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Posted by: Gilmore Jun 12 2008, 03:35 PM

How does the back of your guitars look. My LP and SG are both pretty scratched up at the back. I only had my LP for 2 months when i noticed the back side was heavily scratced. The SG even has dents in it. I don´t play with a belt, ´so it´s probably the jeans that make those marks. The plate over the electronigs are so scratched it´s like someone did a work on it with a nail. The Strat has no marks on it at all, that´s probably because of the Poly finish. I know it´s probably pretty common and I don´t worry about it. But I was wondering if you guys thought about this and take care of the backside.

Posted by: Smells Jun 12 2008, 03:42 PM

My Jackson has quite a few scratches and little dents on the back, kind of inevitable though really I think, I use my guitars at rehearsals etc I think they catch the studs on the pockets of my jeans and stuff like that, I occasionally wear a belt so that hasnt helped either, In the main I dont worry too much about it though and not given it huge amounts of thought before.

Posted by: Matt23 Jun 12 2008, 03:42 PM

My guitars pretty scratched on the back but it's just on the plastic cover on the panels above the tremolo springs and electronics. I've only got a few scratches on the wood. If your scratches are on the back noone sees them so they don't really matter.

Posted by: Hammerin Hank Jun 12 2008, 04:04 PM

My Les Paul is covered with scratches on the back, my opinion it adds a bit of character I bet many would disagree-

This poor guitar has been through hell and back, the headstock got cracked off by accident

Posted by: audiopaal Jun 12 2008, 06:29 PM

Mine look new

But I can agree it adds character though

Posted by: TreyDeschamp Jun 12 2008, 06:35 PM

My Jackson isnt that scratched on the back but my Ibanez is another story.

Posted by: VinceG Jun 12 2008, 10:14 PM

I think my Schecter's back is kinda scratched up. The Fender one though has a finish that makes smudges and scratches very subtle.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jun 12 2008, 10:19 PM

Back of my bass looks brand new and I never get wear marks there, but on the whole right side of the body (where the strap lock is up and down on that side) there are plenty of dents ,bumps and everything

Posted by: Slammer Jun 12 2008, 10:23 PM

I'd rather have them in the back then the front

Posted by: fkalich Jun 12 2008, 10:32 PM

mahogany is a soft wood, you need to quit doing some things you are doing. For example, don't lay it on a fabric couch (I keep a sheet handy, lay them on that), don't wear a metal belt buckle, or pants with metal fittings, watch out for zippers, stuff like that. Just don't make it worse.

Mine a pretty much scratch free, this can be avoided. However, whatever you have, you will get used to, just don't make it worse, change some things that you are doing.

I don't know about scratches adding character. I am pretty confident that most would accept the offer, should one's Fairy Godmother show up, to have her wave her magic wand and return your guitar to like new condition.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jun 13 2008, 04:03 PM

I like that vintage look, so the more scratches the better

Posted by: Hammerin Hank Jun 13 2008, 04:40 PM

I agree Ivan, look at SRV's Fender that body was beat to hell....still sounded OK to me

Posted by: Strungout180 Jun 13 2008, 05:50 PM

I'm just waiting for the day my strat and Les Paul look all worn and beat to hell. It all just adds to the mojo of the guitar, in my opinion anyways.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jun 13 2008, 10:54 PM

SRV's number one had little metal pieces and chunks embedded in the wood from abuse. Talk about vintage look

Posted by: Trond Vold Jun 14 2008, 09:19 AM

I get scratchs on the back from day 1 I dont mind though, it makes the guitar look played

Posted by: fkalich Jun 14 2008, 09:32 AM

After reading this, I am very pleased that I damaged the rear bumper on my pickup truck backing into my boat trailer a few weeks ago. Added character to my truck.


You guys would have to pass the "Fairy God Mother" test to convince me, that if your guitars could be magical returned to mint, you would refuse.

Next time, you can take care of your guitars, and sell them, and buy a beat up one on ebay, and pocket some cash. Get that desired look right away and save money. Right. I'm convinced.

edit:

in another thread, Uncreator asked to name words you like. I will do so here, with the definition applicable to this thread.

