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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | What does it mean to “wear out” a guitar?
We “break in” guitars so that they vibrate easier, thus producing a fuller and richer tone. Thereafter, with extended use certain features wear out, or break, or are abused or neglected, and need repair or replacement, such as fret wires, possibly a fret board, and maybe the tuners, soundboard cracks, etc. Sometimes, we refer to guitars with lots of wear as having “mojo.” I’ve also heard that some guitars are just plain worn out and can’t be repaired, i.e., Clapton’s original “Blackie” Strat made from an assortment of pieces and parts. Maybe what this really means is that the worn parts could easily be replaced, but then it wouldn’t be the same guitar.
Anybody know what the useful life of a guitar is, or of an Ovation/Adamas in particular? I’ve taken reasonably good care of my 27 year old 1651, played it a lot for the first 20 years, and it remains in very good condition. Mark’s original slothead No. 42 sounds terrific and still looks great and he played it something like eight shows a week on the road for ten years. We heard some of Beal's 70 or 80 year old Nationals and an ancient lap steel at Amelia and they sounded terrific and looked darn good. How long can these guitars go on with reasonable care?
When a guitar wears out beyond repair, what does that mean? What wears out? What can't be replaced? Is it one of these synergistic relationships where the entire package works better than the sum of its parts, so replacing a part diminishes or destroys the synergism of the package, or something like that? |
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November 2002
Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Depends on the part of the elephant you're talking about. Is that helpful?
So, much of this conundrum concerns what the critter means to it's owner. How old is a Strativarius? And, how many times has it been repaired, or even, reassembled?
If you will allow a frequent computer analogy, "Garbage in, garbage out". The opposite is probably true, too. |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | most see's garbage christopher sees treasures lol |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Example of worn-out guitar
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | hey theres a beat to hell wide neck for me hahahah |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I lose interest in them well before they're worn out. Dave |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Jason_S:
hey theres a beat to hell wide neck for me hahahah Jas,
I don't think Willie is about to get rid of it! :D |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | maybe i can trade willie a ounce of some good herb for it..lol |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Tuners, knobs, strap pins, electronics, and frewire will wear out. I guess the rest of it will depend on use and abuse... I still think the older they are, the better they sound :) . |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Jason_S:
maybe i can trade willie a ounce of some good herb for it..lol Methinks whatever Willie has trumps what you can get. :cool:
Personally, I can't wait for the Willie Nelson "relic" model to be released by Martin. Think of the fun the factory folk will have making it. |
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Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I have a friend who had a 30 yr old Deluxe Baladeer which he purchased new. He plays a lot every day and the top was BADLY warped and cracked, bridge turning to the point that the guitar was almost unplayable.
Years ago I took it to the factory and Kim and John looked it over. They decided it needed a new top (and therefore a new bowl also). I was gonna pay for the job AND an Op24+C for my good friend.
My friend said every song he'd ever written for and sung to his children were birthed on that guitar. He'd rather just hang it on the wall and get another guitar than change his guitar THAT much.
THAT'S when your guitar is worn out.
John <>{ |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by bauerhillboy:
THAT'S when your guitar is worn out. BINGO!!!!!  |
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October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by Jason_S:
maybe i can trade willie a ounce of some good herb for it..lol if you can afford an ounce of some good herb, you can buy a great used guitar! |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | lol randy you are just full of insitefull answeres lol
btw im commin for ye in teh post count lol |
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Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | As long as the instrument makes noise, it's capable of making music. You choose to continue with it, or not. |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | My 1112-4 I got when I was a kid in the early 70's is worn out. In it's current condition it is unplayable. The neck is bowed and twisted. The top has a couple of nice cracks. That guitar was pretty much my best friend when I was a kid, that guitar traveled everywhere with me. It's been all over the country.
Following Matt Smith and Paul Templeman's advise I tuned that sucker to D and now it's having a second life as my slide guitar. It didn't even need a nut extender, the action is plenty high.
So maybe guitars don't wear out. |
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August 2007
Posts: 494
Location: Location Location Location | Well, at 57 I think I'll wear out long before either of my 2007 guitars. I just hope I can still remember what a guitar does, or what I do. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | My 1948 Martin D-28 just turned 60 years old...it's been through a car wreck, water damage to the case and finish, neglect, and crappy repairs. But now, through the skilled master hand of Wayne Henderson, it's back: looking great (abet well played) and sounding like a dream...Before Wayne got a chance to save it, it was unplayable and probably worn out! Not any more! The value goes up daily, but to me, it's priceless! |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Mike, I would love to hear Wayne Henderson's reaction if you dropped that '08 Collector's in his lap! Did you get a chance to show him any of your roundbacks? |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | As a matter of fact: if you mention something that is not made of wood: well lets just say its not a good idea...its an Appalachian thing...hey, it's cool...his collection of vintage Martins is unreal...I have talked to him about the Ovations and Adamas's...I will probably take the 47RI over sometime this summer...You will all be happy to know that Taylor's are not a good subject at the shop either...But Wayne did play my 810 Fall Limited w/Madagascar RW for about 30 minutes: and it sounded fantastic...everybody there told me that was a first! |
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Wearing out a guitar
