Nothing made me more proud than when I spotted the first bit of buckle rash on the back of my Les Paul Custom. Nice to look at. Nicer to play.

When you Nick or scratch your guitar, that's okay. But when someone else knocks it against an amp or wall, NOOOOOO!

I'm finally at a point in my life where I can afford expensive guitars, I'm certainly not going to buy them to leave them in a case. I want to be able to see them and pick them up whenever I desire. Something cathartic about getting that first good noticable ding in it.

In 2013 my wife & I had our son. I bought an American standard Strat, the boy & the guitar are better than ever. Couple dings & scratches but growing stronger everyday. Damn I’m realizing that I’m getting ready! For a new guitar- no more kids

I play them all. I've been buying open box guitars that have a scratch or ding for 20%+ off because I know I'm going to do something to them sooner or later. Guitars are to be played. I've been selling off the guitars I don't play, and yes, they were pristine. Mostly Gibson's, because I was always scared someone would knock them over and snap off a headstock.

This is a great subject. I have run across this waaay too much. It boggles my mind. Guitars are meant to be played and acoustics actually get better the more you play them. I spent a lot of money back in the day around 1980 on a Dean Z explorer and immediately started gigging it. It never entered my mind not to take it out. I watched it like a hawk and it got some real wear on it. When I foolishly sold it years later I got my money back plus. The enjoyment I got out of it was PRICELESS.

I bought a Journeyman Relic Strat a year ago. I have a few new nice looking Strats. They go back in the case when I’m done playing. The relic is always on the stand, and hasn’t been in the case since I bought it. It gets played more often. 😀

I have a Fender 50th Anniversary American Standard Stratocaster that I bought while I was briefly in a ill-fated band. The band lasted 2 years. Interim post, I mostly played my less expensive guitars while my Fender was consigned to its case. 18 years later, I may have played it 20 times..... I pawned it twice during hard financial times & STILL have it, though!!! 😁 I'm in the process of trying to play my recently purchased Epiphone GoldTop Les Paul Standard more to make up for my neglect of my Fender over the years. Thanks For Being There, Guys! 😑

Are we seeing a return of the Mustachio again?! 😱🥳 Check out those sexy close ups of Baxter’s stubble! Looks like we’ve got a lip hair sequel in progress! Yay! 👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻

Keep the videos comming, love you guys.

I have to admit, this kind of hit home. In the summer months when I’m wearing short sleeves and have been sweating throughout the day, I tend not to play my Custom Shop Martin 0000. I usually just play my electrics and my sons Martin Dread JR…..😂🤦🏻‍♂️

I just bought a J45 yesterday, my first expensive guitar, played it for 4 hours last night, have 3 gigs this weekend, will play it at all of them, will beat it up and use it and love every single minute I play it.

I've been watching sveral of these videos over the last few days and it hit me halfway in to this one. You two are like young versions of Doug and Pat. Keep it up, I watch far more of these videos than your reviews.

I agree completely. I bought the shell pink Austin Macnutt 64 strat from you guys this month. It arrived on a Wednesday and I loaned it to our lead singer (I drum for this band) to play a dive bar that Saturday. This 9k dollar guitar was fenders “straturday” feature on twitter the day of this inaugural show. My private stock prs also makes regular appearances on stage. Higher end guitars were built for the wild not to be domesticated pets.

Yes, guitars are tools, but they're also pieces of art that people like to collect. I don't think it's wrong to have a guitar that you don't play regularly if you appreciate it for what it is. Imo, it's no different that buying a painting. It has its own story and legacy. That said, I definitely had new guitar jitters. I play everything now, but the break in period is similar to when you get a pair of new shoes. The transition from "special occasions only" to "I'm wearing these to the grocery store" takes a bit of time.

When I picked out my used Gibson Les Paul, I looked over the whole thing carefully and found a big ding in the back. It made me so happy to not have to worry about making the first scratch!

I've been a bit guilty about this practice without consciously thinking about it. I have a couple new and expensive basses, I didn't reason why I was reaching for a less nice bass to take to band practice and practicing at home with the newer ones. Good subject matter guys!

