I never play my favorite guitar and that's dumb

[Pietjepieter]

If a good guitar is not played it is a waste in mine opinion. Just sell it or give it away to someone who plays it.
Or play just play it!

I really do not understand, my girlfriend does the same with drinks, se buys something see really likes, and than see does not drink it, because after drinking it is gone... euh yeah but what is the point if you buy a drink to not drink it?

What is the point of having a guitar and not playing it? I know I also own more than I play, but I do play the ones I love the most!

 

[Yul Brynner]

I was going to try and look up if anyone's made a compilation of all the times in the top gun movies people keep telling maverick he's gotta let it go.


Just play it dude. That's what it's made for. I scored a sick ass vintage Ibanez that I had drooled over as a kid. It's in great shape for being so old. I was babying it and even stopped playing it because I was afraid to ding it or tarnish the hardware. I even put it up for sale for a while. But you can't do it. You have to play it. Make memories. Let it become a part of your life story. Then after you wear it out for 20 or 30 years sell it to some dumbass kid for a fuck ton saying it's full of vintage mojo and they don't make them the same anymore because the new ones are trash.

 

[PuckishGuitar]

Everyone concerned about damaging their favorites should look through Hetfield’s Messengers book. He has fuck-you money now to get anything he wants, but looking at the guitars that he used on tour in the 80’s/90’s, they were beat to hell with broken headstocks, dents and scratches all over the place, complete hardware changes, but still play great, and are iconic now. I think seeing someone grabbing that worn down guitar from the stand to play first is awesome, it shows something that is well enjoyed.

I think my definition of favorite changes depending what I’m doing: I have a favorite guitar for best playability, a favorite for songwriting, a favorite for nostalgia, a favorite for caveman chugs. Each one has that particular wear that makes me smile a bit when I pick it up. I don’t sweat the minor bumps and scrapes, and hardware can be replaced. Make memories, even if only in your bedroom.

 

[TheBloodstained]

You should NEVER be afraid to play your instrument!

When I bought my dream bass - my Dingwall NG3 - which is also my best sounding/playing/feeling AND most expensive instrument in collection, I promised myself to treat it no differently to my other instruments. It was bought to be played, so it receives the same tender beating everyone of my other instruments gets, and it still sounds/plays/feels as great as the day I bought it. Only difference is a couple of really minor cosmetic battlescars, but I love that kind of patina because it tells a story

 

[Surveyor 777]

It's not dumb, but I do think you'll be happier if you "get over it" and just put it into your normal playing rotation.

I used to be like that with my Universe. Bought it in 2008 after saving up for a few years. Had little kids, so my/my wife's money went to raising them and taking care of expenses. This was a big luxury item for me and I didn't want to scratch it/ding it/get it dirty. So every once in a while I'd grab the case, open it and just look at it, then close the case and put it away. This went on for several years (yes, several years).

Finally I realized how this made no sense - I could print off a picture if I just wanted to look at it. So I slowly started to take it out to play it. Realized how happy I was to play it, so I stopped feeling that way about any of my guitars.

 

[kmanick]

I have been like that with my USA select Jackson soloists. I play them but I stopped gigging them when the pandemic hit and their values (from what I paid for them) almost tripled.
I have been buying and selling a ton of cheaper guitars trying to replace them but , I had a couple of life changing (almost ending) situations last year and you what ? fuck it, they are being gigged
this year. they are the guitars I play the best on so if they don't stay "mint" so be it, as someone else stated earlier in this thread , life can be shorter than you think.

 

[cardinal]

The trick is to get a second one of the same. Play one of them, keep the other clean. Win win.

I briefly considered something even worse. I was like "If I buy a green Jem, then I'll never play the Jem and that'll free me to play my other guitars!" Nope. Pretty sure then I'll end up with just more guitars I'll never play.

 

[Stiman]

I briefly considered something even worse. I was like "If I buy a green Jem, then I'll never play the Jem and that'll free me to play my other guitars!" Nope. Pretty sure then I'll end up with just more guitars I'll never play.

