Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

Don't get me wrong...

I had to work for everything I have. I didn't get an inheritance.

My kids had to work for everything they've got. They all paid for their own educations. They aren't necessarily going to get an inheritance and I'm not specifically planning to leave them an inheritance. But, anything that I have left after I'm dead, I want to be well planned on how it is dealt with. There won't be much money, but for sure I will have many guitars to leave them. None of them are musicians so I hope there will be some monetary value left in them.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

I think people who say about guitar "it's just a tool for making music" are mentally avoiding the fact that they can't be bothered to care better for their more delicate possessions, because if guitars were tools, they'd only come in Stanley Yellow or Milwaukee Red.

 

[LReese]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

I'm a little jealous of people who had parents who gave even the slightest thought about their kid's inheritance, or even paying for their college. But only a little, I don't think parents should have to worry about providing their kids anything once they are past the age of 18.

Its a case of wanting to ensure their kids have what they need to get ahead. Its not a legal or moral obligation. Its also about leaving a lasting mark (in part the ability to gather financially) on future generations of the family.

You don't stop wanting to give to your child bust because he/she reaches legal adult status. Even at 18, you still don't have certain 'privileges' (Probably not the right word for that) afforded to someone over 21. I'm referring to alcohol consumption as one off the top of my head.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

So far, I think I understand and appreciate everyone's take on this. I think some of us don't like the feeling that they're been preached or lectured to. At the same time, I realize I often have some spiritedly derogatory things to say about people who smash guitars on stage.

I guess we're all free to do what we want with our guitars, and we're all free to be annoyed by what the other guy does with his.

 

[CTN]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

A guitar itself is art, separate and distinct from whatever is done with it musically.

What about all those stringed things that come out of chinese factories with crappy fretwork, ugly finishes, twisted necks and harsh, unmusical pickups? You trying to say that's art?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

I don't really care for my stuff. I try to not let it get damaged, but I don't do a lot of busywork maintenance on them. I don't really have the time, and my boys aren't at an age to handle guitars yet.

I will probably never own something I think is worth regular maintenance. I'm cheap, and my children will destroy anything nice anyway.
I plan on keeping what I have and what I can get in operating condition so they can have them after I die. Not as an investment but as a tool with history. My boys don't have say in musicality; they were born with perfect pitch and good rhythm and they will learn to be fluent in its language. Some parents want baseball players for kids and I want musicians.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

Your face wants musicians!

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

Your face wants musicians!

YOUR MOM WANTS MUSICIANS

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

I'm a little jealous of people who had parents who gave even the slightest thought about their kid's inheritance, or even paying for their college. But only a little, I don't think parents should have to worry about providing their kids anything once they are past the age of 18.

I think people who say about guitar "it's just a tool for making music" are mentally avoiding the fact that they can't be bothered to care better for their more delicate possessions, because if guitars were tools, they'd only come in Stanley Yellow or Milwaukee Red. I also take a little offense to the idea that the music is a more valid end goal than a guitar itself. I don't think Luthiers like to think of themselves as tool makers. I have a friend who does't know how to play guitar at all, but knows all about how they work because that's more interesting to him than actually playing. A guitar itself is art, separate and distinct from whatever is done with it musically.

That just means that you have a different mindset from some guitarists. That doesn't mean they're wrong, it just means you disagree. Not "caring" for your instrument is objectively fine.

 

[Securb]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

At the same time, I realize I often have some spiritedly derogatory things to say about people who smash guitars on stage.

As a teen I smashed guitars on stage. It was great promo for the band, something people would talk about long after the gig was over. At the end of the gig I would scoop up the useable parts get what else I needed from the repair guy at the local music store and build me another smasher. I was always careful not to break the neck. At the end of its life that guitar has so much bondo and krylon on it it was comical. Keep in mind it was a $69 SG copy. The bottomline is it was mine and I was free to treat it anyway I wanted to.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

Here's a wild idea:

If you want to spend more time cleaning than playing, go for it.

No, actually more of a lame idea than a 'wild' one. Putting a guitar back in a case, or wiping it down takes seconds. You personally may be too important of person to do that, tied up with high-level decisons and all, jet-setting about, but nearly every other person in the world has a few spare seconds in their day. If those few seconds would equate to more time than you play guitar, you need to work on your time management.

You know, this topic periodically comes up here, and it's always the same: Some guys point out that keeping a guitar in nice condition only takes seconds a day. But they really don't care what other guys do with their guitars, as it's their money. All they're saying is: 'Just don't insult our intelligence by saying you don't have the time to do it.' Then there's the guys who give justifications why their guitars are banged up; and a few of them invariably lose their cool.

