To play it or not to play it...that is the question.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

I recently purchased a nearly pristine Jimmy Buffet Pollywog guitar from another forum member. Cool guitar—spruce over mahogany, 12 fret, 000-28, unique binding, great inlays. And it sounds just great.

I had every intention of putting it away for a rainy day and only giving it the occasional strum...not so much as an “investment” but just because it’s so nice. (Of several Martins, one of my go to gigging guitars is an OM 42 so I’m not afraid of playing out on something I love.)

Now I’m looking at the Pollywog and thinking “why not throw in a K&K, put on a strap button and play this thing? I mean, it’s just a guitar, right?”

Such a First World problem!

I’ll make my own decision, but have you ever wrestled with this? What was your thought process?

I never bought a guitar I didn't intend to play the crap out of. that first "Ding" is a heart breaker, but it's all part of the game.

[JayBee1404]

+1 on everything everyone else said. If you’re not playing it, it’s not a guitar, it’s just wood, glue, metal, and wires.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[12barBill]

Originally Posted by drive-south

At a moment like this I can't help but wonder

"What would Jimmy Buffet do?"

Well being a big Buffett fan for going on 44 years I can't resist...

"Funny you should ask.
He'd say plaaay that thing long and hard.
Put in a K&K
You should play it that way
Its only a guitar
You shouldn't care..."

[llew]

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

If I can't use something for its intended purpose, I won't have it.

Well said......

[Skarsaune]

A little bit - I have a Steve Earle M-21 Martin, one of 150 or so.
It doesn’t leave the house, but I do play it.

[Slothead56]

Originally Posted by bufflehead

If it has the captain's wheel inlay on the 5th fret, it might be worth keeping pristine as a collectable. Otherwise, play it.

It does indeed. Why do you believe it would be worth keeping as a collectible??

[woodbox]

I rarely post twice on a thread, but Willie Voltaires post reminded me of a car story, that relates to our guitar discussion.

My first "new car" was a Volkswagen Scirocco, Wolfsburg Edition, with leather interior.
I promptly took the leather gear shift knob off and put on a vinyl replacement.
Then I put a vinyl steering wheel cover over the factory leather.
Girlfriend helped me fabricate some seat covers from terrycloth towels.. so they could be washed.. to cover the leather seats.

All was well until I got a new neighbor.
He looked at my protective measures, shook his head, and said:
"So you owe all that to the next owner, do you?"

He then walked over to his Lotus roadster, laid a patch getting out of his driveway, and was gone in a flash... driving the crap out of his vintage racer worth at least twice my VW.

Oh, and did I mention?
Just prior to the burnout, he pointed to the passenger door of his Lotus and said:
"Get in!"

What a ride!!!

Towels came off when we returned.

[GKing34]

I can’t imagine having a guitar that I don’t play regularly. I just wouldn’t see the point in having it. Aside from camping or going to the beach, my Martin gets played out just about anywhere.

[Goodallboy]

I'm firmly in the "play it" camp, and also firmly in the "do what you want with your guitar and don't worry about what other people say" camp.

I'm sure that helps.

[gmel555]

Play it. Take good care of it, but play it for sure.