Ever happen to you?

[WorksInTheory]

You know I consider myself to be pretty generous. I definitely like to share and I definitely like to share good experiences and good things. That isn't different with guitars. So if I have a nice guitar I want a friend to play it - get the same enjoyment I do, to see what I am talking about and to promote that guitar company.

I introduced this friend to the Larrivee since he was looking to get a nice guitar but not too expensive. Wanted a cutaway, electronics, etc. But turns out my friend is a brute with no grace whatsoever in playing. His idea of jamming and rocking out is to grasp his cowboy chords with the crush of an eagle claw (I could see him pull down the strings instead of pushing down!) and then striking the guitar with a pick as if he spazzing and having a seizure. To me louder doesn't mean better and I can play without picks if needed.

Anyways, I grit my teeth and let him play as we were all around singing and hanging out and having a good time. I also wanted him to experience a good guitar. Well he loved it but today I take it out finally b/c I couldn't bare to check and sure enough - pick marks.

What would you do? I don't want him to pay for anything but I feel he should know that he should learn to play with a little more grace - esp with other people's guitars and learn to appreciate a good guitar. Would you tell him?

[Daysailer]

Sounds like one for Dear Abby    :GRN>

Sorry 'bout your guitar.    Do you have a clear or regular type of pickguard?    or no pg??
Maybe the marks can be polished out.   


phill     :mellow:

[synkronized1]

Show him the damage he did and explain that you care about this guitar like it's your own flesh and blood. Don't let him play it again unless he uses a bit of care. You can't get him to pay for it, just make sure he knows how you feel. If he is a good friend he'll likely apologize. What more can you do?

[WorksInTheory]

Sound like one for Dear Abby    :GRN>

Sorry 'bout your guitar.    Do you have a clear or regular type of pickguard?    or no pg??
maybe the marks can be polished out.   My other hobby is racing sailboats, and I have a favorite compass that
sometimes gets a bit of abuse, ie scuff marks from being stepped on or other hard part dragging accross the
clear acrilic dome.   3M makes polishing compounds that I use to completely clear up and restore the dome to
absolute clarity, with no evidence of the scuffs.  When I am ready to buff out my satin guitar I will be using these.

It has the clear pickguard - that's not the part I care about as I expect that - but the way he plays it's above the strings too in the upper bout area

[WorksInTheory]

Show him the damage he did and explain that you care about this guitar like it's your own flesh and blood. Don't let him play it again unless he uses a bit of care. You can't get him to pay for it, just make sure he knows how you feel. If he is a good friend he'll likely apologize. What more can you do?

Oh yeah - no I don't want him to pay for it. I just wonder if it's worth even telling him if I don't want any payment or anything right? He lives somewhere else - I visited some friends this weekend and brought the guitar to show him.

[WorksInTheory]

Oh yeah - no I don't want him to pay for it. I just wonder if it's worth even telling him if I don't want any payment or anything right? He lives somewhere else - I visited some friends this weekend and brought the guitar to show him.

Oops to clarify - I meant to let him play it when I said "to show him"

[NewStrings]

Sorry to hear about your friend and his heavy attack!!!  Not sure if telling him will do much good, sounds to me like he only knows one way to play!

As for the scratches, the best product I have found that works well with minor scratches and imperfections is this finish restorer by Bruce Petros.  Here is a link to a store which sells:   http://www.electriccitymusic.com/Qstore/c000064.htm  You may also wish to check Bruce's website at:  http://www.petrosguitars.com/polish.htm  for more details on the product.

I bought all three products, the restorer, the polish and fret oil and can truly attest to the quality of the product and that it really works.  I had some minor finish spots on my Collings D-1 that I thought would be permanent.  But one application worked so well you would need a magnifying glass to even remotely see them.

As a disclaimer, I have no affiliation with the product or the store that is linked above.  Just a happy customer!   -_-

Good luck,

NewStrings

[stuco]

 

Just say what the hell man.  Show some respect for my stuff.  My friend was playing my guitar hard and he said "if i owned this i would beat the hell out of it"  and i said well you don't and i wouldn't so don't.  You have to take care of your things and sometimes that means telling your friend they are and idiot.  Oh  well, guitars are meant to be played and I'm sure it's not too bad. 

[roknroll]

I let my friend with a heavy attack play my Marint HD-28...he bashed the back of the guitar into my computer chair repeatedly and left little pin size dings all over it...it's not surprising that both of his acoustics have areas that were wore down to bare with with his long and uncooridnated strum...my strum is loose, but it is also tight...it's all in the wrist, not the freakin bicep...for the love...