Regardless of many heartfelt claims to the contrary, most guitars do end up getting sold, for a number of reasons, eBay's full of them. They may 'thin out the herd', find a great deal on a new one, drop out of a band, quit playing, need cash for something else, etc. No shortage of reasons why guitars get sold, and rarely are they planned in advance. It's a sobering experience for some of them to see how little their guitar's worth to others when it's beat up.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

No, actually more of a lame idea than a 'wild' one. Putting a guitar back in a case, or wiping it down takes seconds. You personally may be too important of person to do that, tied up with high-level decisons and all, jet-setting about, but nearly every other person in the world has a few spare seconds in their day. If those few seconds would equate to more time than you play guitar, you need to work on your time management.

You know, this topic periodically comes up here, and it's always the same: Some guys point out that keeping a guitar in nice condition only takes seconds a day. But they really don't care what other guys do with their guitars, as it's their money. All they're saying is: 'Just don't insult our intelligence by saying you don't have the time to do it.' Then there's the guys who give justifications why their guitars are banged up; and a few of them invariably lose their cool.

Regardless of many heartfelt claims to the contrary, most guitars do end up getting sold, for a number of reasons, eBay's full of them. They may 'thin out the herd', find a great deal on a new one, drop out of a band, quit playing, need cash for something else, etc. No shortage of reasons why guitars get sold, and rarely are they planned in advance. It's a sobering experience for some of them to see how little their guitar's worth to others when it's beat up.

1. I didn't say that I don't care for my guitars.

2. I play my guitars just about every day for more time than I probably should.

3. I was merely attempting to mediate the issue.

4. Have you uploaded a vid of you playing in response to Lew yet?

 

[ginormous]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

If you know how to tell if your neck is bowing, or how to set your own intonation, then you know what the value of your instrument. You've likely played it enough to tell what the difference is. Noobs need to learn to appreciate the investment they made.

It's really strange to me. People buy used all the time (my Gibby bass was 10 years old when I got my hands on it). And now the industry has provided us with "reliced", "distressed" or "pre-aged" models.

They grab a unit that's made to the old specs, put magnets in the pickups that are about 30% weaker than current production stock, put some coloring in the veneer, sand off the finish in some places, gouge some fake buckle rash on the back, smack it around with a chain and BAM!

It's just like the one that famous guy who died from an OD back in the 70's played at the 60's music festival where all those other famous people hung out...

And here we are, trying to understand why some people keep their instruments in climate controlled, clean room conditions, and others sling them over their shoulders and walk out of the store.

Why do some people buy from Abercrombie & Fitch, and others hunt down stuff from the Salvation Army?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

As a teen I smashed guitars on stage. It was great promo for the band, something people would talk about long after the gig was over. At the end of the gig I would scoop up the useable parts get what else I needed from the repair guy at the local music store and build me another smasher. I was always careful not to break the neck. At the end of its life that guitar has so much bondo and krylon on it it was comical. Keep in mind it was a $69 SG copy. The bottomline is it was mine and I was free to treat it anyway I wanted to.

And some of my favorite players have smashed guitars on stage. It doesn't take the piss outta me that badly.

 

[LReese]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

You definitely don't want a 10 year old me maintaining my own instrument. Really you don't...

 

[ginormous]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

And some of my favorite players have smashed guitars on stage.

True. Was it dramatic theater, being a bit wasted, feeling PO'ed at the manager/promoter/label/etc., or frustration with the shortcomings of the guitar?

 

[CTN]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

bottom line: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

some people want that "fresh outta the factory", over-airbrushed, more-perfect-than-perfect look.

Others like the look of a guitar that has character, mojo, wears its years of experience on its face rather than covering it up.

 

[Securb]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

Why do some people buy from Abercrombie & Fitch, and others hunt down stuff from the Salvation Army?

I think I know this one...

....because they are broke?

 

[StoRMiE]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

My fathers friend had a vintage 60's Jazz Bass, He would get drunk with my father and they would ride it down the stairs of the same venue twice a week and then immediately take it on stage.

He lovingly called it "The Toboggan".

So if you ever think a little bit of buckle rash or a couple of dings is "mistreating" the instrument just remember that it could be worse, Two drunk guys could have rode it down the stairs.

 

[LReese]

Re: Why don't people take care of thier instruments?

Stories of taking abuse like that is part of the reason Fender got their reputation. And why they are revered.

A lot of other designs would be rendered into firewood, or toothpicks.