Rationalize
3. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): "Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments"

Posted by: audiopaal Jun 14 2008, 09:58 AM

Haha

Posted by: jdriver Jun 15 2008, 04:44 AM

Well it does make one wonder... Have you seen the prices on the Relic Strats? I saw the Joe Strummer one in Guitar Center the other day and I thought it looked awful, like something out of a dumpster, but apparently people like that. How they made the bridge look that grungy, i'll never know.

I'll keep my shiny and clean American Deluxe, thank you.

Edit: actually I think it was a Telecaster, but my point is the same. I read a funny story somewhere, about a "Rehab" series Strat. which would come with a video of the guitar spliced into concert footage of some former druggy playing it. Kind of like Forest Gump. So not only would it look beat up, it would come with it's own back story.

Posted by: JensN Jun 16 2008, 12:40 PM

I had to think a bit about this one...

If I buy a brand new guitar, offcourse I don't want it to be a single scrath on it, any where. If I would buy a used guitar, well, that depends on the overall quality, feel, look and sound of it. A few scratches on the back, no biggie.

When it comes to my own guitars, I take care of them very good and try to make sure they are top notch as far as I can.
Howerver, scratches and maybe even a few dents on the backside will come and since I know how they got there they kind of add to the history of the guitar, adding to the characher and the feeling I have for my guitar. Somewhat like that favourite pair of jeans I'm sure most of us got a pair of. Those that's been worn so much they probably should go to the trash can, but they are all too comfy for that. Would I want someone elses worn down jeans? Nope!

I think that sums up how I feel about it.

Posted by: Gilmore Jun 16 2008, 12:59 PM

I like my guitars to be as minty as possible, but I won´t minimize my playing to protect my guitars haha. Natural wear and tear is acceptible of course. But I wouldn´t buy a banged up guitar on ebay, and certenly not pay a fortune for a relic or some custom shop guitar that looks 50 years old with cigarette burns and stuff like that. Buy them in good shape and let them grow old with you with good care. SRV´s guitars probably did not have poly finish in those days, wow how can a guitar get that worn out, I bet nitro finished guitars could get like that eventually!

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Jun 16 2008, 04:42 PM

The backs of ALL my guitars are scratched, some of them are even scratched on the front. Of course I try to avoid this as much as possible, but at the end of the day a guitar is something that you are using, and using things will always leave some marks.

Posted by: somecrazyguy09 Jun 18 2008, 06:28 AM

haha a friend of mine bought a brand new les paul the day he was gonna play a show and without thinking he wore a big belt buckle when he played and when he got off stage is new guitar was all scratched up in the back. he was really mad but at least it taught me a lesson without having to had make the mistake haha.

Posted by: -Zion- Jun 18 2008, 01:06 PM

while i do agree that scratches adds to the history of the guitar.
However, i also do everything in my power so my guitar will not be scratched by me being forgetful (belt buckle etc.)

Posted by: wrk Jun 20 2008, 10:00 AM

.. Fkalich, i love your sarcastic comments ... always funny. I have no idea what a "Fairy God Mother" test is, but i'm sure i will pass it with no problems ...

As much as i love stratocasters, i think a brand new strat is the most boring looking guitar on the market. Mine looks ... lets say "used" to be polite and i love it this way and seriously i don't want to have it back in mint condition. It doesn't mean a guitar need to look like this, but the "history" i add myself to this guitar. To buy a relict series guitar or a already beat up one from someone else could be reasonable for me if it's still a good guitar for a good price, but it would not add more personal value.

This opinion i kind of have with everything i own. In most cases i buy things new and try to take care of it, but on the other side these things are done to be used. What i will do with an 5 years old labtop, shiny since day one, but to slow to do anything with it? So i take it with me wherever i go, accepting the risk to get damaged or scratched, but if it's still alive at the end ... i happily know it was serving me well. On the other hand i'm not throwing my mobile in the pool to test if it's worth keeping it ether.

Back to guitars .. if my guitar would still look like new 10 years after i have bought it, i have two choices to look at it: Be happy that this guitar is still in such a good condition or being sad about all the time i have missed to play on it while leaving it at home/case or cleaning it every 30 minutes. Well .. for me it would be a reason to be sad.

Posted by: Marshmall0wz Jun 20 2008, 04:22 PM

john mayers guitar has the finish wiped off in places and it looks so awesome