Today I dropped my tele.......

[Ian Price]

....down the stairs (accidentally of course).

Not a scratch on it.  :D

The only result of this was that it needed to be retuned.

[Frank]

One of the first things I do when I get a guitar is batter the hell out of it, drop it a few times and damage the paintwork. I bought my 1988 strat brand new, played it at a gig that night and booted it right across the stage.

Stops me getting too precious about them.

[Ian Price]

It already has a few little marks on it - I'm sure a chip on the paintwork wouldn't have hurt it. Maybe I'll drop it on accidentally purpose next time.

[Philly Q]

One of the first things I do when I get a guitar is batter the hell out of it, drop it a few times and damage the paintwork. I bought my 1988 strat brand new, played it at a gig that night and booted it right across the stage.

Stops me getting too precious about them.

I can see the logic, but do you really do that?

[Frank]

Yup, I got carreid away. I actually knocked a lump out of it climbing onto the stage for the first song.

I can't get sentimental about guitars, they're tools. I smashed a lump out of my first decent acoustic guitar and moped for a month when I was 17, I decided never to get too prissy about keeping them "showroom condition" ever since. That's why I'll never own a PRS or a Gibson, I need something I can throw around, dig holes in for extra switches, carve up to stick humbuckers in and just generally mistreat. So I've got strats and teles that look lived in. I don't buy roadworn either, paying £200 extra for bumps and dents I can do myself for free seems like a waste of money.

[Philly Q]

As I've said many times, I like the idea of beat-up guitars but I hate it when mine get dinged and I could never deliberately damage them.

I do have Gibson and PRS guitars, and I don't gig so that's not an issue.  But I must admit I feel most at home with my (relatively) cheap and cheerful MIJ Epiphones.

I don't mind carving up Fenders, though - so long as it's hidden under the scratchplate.

[Frank]

The things you own end up owning you

[JacksonRR]

 :o Are the stairs ok?

[choucas09]

I was looking to say something along those lines so you beat me to it JR. But while I'd never deliberately damage a guitar I'm basically in Frank's camp. My guitar's get damaged fairly regularly, cosmetically that is. They all play like dreams. I abhor any feelings of preciousness about my instruments. Here's one I've had from shiny new for illustrative purposes.

[MrBump]

Yup, I got carreid away. I actually knocked a lump out of it climbing onto the stage for the first song.

I can't get sentimental about guitars, they're tools. I smashed a lump out of my first decent acoustic guitar and moped for a month when I was 17, I decided never to get too prissy about keeping them "showroom condition" ever since. That's why I'll never own a PRS or a Gibson, I need something I can throw around, dig holes in for extra switches, carve up to stick humbuckers in and just generally mistreat. So I've got strats and teles that look lived in. I don't buy roadworn either, paying £200 extra for bumps and dents I can do myself for free seems like a waste of money.

Ah.  A breath of sanity...

 :D

[Miek]

I don't go out of my way to bang up my guitars, but they end up battered anyway.

[Ian Price]

The things you own end up owning you

Good film, one of my favourites.

Back on topic, I reckon the poly finish on my Baja must be VERY thick. It hit a stair gate and a solid floor on the way down.

[AndyR]

Yep, I'm with Frank too. Except I do own some Gibsons now, admittedly "cheaper" ones, and ... I don't mind too much if I find scratches on those. Not too sure I'd like to see a Gibson taking a trip down the stairs though! :lol:

The only difference is that I do have some Roadworns. I reckon if you ever get into one of the periodic "I want a new guitar" modes we all suffer, and you play the right one for the right price, then you might well get it anyway even though it's pre-distressed - that's kinda what happened to me. The second one I bought was different, but the first one I did have to struggle over the relicing before I realised I just had to have the instrument itself.

I think you're right on the poly on the Baja, Ian. I have seen pics of Bajas that got dinged, and it'll be a big chip if/when it happens. Personally, that won't worry me too much if it did. The stuff that worries me is tuners getting damaged, frets getting grooves, wood getting damaged structurally, etc - the stuff that jeopardises playability.

In a way, it's a shame you've got a "story to tell" now, and no scars to prove it! :lol:

[38thBeatle]

My guitars are looked after inasmuch as I clean them and do little bits of maintenance but the reason for that is that they are tools and I like them to work. I also like to keep them clean. My oldest Strat had a lot of wear that many would pay good money for. I wouldn't go as far as Frank but I can understand the logic. Having said that, if my 339 took a hit I'd be mortified so big hypocrite me.

[Ian Price]

In a way, it's a shame you've got a "story to tell" now, and no scars to prove it! :lol:

Indeed. Maybe I'll see if I can replicate the accident!

I think I got away with it as it the guitar landed pretty much in between the jack and strap button.