to leave things lying on the floor or propped up against a handy table.

I see people mention this a lot but can honestly say I don't remember ever wiping down my strings (or guitars!) unless I'm doing a set and they get oil or polish on them or something. Am I weird?

You can get around 3-5 times extra life out of your strings if you do... How much do you like money? Wash your hands before you play, wipe down after - makes a big difference!

I mean.. I def keep my hands clean, but I also use elixirs. I just don't think I've had issues with manky strings since I stopped being a grotty (EB-string-using) teenager!

roberty · August 2023

Power_Freak said:

stickyfiddle said:

Cols said:

Always on a stand or in a case when not in use, wipe down strings between and after sets, polish body and clean fretboard during string changes. Not fussy about other people handling my guitars unless they’re drunk or acting like a tit.

The guitars will naturally get knocks and scuffs, but there’s no point intentionally leaving them in harm’s way or neglecting them. I play in too many places with pissed punters in close proximity to leave things lying on the floor or propped up against a handy table.

I see people mention this a lot but can honestly say I don't remember ever wiping down my strings (or guitars!) unless I'm doing a set and they get oil or polish on them or something. Am I weird?

You can get around 3-5 times extra life out of your strings if you do... How much do you like money? Wash your hands before you play, wipe down after - makes a big difference!

I wipe my strings down if it's been a sweaty one definitely. I should be more ritual to be honest, it makes a big difference

roberty · August 2023

stickyfiddle said:

I mean.. I def keep my hands clean, but I also use elixirs. I just don't think I've had issues with manky strings since I stopped being a grotty (EB-string-using) teenager!

The teflon will keep the sweat out so you're good

roberty · August 2023

One thing I can't stand is dirty fretboards. That grime goes straight all over your new strings. But also it's just gross

DartmoorHedgehog · August 2023

I'm quite careful with mine but not to the point of being paranoid about picking up any little marks. I do wipe down the strings/neck with a cloth after playing, and clean the fretboard when I change strings, and I'm not sure I'd be happy about leaving a guitar on the floor when there are people about who could step on it.

My main gigging guitar is a Gibson Melody Maker Special and that's doing a very good job of shedding its paint in chunks without needing any encouragement or abuse - just incredibly shoddy prep job before painting presumably. I don't really care - I love the way it plays and sounds.

welshboyo · August 2023

I play and gig my guitars....they get used and they are allowed to naturally pick up whatever they get, they are not babied at all, just kept in good playing shape.

stickyfiddle · August 2023

roberty said:

One thing I can't stand is dirty fretboards. That grime goes straight all over your new strings. But also it's just gross

Yeah that's definitely agreed! I don't go nuts polishing things to keep them shiny and new-looking, but mine are all absolutely kept clean...

GoFish · August 2023

I didn't even own a guitar stand as a teen! Can you tell I didn't play Gibsons

Once I stopped being young, my old conservatism returned - I like taking care of my stuff. Guitars are tools nd are afforded the same respect as my other tools. Kept clean, always in their place etc. However, dings are part of life and I don't let myself get upset at guitars getting or having them. The majority of my guitars were not new and most have some markings here or there. Almost none were put there by me though! If I had bought more new stuff when youngerI may be more precious about it now. RElics / aged guitars are also fine by me, though not the mass produced "Roadworn" type stuff or the mistreated look.

Fancy guitars - PRS, Semis etc would definitely show the first mark worse than an old tele!

richardhomer · August 2023

I’m really careful with mine. A new ding used to be like a danger in the heart - I’m marginally more well-adjusted now.

That said, I don’t like other people touching them…

Fortunately my son no longer lives at home, so in the event of a fire my decision making process will be more straight-forward.

distressed · August 2023

welshboyo said:

I play and gig my guitars....they get used and they are allowed to naturally pick up whatever they get, they are not babied at all, just kept in good playing shape.

Something like that.

willo · August 2023

I look after my guitars but they are also tools to me, and I buy accordingly. I've never spent more than £1200 on a guitar and I usually buy second hand. Most of mine get customised in some way. I want to be able to use and play the thing without too much concern.

guitarjack66 · August 2023

roberty said:

One thing I can't stand is dirty fretboards. That grime goes straight all over your new strings. But also it's just gross

There are so many cheap fretboard and fret cleaners available that this is inexcusable. Worn is fine,but dirty is well...just being a dirty slob.

punchesjudy · August 2023

I don’t

Alex2678 · August 2023

I’m really relaxed about dings and scrapes, wear and tear. Careful ish with avoiding proper damage. I do keep my stuff clean but they don’t pick up a lot of grot anyway, I’m a bit of a compulsive hand washer.

I put my deluxe reverb face down on the pavement to get into the back outside a practice place while we were waiting for the keys, and my mate looked like he threw up in his mouth

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How much do you baby your instruments?

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