"Beater" guitars. What and why?

[Mr. Scott]

Over the few months I have been a member of this forum I have noticed the occasional mention of a "beater" guitar which I now assume means an instrument which just lies about the place to be played "on a whim". Is this correct? And if it is, why is such an instrument is necessary? As I would have thought that all instruments are in our houses to be played, unless we are purely collectors. I would guess that most forum members are players.

Travel guitars I can understand, and "specialist" items such as Dobros or Nationals, in fact I have more than one guitar at home which are used for different reasons, "horses for courses", but they all get used. So, do some instruments only come out on high days and holidays and spend most of their lives in their cases whilst the "beater" gets all the fun? Or are they played in rotation giving each an airing every now and then?

[Mystery123]

Well it's better to take a cheap beater $200 Yamaha to camping instead of a $2k Martin.
More chances of damage but less chance of damaging expensive guitar if you use beater.

[Rosewood99]

Would you take a $5,000 Goodall to play out on the beach? It appears your definition of a beater is incorrect. To many it's a guitar that can be taken to places without worrying about damage.

[Kitchen Guitars]

I sold a beater Hondo for $40 to a missionary heading to Puru. 1) he didn't have to worry about damage or theft. 2) it was his intent to leave the guitar there when he moved on

[SFCRetired]

Beaters are guitars you take camping, guitars you take out onto the back porch, guitars you take to the beach, guitars you don't mind a child dinging around on etc.

Guitars you won't bang your head against the wall if they get a scratch, or have to endure harsher than normal elements.

And some of us in our younger days had a tendency to spill adult beverages on. Those are beaters. I bought my Seagull with a boo boo on it so I don't mind if I get another scratch or ding on it, and that's why I bought it. Although I tend to take as good of care if it as I do my other guitars but I do take it outside and into the garage to play, and it has seen a campfire or two, although I have yet to spill an adult beverage on it.

[Lacks Focus]

The key is that "beaters" aren't necessarily just for keeping out around the house (though if you have rambunctious pets or kids, they could be), but rather instruments you wouldn't feel nervous about having in any potentially hostile environment, like the aforementioned beaches and campgrounds.

Originally Posted by SFCRetired

Beaters are guitars you take camping, guitars you take out onto the back porch, guitars you take to the beach, guitars you don't mind a child dinging around on etc.

Guitars you won't bang your head against the wall if they get a scratch, or have to endure harsher than normal elements.

And some of us in our younger days had a tendency to spill adult beverages on. Those are beaters. I bought my Seagull with a boo boo on it so I don't mind if I get another scratch or ding on it, and that's why I bought it. Although I tend to take as good of care if it as I do my other guitars but I do take it outside and into the garage to play, and it has seen a campfire or two, although I have yet to spill an adult beverage on it.

Originally Posted by Lacks Focus

The key is that "beaters" aren't necessarily just for keeping out around the house (though if you have rambunctious pets or kids, they could be), but rather instruments you wouldn't feel nervous about having in any potentially hostile environment, like the aforementioned beaches and campgrounds.

↑↑↑↑ These ↑↑↑↑ My Grandkids love music and guitar, especially the youngest who is not quite 3 YOA. When they're over, they love playing/playing with the Epi EJ-200. I'm not sure they even know the Gibson exists lol -- It's just nice to have a less expensive, less "sensitive" instrument around that can take the abuse from alternate weather, little kids, and to have in situations/gigs where it is likely to be picked up and played by people ya don't know.

The Gibson in my sig still gets 99% of my playing time, but there's times when a beater is more appropriate because of possible damage.

[Basque]

All threads are better with pics.

Norman Expedition. Love it.

All laminate Wild Cherry. Killer little guitar. Under $200.

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by SFCRetired

Beaters are guitars you take camping, guitars you take out onto the back porch, guitars you take to the beach, guitars you don't mind a child dinging around on etc.

Guitars you won't bang your head against the wall if they get a scratch, or have to endure harsher than normal elements.

And some of us in our younger days had a tendency to spill adult beverages on. Those are beaters. I bought my Seagull with a boo boo on it so I don't mind if I get another scratch or ding on it, and that's why I bought it. Although I tend to take as good of care if it as I do my other guitars but I do take it outside and into the garage to play, and it has seen a campfire or two, although I have yet to spill an adult beverage on it.

I think this sums it up.

My beater is also my travel guitar: Voyage Air VAOM 06.

[justonwo]

I leave my beater guitar out for my kids to play to help spark their imagination without fear of it being damaged. I also take this guitar to family camp, so I don't have to worry about theft, humidity, camp fires, etc. It doesn't seem that hard to come up with good reasons to own one cheap instrument that you don't have to fret over.

[TBman]

My Washburn D-10S (cost $200) is a beater, but not my Seagull or Alvarez (both around $400). I like the way they both look so I'm careful not to bang them up. If I bang the Washburn on a door frame while taking it out back on the deck, I may curse myself, but not fret over it.

[lizzard]

I get all of these understandings of beaters. It is traditional thinking.

My beater is my Goodall HOG CJ. The reason is that when I got it I was over-zealous in loving it and as such - it has early road-rash. But it sounds and plays like a million bucks and its better off for the wear. It is arguably my "the house is on fire" guitar.

Willie Nelson's beater is Trigger - likely for many the same reasons.

Chris

[Silly Moustache]

My "Beater" is a Collings with some dings and scars after 16 years of hard usage.

Don't go camping (but if I go a festival, I take it), don't go to the beach, don't have any kids (at least none under age 45) and no dogs (just a cat that is scared of guitars).

So for my situation I don't see a point in having a cheapo that wouldn't be satisfying for me to play.

[andylie]

My Voyage Air is my beater (taken it on a couple of flights, a cruise, and several camping trips) , but these days I probably have more dings on my Taylor 214 since I've played it weekly in church over past 3 years. And the A&L Ami is what my daughter plays in her guitar class at school - that guitar is kept in a storage locker in the music room. I'll finally see it this weekend when she brings it home for a string change --- it could become the new beater....

[cattzap]

Well it's better to take a cheap beater $200 Yamaha to camping...



How about a $75 Yamaha.