So I got a brand new gold top. It’s a guitar I’ve wanted for 25 years. I was stuck in this don’t play the nice guitar thing so I also found a mistreated tribute gold top so I’d have something to play out. While doing some work on the tribute I turned with it in my hand and swing it right into the body of the gold top that was currently hanging on a stand… sold the tribute within a week and got over new guitar syndrome haha

I bought a custom candy apple red Stratocaster American back in the late 90s mid to late 90s and have enjoyed relicing this guitar throughout the years she still plays like a dream

Never woulda known yall resurfaced without that dang bell... was about to call in a missing persons report.

Oh man I do this. I use my Fender Classic Vibes Strat as my main practice and travel guitar. It feels awesome to just prop it up behind the amp and not worry. It helps that they've improved these guitars so much! But alas, you're right. I need to pull the others out and just have fun.

5:23 One word: Relics. Lol Also, I like having something I love and never ever intend to sell as I watch its value skyrocket by a ridiculous rate on Reverb. I just laugh and go "Yep. Never letting it go."

Miss you guys glad you’re back

I just scored a used PRS se 277 baritone and the guy took phenomenal care of it. I was actually hoping it already had some dings and scratches on it so I won't feel guilty from the inevitable knicks I will probably add to it. I love it, I play it constantly. I think b standard tuning is where my heart is. It just feels so good.

That's why I like buying relic'd/VOS guitars. Never even worry about a scratch or a ding! - Now my PRS's though, stay in the case when not being played, but they are played!

IMHO a guitar is to a guitarist much as a hammer is to a carpenter…it’s the tools we work with. 🎸🔊🎶🤘✌️♥️🤟

Thank you, I needed this as well. I have a relatively new Gibson LP that is the most expensive guitar I’ve ever owned, and I have a hard time with worrying I’m going to scratch it or ding it. It’s almost the last guitar I’ll pick up, which is ridiculous!

Thanks guys another fantastic video finances can definitely effect what your willing to play sometimes broke people have some nice stuff that they dont use as often because there broke 👍 keep it up!

I bought a MIM road worn 50s Strat specifically so if I ding it it won’t matter. Instant relief from worry and it’s a great axe too.

This is why I like guitars that are relic from the factory. That way if I ding it. It just adds to the look :) But I do have a Gibson les paul that isn't relic. It makes me crazy for new marks to appear on it. So I truly don't play it a lot yet.

I have a few maybe more than that actually, expensive guitars and I play them all but I also take care of them. Routine cleanings and maintenance goes a long way toward keeping them looking and playing great. Having said that MY observation watching so many KZfaq channels is the expensive guitars being referred to as “pieces” as an antique collector would say as opposed to “instrument” as a musician would say seems to add fuel to the “buy it but don’t play it” mentality.

Guitars, and musical instruments in general, are works of art, but their real beauty only comes out when they're played.

I play them all. The best ones don’t leave the house as much.

To quote Nigel from the movie this is Spinal Tap. “ Don’t even look at it”.

I keep all my guitars in cases, because I don't want them getting knocked over or dinged unnecessarily. Even at my advanced age, I don't find it all that difficult to open a guitar case and remove its content. That said, I did get my first ding in my 2-year-old Taylor 717e recently. I was on stage for sound check at the time and it was my own fault. I was there for a special event which reunited me with some dear old friends, so the ding, while annoying, will always remind me of an awesome evening.

Speaking of Joe Bonamassa. I saw him play at the Royal Albert Hall in London in May. I was lucky as he pulled out his vintage Les Paul and played it. Wow best sounding guitar I have ever heard live! Agree with you guys - if you have it - play it! Keep up the great work. Love the videos.

I've sold 3 different PRS core guitars because i never took them out of the case for this exact reason. I do let the silver sky live on the wall mount and i play that almost every day.

I've never understood the worry - unless you bought the guitar purely as a display item. I've always regarded mine as tools to use - I try to look after them, but I don't handle them with kid gloves. In fact, it's almost a relief when they get their first scratch or chip in the finish! 😉 My heaviest worn (reliced?) axe is my '80s Strat which slipped off its strap and hit a concrete floor during a video shoot back in the day - it took a big chunk out of the paint - but, sadly not enough to make it any lighter (it weighs a ton!)! 🤣 My old 1978 Gibson The Paul has weathered gently and nicely - the original satin polyurethane finish has polished gloss in most areas and looks much better, and it's worn down to bare walnut on the neck. It's a great guitar - some "proper" Les Paul players looked down their nose at them when they came out, but they were affordable, really well built, lighter, and had a volute - so mine's survived countless knocks through the years with never a worry about a headstock break! The classic chainsaw case it came with also helped there. 😉

