Why Do People Intentionally Beat Up Their Gear?

Robert Herndon said:
I see a great deal of interest in relic'd instruments and I have never understood why people would want such a thing. Likewise, I cannot comprehend why people seem to intentionally beat up equipment as if it makes them appear to be cooler or something.

My 1987 Stratocaster Squire was bought brand new for me by bandmates in 1988. I giggled with it weekly from 1988 until 2005 and this guitar has appeared on literally hundreds of recordings since then.

Its never had a case, only the thick, padded bag it came with.

There is not a single chip in this guitar anywhere after 15 years of playing clubs, and over 20 years of kids and students playing it. The back is a hodge podge of swirls and scratches and several cracks have opened up in the body, but its never been dropped.

Its ironic to me that people don't take better care of their equipment. I knew that replacement equipment was often financially impossible for me, so even a crappy, Korean made Squirecaster was a cherished possession.

I have played recently on studio efforts with guys who had nearly new R8/R9 Historics who set them down on a cement floor, leaned them up against walls only to see them knocked over, with badly bent tuners, headstock repairs, deep chunks missing and just general neglect.

This morning, my youngest son had it out strumming away and I thought I would snap you folks some photos of a "gig worn" guitar.

The pickguard and pickups are not original, but everything else is, including the pots, caps, switch and wiring.

Frets 1-5 have been replaced at least twice and its been leveled and crowned 4 times - 3 times that I paid to have done and once recently by me. The nut has been replaced several times and the adjustment screws on the 'e' string saddles were just replaced as they were rusted solid.

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I couldn’t agree with you more, Robert.

I can’t say my cases still look as nice as yours!

My ‘74 SG did suffer a very unfortunate mishap resulting in the famed Gibson headstock break. But, intentionally damaging and relic’ing the guitar was something that never occurred to me to even try.
 
I’m in the don’t get it camp too. Seeems like stolen valor, you didn’t earn that. I try and take care of almost everything I own. My 2010 Camaro turns 9 years old this month and it does not have a single door nick or scratch. ‘The SG’ (1979) I bought earlier this year has a few nicks and dings, but those are like the scratches in fine leather, they add character.
 
When I was a kid, we drove to Washington DC from Philly for vacation. Half way there, the rear part of the drive shaft fell out if my brother's 70s Dodge Charger.

Relicing doesn't seem as popular lately. I expain relicing as: common sense is not so common.
 
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My stuff always gets reliced... without me even trying
or paying extra. I actually do attempt to take care of my gear...
I buy good cases and good stands, and I don't allow anyone to
play my guitar if they're drunk.
RigidTepidIceblueredtopzebra-small.gif
But I seem to be hard on my stuff.
I'm hard on my shoes... ( that's a song )
and my cars get dinged and dented.
Van packed 03@100.jpg
I've owned four Dodge or Plymouth minivans since 1985. The first one went 177,000 miles, and I sold it for $1000
and the guy drove it away. The second one went 200,000 miles, and I sold it for $1000 and the guy drove it away.
The third one went 355,000 miles and I sold it for $1000 as a trade in on the next one, which went 311,000 miles
before I finally traded that for small money on my 2015 Chevvy Equinox. So I've had nothing but great service from
my Dodge and Plymouth vehicles. I could strap my minivan to my back and drive to Boston... comfortable and
keeping straight between the white lines. Sorry you other schmoes have had so much trouble.

But about the relic thing:
I've seen guys playing old Fender guitars that looked dreadful...
Maple necks with no finish left on them, and so discolored from finger grease
and furniture polish that they looked grey and grimy and grubby...
"original" finish so flaked and dinged that it looked like it had been splattered
with paint.

That has no appeal to me. So I stripped the old sunburst off my '66 Fender bass, and
gave it an oil gunstock finish that looked great to my eye, and removed $10,000 from its value. *shrugs
But it was my bass and it gave great service for decades until I sold it this year for a
paltry $3000.

Aye well... I would never intentionally damage one of my guitars, because it seems to happen anyway.
My pore ol' head is covered with scars too... I seem to crash into things. except when I'm driving, of course
or I wouldn't be here to tell of it. My minivans have carried me safe through so many scary situations...
Ice and snow, and fires and fights between gawd knows who. Dark dark nights and misty mornings.

Here are my three favorites guitars, all bought new, all well cared for. Pity the fool that damages one of them!
3 Gibsons@100.jpg
 
I'm also in the "don't get it" camp. And to think people actually "pay" for relicing. Ooh, it's a Tom Murphy relic'd guitar. Ol' Tom must be laughing all the way to the bank, literally.
Admittedly, I did consider a "road worn" telecaster a while back, but it had nothing to do with it being a "road worn," it simply met the criteria of the tele I was after. I'll put wear on the tele I did get legitimately. Cheers
 
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99% of my gear is used......it comes PRE beat up
like when the previous owner had a DECAL covering the 11th fret that RUINED the finish-----

Strat white.jpg
Ive tried goof off and several other products nothing is getting rid of the 11th fret discoloration
 
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