whats the attraction with beat up guitars?

[Guitartanzon]

Recently went to a concert of two guys from nashville, Runaway Home,
which I enjoyed very much and highly recommend you check out.

But one guitar played looked like a younger Willy Nelson Trigger,,,,pretty beat up and very used....It was his first guitar he got when 14 years old,

so is there a “cool factor” in playing these old war horses or just a lifelong love affair with 1 instrument.

[619TF]

Based upon the way most of us here care for and react to certain discussions of guitar care I'd have to say this is likely in the "lifelong affair" column. A small ding brings tears to the eyes of some and yet when that's over it seems like most of us do the best we can and try to be nice to our guitars over the time we own them. Still, "stuff" happens and as such the guitars (generally) tend to get more beat up over time. Just a guess though as I don't think there's any one answer to the question.

[stephenT]

They're old, well played and cool. I'd rather see the signs of hands being laid upon than a pristine unit. My Favilla F5. (BTW, it's Willie).

[rstaight]

When I was in high school band there were a couple of brass players whose instrument was "well patinaed" to be polite.

Back then it was a relative who handed it down. Plus it was what they were used to.

For me anyway it's hard to give up an old tool or instrument. I know how it reacts. I may buy new but I keep the old one because it's perfectly messed up and has a definite purpose.

[DukeX]

Perceived mojo.

[JGinNJ]

I scratch my head when I see a new "heavy relicked" Fender on Reverb described as "Mint Condition".

I like new instruments and am careful to keep my gear in good condition.

[mr. beaumont]

There's an image factor, sure.

But sometimes a guitar is just good, no matter what it looks like. None of my guitars are pristine, I play 'em a lot. My telecaster, for example, is a natural finish...but if it were a painted finish it'd look rougher than any "relic" model by now! But it's also a guitar that plays and sounds great and I'll never part with.

[jrb715]

I don't really care what a performer's guitar looks like. It can look like, well, ****; but it's simply posing if it doesn't sound good. At Indianapolis last year, Zac Brown played a totally beat up Taylor that, amplified, was fingernails on a black board: the worst sounding guitar I've heard on a stage. And, as good as a musician as he is, he was posing--the guitar was there for the look and "real musician" vibe.

[Daveyo]

Personally,I don't get it
Or old guitars that have "mojo"
One mans junk is another mans treasure,haha
Dave

[CoffeeFan]

Originally Posted by jrb715

I don't really care what a performer's guitar looks like. It can look like, well, ****; but it's simply posing if it doesn't sound good. At Indianapolis last year, Zac Brown played a totally beat up Taylor that, amplified, was fingernails on a black board: the worst sounding guitar I've heard on a stage. And, as good as a musician as he is, he was posing--the guitar was there for the look and "real musician" vibe.

But he is a real musician, so he's not really "posing". You just didn't care for the sound of the guitar...

[paymerick]

Personally I don't think guitars should have any noticeable appearances at all. No pretty rings around the soundhole. No abalone dots on the fretboard. The pick-guard should be just some plane, drab square underneath the hole.

I kid, obviously. I like old beat up guitars. I like my newer guitar.

[frankmcr]

Seems to me that

playing a guitar that looks kinds beat up because you've had it since you were 14 years old, and

playing a guitar that looks kinda beat up because you selected that degree of relicing from the manufacturer's "roadworn" (or whatever) line

are two 100% different things.

[Guitartanzon]

Ok, I give in.

Its going to kill me, but I will do it...!!!!

I have a $179 yamaha fs 800...

I will let it get scratched, dinged and worn and not even wax it !!!!

[Osage]

Back when I used to tour a lot, my guitars just got beat up. No two ways about it. I played about 500 gigs (and numerous practices and recording sessions) with the same Telecaster. It was then with us as a backup for another few years. It looks like it was dragged behind a car in the rain but it still plays and sounds great. I in no way tried to distress it or anything. It's just the toll the road takes on an instrument. Back then, when I'd see someone playing a club with fancy new gear, I'd think they were an amateur. Now days, I just don't care at all what people do. I own beat up guitars and I own clean ones and I like them both just the same.

[Tnfiddler]

I prefer mine well-played, but WELL taken care of!! I clean mine every time I put them up which is every day!! I’ll probably run the finish off cleaning them!!