I was lucky and droped my PRS 513 around month after acquiring, tearing one of tuner screws from headstock. Cried a bit but I wasn't afraid to play it afterwards. Rod Stewart sang about it long time ago - first cut is deepest :D

My first really nice high end guitar is a 2020 Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Broadcaster. I purposely bought the Journeyman Relic to avoid this exact syndrome. If I had bought the pristine one, I'd be afraid to touch it. Since purchasing that CS guitar, I've managed to acquire a few nice Gibson Les Paul models brand new, as well as some PRS etc. I do play them all, but I'm super careful with them. I'm terrified to damage them.... yes I do enjoy them, but as much as they sound fantastic and play fantastic they are absolute works of art to me. I also plan to pass down my collection to my kids someday. When they are not being played, they get wiped down and put in the respective cases. I think at this point it's obvious I'm a home player, mid life crisis "blues lawyer"... I just love my guitars, and finally own my dream guitars that I couldn't afford when I was playing out.

Willie Nelson's guitar (Trigger) is beat up af and is IMO priceless.

There are battle scars on all my guitars but I still play them every day

Bought a mint Hummingbird a couple of years ago. All my electrics are beat up or refins. Was so careful with the acoustic especially with two teenage sons and their friends who come over and play that it wasn’t fun. Sold it and got a beater that sounded nearly as good

I've gone through two phases of this. Back in the day my main guitars were a Les Paul custom and a Strat Plus. I started gigging a lot and played the strat mostly but the bars were rough so I built up "live" guitars from squire bodies, carvin necks and pickups so I had two idential strats that were under $250 a piece. Now I have a lot of guitars and the cheap ones get used for practice so I'm not burning the frets off the nicer ones and those nicer ones are gigged. Unless it's a really rough dive bar where there's no stage and you're a foot from the drunks. Then the less expensive guitars still go. But I play my stuff. I never bought a guitar worried about resale. I've only gotten rid of one guitar and I still regret it. I do have a couple of duplicates of nice guitars so I can play the crap out of one and have one in reserve for when I play the first one to death.

“I need therapy” 🤣

that's why I admire guys like Joe B. he'll play a burst through dumbles on a cruise in the rain because in his mind people paid HIM to see the best he's got to offer. value shouldn't make us forget what it is we bought, it's a TOOL.

I have never felt as liberated playing guitar until after picking up a relic'd Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop. It was expensive, it's not everyone's cup of tea. TBH, I was anti-aged, anti-factory relic, but after owning one, there is nothing quite like it. No regrets, well worth every cent! Functional Art for the win!

Play it ,rip it ,or sell it. 🤘that’s why I think fender / Worn series is the best thing since sliced cheese. No worries at all it’s already beat up. Lol

I bought a Custom Shop 59 off of somebody that had kept it as a case queen - he even recommended I keep it as such! Thing sounds way too good to not play it!

A new Gretsch 6120 came here 4 years ago new. She has not left the house in those 4 years. I feel bad that I take my other guitars(all bought used) out all the time but I love that freaking guitar.

Toddlers will definitely relic your guitar for you. My grandson pretended that my hummingbird was a piñata. I was furious at first and then I sold it for what I paid for it. I care and I don't.

I just bought a reverend Jetstream 390. It's the most I've ever spent on a guitar, and my wife asked if I was going to keep it in a case all the time. Nope. I play it every day because it's a joy to play. I bought a case for it, but it's just for transport.

About 20 years ago I bought a Martin D-18GE new. On my way home I stopped by my auto mechanic's shop to show it off. He and I had played together when younger. I couldn't wait to gig with it and had a K&K installed. I also have a hot wife and I like to show her off to because I am a fortunate man.

This is nuts. I play my guitars all the time and even my son (7) is beginning to play them, including my Gibson R9. I don’t give a sh*t as long as he doesn’t break the neck. Guitars are meant to be played and scratched, unless you are a “collector” and not a player

I have an arm sleeve! I don't want to sweat on my Martin with a satin finish. I do play it a lot though.

My parents bought me a 50s Les Paul standard when I was 16 (lucky me) and I didn’t realise the significance of that guitar but jimmy page had one so I wanted it too, I’m now 31 and I’ve been playing it ever since and it’s got so much character and patina I’ll never part with it, no regrets.