In that case, play it or sell it!

 

[Neon_Knight_]

In that case, play it or sell it!

Or give it to me

 

[Stiman]

Or give it to me

Do we know what guitar this whole thread is about? I might of missed it.

 

[sleewell]

that is pretty dumb

life is short

play the guitar you want

 

[cardinal]

Do we know what guitar this whole thread is about? I might of missed it.

It's an unassuming Horizon custom order. Specs and subtle things vary a bit from the typical Original Series build

 

[mastapimp]

A re-fret is death but leaving it with unplayable pitted frets isn't?

I've never thought about this specific predicament, because I don't own a single guitar with a finished fretboard. Is it not just a matter of finding a competent and trustworthy luthier? If not, this seems a pretty significant design flaw that limits the lifespan of many high-end guitars.

Another reason to add to my list for sticking to Ibbys with rosewood / ebony fretboards.

Yeah, a good luthier shouldn't have any issue at all refretting a finished maple neck. In fact, my last stainless refret was on an american strat with a lacquered neck. I had the whole neck refinished in poly during the refret and it's as good as new. No regrets.

 

[devastone]

If something isn't used, does that make it useless?

Beautiful Horizon BTW.

 

[Matt08642]

You could keep all your guitars pristine in the case then get t-boned by someone running a red light ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Smoke em if ya got em.

 

[mlp187]

I was in the same boat - but I broke that behavior a couple months ago. It was hard at first but now I’m really enjoying it and almost DGAF if I dent or scratch it. That being said… it doesn’t hang on the wall, and I have take it out of its case to play it. It’s also a Horizon-I.

My incoming LTD Horizon will hang on the wall for easy access, and I’ll probably even let my kids handle it.

I like this thread - it’s inspiring.

 

[budda]

My lpc has its own stand and is the first guitar you see when you enter the room. Small room but stil.

Yes, kids have even touched it (just mine).

 

[High Plains Drifter]

^^^ Reminds me of the time that my sister came to visit and for whatever reason she wanted me to take a pic of her holding one of my guitars. She had been kinda eyeing them in the living room. So I told her to pick out whatever one she liked the best and she proceeded to pick up my beloved Jackson V with nice perfectly intact points. Well she put it over her neck and proceeded to swing it around laughing and making the devil-horns with her hands like she was a rock star... inches from the TV, the walls, and the other guitars. Lets just say that I quickly took the pic and got that guitar away from her.

 

[cardinal]

^^^ Reminds me of the time that my sister came to visit and for whatever reason she wanted me to take a pic of her holding one of my guitars. She had been kinda eyeing them in the living room. So I told her to pick out whatever one she liked the best and she proceeded to pick up my beloved Jackson V with nice perfectly intact points. Well she put it over her neck and proceeded to swing it around laughing and making the devil-horns with her hands like she was a rock star... inches from the TV, the walls, and the other guitars. Lets just say that I quickly took the pic and got that guitar away from her.

That sounds horrifying.

 

[Fenriswolf]

A re-fret is death but leaving it with unplayable pitted frets isn't?

I've never thought about this specific predicament, because I don't own a single guitar with a finished fretboard. Is it not just a matter of finding a competent and trustworthy luthier? If not, this seems a pretty significant design flaw that limits the lifespan of many high-end guitars.

Another reason to add to my list for sticking to Ibbys with rosewood / ebony fretboards.

I've had a vaguely adjacent problem. My favorite guitar has some divots in the frets where certain frets are dead, and I've had enough issues with "competent" techs I'm gonna be picky about who touches my baby. I'd bend those frets just a little sharp to make them sound, and now it fucks with me when I play any other guitar.

That being said, at least IMHO, there's a difference in a really nice guitar and your favorite guitar. My nice guitars might have a stray pick scratch or two, my favorite guitar is missing the finish on the back of the neck.

Jackson V with nice perfectly intact points.

I've had one of those. Either you're lying, or in the words of Will Farrel, "teach me how to use your black magic Tom Cruise."