Remember the Tappet Brothers?

[Mark Stone]

Yeah, the car guys - Tom and Ray Magliozzi - that were on NPR? They said during an episode of their radio show that the best thing that can happen to a new car was its first scratch. After that, people would not be so obsessed with it.

Yes, take care of your new wooden guitar - case it, protect it from heat/cold, humidify it, clean it -- but isn't it a relief to get that inevitable first scratch or ding out of the way? I was walking through the house with my last Gibson when it was a month or so old (it was a Hummingbird Pro, a Songwriter in disguise lol) and bapped it against a kitchen chair accidentally - first ding - and I felt so relieved to get that over with. From that moment on, I was able to enjoy the instrument.

[619TF]

Nope, I have the almost opposite reaction. It took me years to save for that guitar I wanted and I was very careful with it, never took it from the house, stored in the case, etc.

Then one day I accidentally but gingerly hit it against the table edge and it produced a ding on the face. Now every time I go to play it I see the ding and it makes me depressed. Barely noticeable to anyone but me I'd bet but aaaargggh! YMMV

[beatcomber]

Speaking of "Caaah Tawk," this is still visible in Harvard Square...

[uriah1]

I still hear them on the radio
Must be rebroadcasts

[PorkPieGuy]

Loved those guys.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by 619TF

It took me years to save for that guitar I wanted and I was very careful with it, never took it from the house, stored in the case, etc.

If I ever buy a saved-for-years guitar, it'll come pre-dinged by the folks who played it for the previous 50 or 75 years.

[why2]

Many, many years ago (80s) my 13 year old son was playing my Takamine and he heard us laughing in the kitchen. Not wanting to miss the fun he came flying in and put the face of the guitar into the corner of a cabinet. A pretty good ding but the structure was fine. I go visit my local music shop and I'm telling the story and about my upsetness. Roy, the store owner, listens and says "no big deal, put a happy face sticker over it" and proceeded to attend to another customer.

Well it put things into perspective, somewhat. Eventually I gave the guitar to my son and he is still playing and gigs with it occasionally. Makes me happy.

I can say that I'm very careful with my guitars when moving them around out of cases. And I would be upset if I carelessly made marks on them. But if something does happen I'll be pissed but then I'll chalk it up to life and try to grin and bear it.

[619TF]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

If I ever buy a saved-for-years guitar, it'll come pre-dinged by the folks who played it for the previous 50 or 75 years.

I get that but I wanted something new. That'll teach ME!

Originally Posted by uriah1

I still hear them on the radio
Must be rebroadcasts

Nothing new since 2012 actually and one brother now deceased since 2014/15. I loved listening to that that show though.

[Lillis]

You know Martin had a signature model based on those guys.

[BluesBelly]

Yep, I’ll agree that the first hit is the hardest. After that, the guitar (or car, or furniture, or ???) has your brand on it and then it’s all yours! The first zing incurred is the beginning of the MOJO the instrument will receive over its lifetime. Plus it makes it easy to identify.
I have a 1998 Takamine FP350SMC-SB Pro Series that I bought new for the specific reason of using it as my gigging and utility guitar, which I have done. It sounds great and I take it everywhere, fishing trips, church for Praise practice, camping, You name it. I let other folks play it as well. It’s a spruce over maple dread cutaway with burst finish and great sounding Takamine electronics. Nice looking and sounding versatile guitar.
Crazy thing is; this guitar is like new. Not a mark. Not a dent. Nothing except minimal normal fret wear and A few pick guard scratches. The case is even mint.
Meanwhile, ‘Back at the Ranch’, About a year ago I’m changing strings on my brand new 2018 Martin M-36, which At the time, I have had for a month. Don’t you suppose the bridge end of a string gets wild on me and pops a couple of dents in the beautiful, unscathed spruce top. GRRRRRRR.

My Granny had plastic on her furniture and lamp shades. When she tipped over the furniture Was distributed to her relatives who stripped the plastic and appreciated her belongings for what they were, not the shrine that they had become. All those years Granny sat on the sticky plastic
(If she was naked On a hot day ....“Ouch”) And never got to enjoy the fabric of her furniture.
For me it was a lesson learned.

It’s a cruel world but we just have to roll with it.

Blues

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Lillis

You know Martin had a signature model based on those guys.

Is there anybody who didn't get a Martin signature model?

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

Speaking of "Caaah Tawk," this is still visible in Harvard Square...

I love this!!

[DreadFred]

If I remember correctly, one of the brothers apparently played guitar. When the show ended or he retired from the program, I think he was presented with a Martin guitar.

[billyg]

Originally Posted by Lillis

You know Martin had a signature model based on those guys.

It was pretty cool looking. Had car parts as fretboard markers.

[Parlorman]

Some people pay extra for a reliced guitar. I don’t get it, but I do like the patina of age when it’s come by honestly.