I have limits to what I take on tour(dive bars) was2500 on the floor 2500 in my hands,2500 behind me..lol..most places are pretty good but its that one time..seen many a guy have a guitar stolen..usually unloading or loading..seen a strat bounce of a stage at a halloween gig..but now everything has appreciated (or is it the money isn't worth what it used to be) so have to rethink..anything really fancy I use in studio and depending on gig..but my main gear is my main gear cost don't matter..great show fellows..thanks eh!

I've never been afraid to play my guitars. As a matter of fact, I'm so comfortable, I would be happy to come play yours anytime 😉✌

Damn I missed you guys

YO, shout out for mentioning Joey Fatone and Fluffhead in the same episode

I don't think I could spend money on a guitar and not play it. when i do buy one i dont plan on ever parting with it. The first guitar I bought new was a 2019 Fender fa-235e in moonburst not a expensive guitar by any means but I played that thing 4+ hours a day when I was in college and I absolutely love the way the finish is starting to chang from a gloss to a satin where my arm rests. Last year I bought my dream guitar a 2021 Fender special edition custom telecaster fmt hh in black cherry burst. Probably the second night I had it I knocked it into its stand after a beer to many. put a small dent in the neck can't feel it barely see it if you know it's there. I play my guitars until i have to wipe the sweat off to stop them from dripping. I look forward to my guitars aging with me and the stories we will make along the way. Relics are starting to look really convincing but I bet if you handed a 1:1 replica of Trigger to Willie Nelson that it wouldn't sound the same as Trigger. Theres just something about an old played in guitar that can't be copied especially if your the one who played it in.

Nobody is better then Casino Guitars!

I worked with a guy named Randy Hill. He was a great guitar player but an incredible Tech. One of the first things he told me was that when he buys a new axe, he lets a small screwdriver smack the backside just to get it out of the way. A ding doesn’t ( in 99.99999% of situations ) affect sound or playability.

When I get new guitar its like when I get a new work truck. I hate getting those first scratched and dings in the bed n whut not. But once it happens all is well and the stress is over.

I love my PRS Custom 24, (Wood Library), and I’m not sure that I would take that to a bar gig. Grab an S2 or an SE for that, lol.

I got a new Gibson SG standard around the time of being in my first real band. I took care of the neck but mostly didn’t care about the body, practically never polished it, every scratch was a badge of honor to me. Ironically I almost never play it now, too many bittersweet memories attached to it I guess.

I have my high end studio guitars, think PRS, Fender custom USA, my "live" guitars, Fender made in Mexico, PRS se and practice/jam session guitars , squire, Epiphone ect.

the area where i live, a lot of people have had their gear stolen at the venue they're playing. so many leave the fenders at home, and get a squier to take to the gig

Lol,have never had that problem ! I have the opposite problem,I play the new ones about a month or two or longer before I get tired of it ! I guess if I ever had vintage burst or an original broadcaster,that would be different , but that ain't never gonna happen !

⚓️ Thanks Casino 😎

I have a John Mayer signature Stratocaster thats pristine. It lives in the case most of the time because its value has doubled. And ive got 20 other guitars to play.

This is why I play relics or used guitars that are already beat up.

Such folks are called "PRS People" 🤣

All my guitars are Players. All the dents, scratches and dings are like tattoos, badges of honor that tell the guitars’ story. That said, I make sure I don’t leave them between sets where they can get damaged- not asking for trouble either. Play your guitars or sell them to someone who will.

I have one guitar that I baby because I just got it and because it’s fucking incredible and I don’t want to chunk it up. I play all of my other guitars, expensive or otherwise. But I’ll keep babying this one and hope it never ends up gouged or otherwise tore up.

I have a Prs Dragon. I play that sucker religiously.

I've paid for all my guitars with money i've made from gigging so i guess maybe that changes things as guitar pays for guitars. All my guitars are out of their cases and get played. I gig my OM28, D18 and custom shop Fenders (relics so doesn't really matter if they get dinged). I just try to be careful but they exist to be played.