[Ratishna]

Was it Ben Franklin who said "neither a borrower nor a lender be" or some other smart guy?  I'm too lazy to google right now, but it applies here.

E. Shoaf

[Jackwr]

You must learn to stop one of those two behaviors, sharing or complaining about the after effects!   

I'm a hard picker. I NEVER pick someone else's guitar as hard as I do mine (even when encouraged). I host jams and hold my breath whenever I loan out an instrument to someone I don't know. But when I do I tell myself before I hand it over "now if this clown falls on it and busts it into splinters it's my fault and I can't get mad". I love a good jam and I've had some pleasant surprises, but I know preparing for the worse has kept me out of trouble at least once.

Don't mention it to him and don't loan to him again. If he asks to borrow again then show him and politely say no.

It's been said many times before, instruments are made to be played.

[unclrob]

Show him the damage.Then tell him that your still friends.Then tell him if he touches your guitar again that it will be the last thing he ever does.Before you do this call his wife and ask if the insurance is paid up.

[WorksInTheory]

Thanks for all the great comments and sharing of your own experiences. One thing though about - guitars are meant to be played. I agree but it's like saying when someone wants to borrow your car or check out your car - are they suppose to take around turns at 60 miles and hour and floor it, etc? I think you can check out someone's guitar out without needing to do that - in any case I agree and it was one of the first things I said - I CHOSE to lend it. I just didn't know that he wasn't that good a player as far as technique. I did try to tell him about the chording and give him a tip so he doesn't get so fatigued b/c he was complaining that his fingers really hurt but I don't think he took to.

In any case I always go about people's stuff as if I am prepared to pay for it so if I want to run the risk of crashing someone's car - I am prepared to say sorry and I will pay for it. If I can't say that I won't do it.

[wyodeb]

One of the guys on our worship team has a particularly aggresive playing style. He sometimes plays drums, so one night he was there without his guitar. He wanted to demonstrate something, and held his hand out for my guitar (Pete). I took a deep breath, and said, "Russ, this guitar doesn't have a regular pickguard, which is fine with me, since I don't use a pick. I just can't let you borrow my guitar. I'm sorry, but I don't let anyone else play it." I think his feelings were a little hurt, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I've seen the top of his guitar. It helped that my husband chimed in, "She doesn't even let me play her guitar." I'd rather have him be a little mad at me, than have to be a lot mad at him. I'm otherwise a very generous person, but some things I just won't do.

Deb

[roknroll]

Well it's like this, would you rather trust lance armstrong riding your $5000 bike around the block? or evil keneivel.

I'd trust a few people playing my guitar...a very few...

[WorksInTheory]

Well it's like this, would you rather trust lance armstrong riding your $5000 bike around the block? or evil keneivel.

I'd trust a few people playing my guitar...a very few...

Well the other thing was he was trying it because he was contemplating buying it and I was contemplating selling it. But would you go and totally slam on something whether it be a car or a guitar with the owner right there and then hand it back and go nah I don't know, I think I'll wait and look around?

Anyways this forum was very helpful as a sounding board and I think I know what I am going to do. I am not going to say anything. And if I get a chance somewhere down the line, I will take that chance to mention his brute playing. In fact he's coming to my wedding in Sept and I am going to definitely bring a guitar or two and if he asks to use it - I think I will do as Deb did.

[roknroll]

Well, most of my friends I've known for 10+ years...so it's not really uncomfortable to confront them about annoying behaviors...

[danijoe]

I'm with Deb too!

Joe

[expatCanuck]

...
Anyways, I grit my teeth and let him play
...

FWIW, I'd suggest that this was the point for intervention -- as soon as the potential danger was known.

My rule: I do let others play my instruments, but only those I know have the same respect for them as I do (and a modicum of skill).

- Richard

[Teddeo1000]

Some folks don't mind their guitars being abused. Most of them won't mind abusing ours. I have always taken care of my guitars. However, I use a pick and there pick scratches on my guitars. When ever I bang one against something or scratch it.... I just think of Stevie Ray Vaughn's Fender strat and how abused it looked. AND Willie Nelson's guitar and how abused it looks. My pings, dings and scratches are not so bad after all. A beautiful guitar is nice to look at for sure. For me, it the sound that counts the most. The pings, dings and scratches give them character. Teddeo1000