Mega guilty of this as well. I have a 1959 Les Paul TV Special that lives in the case as did my new Custom Shop Strat. But the rest I play. Go figure….. 🤷‍♂️

I wanna be understanding here, but I can't get very far in the "I'm not playing it out" thinking. If you play, and you want to have the best experience for you and everyone hearing you, then you take the best tool for the job. Thirty+ years ago when I dropped as much on my guitar as my car, I took it straight from the sales floor to a gig and it has gone to every gig (requiring an electric) since. It's been through every variety of gigging/playing/travel hell you can imagine and it's "reliced", but it's a supposedly fragile LPS that still has a gorgeous top, sets up to

Just picked up a (web exclusive) pink "Sakuraburst" MIJ Strat. It is hard to describe just how beautiful I think it looks. To be honest, I mostly just looked at it the last week. I really get that people don't want to 'defile' the pristine state a new guitar comes in. And, yes I'm TOTALLY dreading the "first scratch/bump/ding". It does seem to have a pretty thin coating. But I do know it's coming. After it has happened, I'll throw a tantrum and get over it. My collection isn't for sale, it's for enjoyment... relics have their own value these days - I don't think honest wear'n'tear devalues good instruments that much. Not that I care about value, guitars for me aren't THAT kind of investment. I can't NOT play it, it really is a great Strat. But... I am going to say that I'm leveraging this approach for all it's got. The insane inspiration has me on my faithful old American Standard nearly non-stop. It's a nice place to be. I know a lot of people aren't going to have a spare to play while admiring their brand new beauty.

I think this is more of a problem with nice acoustic guitars. You not only have to worry about scratching them but humidifying them also. Where a lot of solid body guitars are just a slab of wood with paint on it. Don't get me wrong I love solid body guitars but to me it just is not the same problem.

The other day i was puting my beloved cream 03 lp custom in the case and i kneeled on the shawl which slammed the case on her which left a little shark bite on the top. Even though its very beat up it pissed me off!

Just bought a new Player Strat (not real thrilled with it). A put a screwdriver scratch on the back. I was so mad at myself for doing it. Barely visible but I know it's there.

My dad gave me his 57 reissue and I PLAY my guitars. I gig with all of them. I had to beg him to let me open the case candy 😂 it’s a GREAT guitar just let me use it like it was meant to be

I’ve only ever bought one new guitar - it’s a mod shop so it has about the same wear you’d get from picking it up twice - hence no fear to play it - problem solved. Vintage instruments come with patina, damage, wear or character, whatever you wish to call it.

I play my MINT private stock on stage on 4 hour gigs, it's definitely played in rotation with my other guitars pretty regularly. If you don't play it....you are cheating yourself of joy and passing the joy to someone else that will eventually play it anyway. I'm also playing my Custom shop Gibsons and Core PRS's as well...but those I've even let other bandmates use. My Gibson SG standard and LP tribute get beat to snot. All that said....the cure for new guitar phobia is.....Relic guitars.

A private stock prs would be perfect for the studio. You can buy an SE to play live.

I play my super nice guitars at home and record with them (which is the majority of the time) and play my lesser guitars at the dive bars.

My most expensive guitar, one that I've owned from new, is also the one with the most dings and scratches because it gets played a lot. I do my best to take care of my instruments but they're first and foremost for playing.

The two Collings stay in their cases. Everything else is out. I still play the 2 cased Collings more than anything.

I feel the pain of the sleeve guy. I have a wood library PRS I sweat a little on and the finish wiped off when I wiped off my sweat. I was a bit devastated. I’ve never had that happen with any other of my guitars but now I am always nervous when im playing and it’s warm and I sweat bit. I try to wear long sleeves when I can. Not fun when it’s 80*.

My son broke the selector switch off of my jaguar I was so pissed at the time, but it still works. He was playing with a balloon and knocked it off the stand

Kirk Hammett owns the what is probably the most famous guiar, Greeny, and plays it on the road. 2 million dollar guitar, and plays it on the road, Im happy its still getting loved as all guitars should.

to your point. i bumped a relic R8 the other day... couldn't identify the mark... hahaha.

You boys been missing in action!

My nice guitars get played at home (a lot), but don't go to bar gigs. My $1000-ish import guitars play/sound just fine for gigging. I enjoy playing them all and the "nice" ones aren't actually any better than the imports (after a good setup and new pups) when it comes to banging out cover songs.

First ding = you now own the guitar, the guitar doesn't own you

This same thing’s been happening to me except it’s with my JTM45 due to the rumoured “Tube Shortage” lol

I've played the same mim strat since 2009. Giged with it never kept in a case and now it looks like something people would pay thousands in the custom shop for

Lately I've been contemplating a PRS Special Semi Hollow, but knowing a single ding will kill it's value is definitely holding me back